The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-27

In connection with the plans OF the
Inaugural Committee. the erection CT the
reviewing stands which viii be placed
along the lire of the inaugural parade
is q question which has already occa-
STONED considerable discussion. At the
meetings OF the Inaugural Committee the
matter has had due attention, and the
sub-CoEamittee on PARKS and Reviewing
Stands has been authorized to invite de-
signs and estimates Of the cost OF erec ting
all stands under its own supervision The
Committee on Parks and Reviewing
STANDS, which held its first meeting yes
tsrday afternoon. debated the matter, as
far as the members, unfamiliar With
their duties had given IL thought
AT previous inauguratioRs it has s7een
customary to lease the privileges of
erecting and maintaining stands 10 pTi-
yate individuals. The result has been
displeaSing to those who have had the
inaugural ceremonies IN hand 4 series
of stands, each erected by different
lessee. according TO diverging plans,
without regard 10 either safety or beauty
in construction. has been the usual pTae-
tiee. Cheap bunting, whose color would
run under the influence OF a little mois
ture, has been used in the decorations.
Furthermore. the prices charged fer seats
have neither been uniform nor stable.
One stand would charge more or less
for tie seats than its neighbor. Prices
on single stand would be raised or low
cred as the seating capacity was ex-
hausted or threatened 70 remain unsoid.
In the appearance Of the stands the effect
has beer ineengru0Us, and in the charges
unfair to the purchasers. General dis
satisfaction has been expressed
At the Inauguration four years ago an
n ruu fQs1- "a
made. but was not eminently successful
The privileges we're leased to private in
diVidgalS as before plan for the stands
was designed. and the privileges were
leased on the condition that the plan OF
the committee should be followed IN the
construction The subcommittee having
the matter in charge found II impossible
&c keep the contractors to the agreement.
Especially vas this the case with che %
the contractors, who absolutely refused
TO follow gut his contract in this 77ar-
tiCuIzr. The members OF the sub-corn-
nittee lost more time and encountered
more opositioE than they had been pre-
pared FOR. Little was gained b. the in
novatiou-
It has been suggested In the discussions
Of the matter Ii the general meetings of
the Inau gusal Committee that this time
the stands sbe erected under the supsrYi-
sioa and according to plans Of the com
seGueRtly leased The plan, however,
that seems to find most favor With those
who have had previous experience is shat
tbs stands shall be erected and controlled
By the committee.
Considerable opposition to his plan IS
said TO be certain 10 develop among the
members OF the Inaugural COMMITTEES who
consider themselves conservative. The
item Of expense IS BY nc means small,
nal amount Of zhe guaraHtee fund called
fer. The eppts fsioa viii also call atteR-
ton TO the uncertainty of the specgIa-
tIGn, as evidenced by the unfortunate ex-
perieRees Of private contractors at fnau-
gurals where the weather conditions were
u1prcpitioGs.
The friends OF The project urge that the
committee VIII not be dependent upon the
weather conditions Tor the sale Of tickets
for seats An announcement that the COM
mittee is conducting the sale. they ansici-
pate. VIII bring in the orders IL advance.
and dispose Of al seats long before the in
augura ton. This would. Of course If the
premise is correct, guarantee the expense
OF erection. ThsJ consider that SO eco
viii cover the cost OF erection
The Inaugural Counties has authorized
the Committee On Parks and Reviewing
Stands 10 canvass the matter thoroughly.
seevFe designs, and Obtain estimates OF the
cost OF erecticE- Ire Inaugural Commit
tee has committed Itself 70 nothing. and
viii depend largely upon the report OF the
subcommittee As 30 the feasibility OF the
project. Chairman Eds1n of the Inaugural
Committee. and John 3. Larner. Chairman
OF the Committee On Parks aud Reviewing
Stands. both advocate the erection and
control OF the stands by the committee
As far as the matter has been disc used
it is proposed to secure stands which
shall be uniform In design and pleasing
to the eye. The stands are TO be painted
white. and decorated according 10 some
general plan. Draperies are not consid-
cred so desirable as is the display of the
American flag Nothing deliberately ex-
pensive is in contemplation bat chaste-
ness OF design is sought Mr. Edison and
Mr. Larner both believe that the ccsamit-
tee will eventually accept the sugges-
ton Of the erection and control OF the
stands by the committee.