Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-14
STANDS ON RESERVATIONS
Correspondence Of Jubilee Managers and the
War Department.
Erection of the Presidents Pavilion
and Monument Lot Tempo
rary Structures.

The managers of the late peace jubilee
had more difficulties to surmount than the
| general public is aware of, especially in
| the matter of the erection of the Presi-
| dents reviewing stand and the use of the
| Washington monument grounds for the fire.
works exhibition. This is shown in the cor
respondence that passed in relation to these
enterprises, which has just become public
| Early in May the chairman of the dec
grafton committee Of the peace jubilee ask
ed the Secretary of War for permission to
erect the Presidents reviewing stand on
| the reservation Immediately in front of the
| Executive Mansion. Acting Secretary Mel
| klejohn referred the request to Col. Ring-
ham, in charge of public buildings and
| grounds The latter returned 1t with the
| statement that the act approved August 80,
| 1870, distinctly provided that thereafter mo
| temporary structure of any kind shall be
| erected upon any reservation except when
| authorized by special act of Congress" He
added that the sidewalk in front of the Ex-
| ecutdve Mansion is a part of the public
| reservation under the Jurisdiction OF his
office, and said that Congress always passes
a special act which covers the erection of
the reviewing stand dn front of the White
| House for Inauguration ceremonies. There
| fore, said Col Bingham, while this office
Is willing to grant any request which may
be within its legal power, 1t Is believed that
the above provision of law prohibits this
| for"
| Acting Secretary MedkleJohn then referred
the application to Gen. Lieber, Judge advo-
| cate general of the army, for an opinion as
to whether the Secretary of War could le-
gally grant the authority requested.
Inc Judge advocate general replied as
follows: Although the sidewalk in front
OF the Executive Mansion is, as the super
intendent OF public buildings and grounds
states, part of the public reservations,
4 may ho holI hat ~, -
| referred to the word reservation is limited
| by the object Of the legislation, which is
understood to have been the protection of
the parks. and not to have had relation to
| the sidewalk, and, therefore, that In this
connection reservations do not include side
| walks
Directions to Issue the Permit.
A copy of this opinion was sent to the
oncer In charge of public buildings and
grounds. with instructions to issue the de-
sired permit subject to such conditions and
| restrictions as he deemed proper in the pub
| lie interests The reviewing stand was ac-
corolnsiy erected and formed an attractive
feature OF the beautiful court of honor
Similar objection was raised to the use
OF the Washington monument grounds for
the display of fireworks during the three
| nights OF the jubilee. In reporting upon the
application of the fireworks committee
Colonel Bingham called attention to the
statutory prohibition to the erection of
temporary structures public reserva-
tons except when specially authorized by
Congress. He expressed the belief that
that statute prohibited the erection of
stages, seats, etc., but recommended that a
| permit be granted for the use of the
grounds north of the monument adjoining
b street for the fireworks proper. This re-
port was also referred to Judge Advocate
General Lieber, who reported in part as
follows: I am of the opinion that the Sec
rotary of War has power to permit the use
| of the grounds and 7 fhar
the statute quoted would prevent his also
authorizing the erection of such stages,
seats, etc., as are necessary in order to
adapt the grounds to the purpose intended.
The prohibition of the legislation referred
to should not, in my opinion. be construed
as directed against the proposed use, but
rather against such temporary structures
as are liable to be erected for occupation
or trade, or that are not required in order
to adapt the grounds to temporary legal
USE" 90
The application was then again forwarded
to Colonel Bingham for report as to
whether the proposed use of the grounds
by Pains Fireworks Company was con-
trary to the public interests. In view of
the opinion of the judge advocate general,
his views were desired to the propriety
of granting the use of the grounds sug
gested and also as to the conditions under
which such authority might be granted.
For Fireworks Exhibition.
In his reply, Colonel Bingham said that
the use of that part of the grounds pro-
posed by the fireworks company was not.
in his opinion. contrary to the public In
terests. Since the legal branch of the
War Department is of the opinion" said
Colonel Bingham, that the Secretary OF
War has power to permit the of the
grounds in this case and to authorize such
erections as are necessary for the pur-
poses intended. 1t is recommended that il
the permission asked for is granted by
the Secretary of War. the following condi-
tons should be inserted: That nothing in
the way Of staging shall be erected except
ing such framework may be absolutely
necessary to support the pyrotechnical dis
play contemplated; that such seats are
contemplated shall be entirely movable in
character and no seat or combination Of
seats shall be heavier than can be moved
by two men: that all other details shall
be left to the decision. Of the officer in
charge Of public buildings and grounds.
Acting Secretary Meiklejohn thereupon
approved the application subject to the
conditions suggested by Colonel Bingham,
and a revocable license was granted the
fireworks committee for the use Of the
Washington monument grounds, including
the erection of framework necessary to
support the pyrotechnical display and the
placing Of seats for spectators
Under that permit, the committee caused
to be erected upon the grounds between
the monument and B street north poles
and canvas scenery, frames Tor set pyro-
technic pieces, and an artificial lake OF
water held In canvas laid upon the ground
about 200 feet long and 30 feet wide. and
seats for about 10000 persons consisting OF
chairs for reserved seats and wooden
benches for seats not reserved. tie whole
being surrounded by fence Of meshed
wire, stretched upon posts.
Damage to the Grounds.
Colonel Bingham says that It cost the
United States about 500 to repair the dam
1ora I~xru ,o1, -
that they will hardly be restored to their
! former condition for many months. Sew
oeEab trees were 30 badly damaged that they
ioaads4o be cut down. These have been re-
plaeSd by young trees which will require
about ten or fifteen years growth to at
tain the size and character of the largest
trees destroyed. Towering shrubs were
DANA ged hY being tramnled down and six