Evening star., 1901-07-22
Mr.. EDSON EXPLAINS
No Issue Between Col. Bingham and
Inaugural Committee.
INAUGURATION BELONGS TO ALL
Ceremonies March q Are Not a
Local Affair.
TIL E r ECE Mt D A NJ A G E
INAUGURATION BELONGS TO ALL
TIL E r ECE Mt D A NJ A G E

Mr.. John Joy Edison, chairman Of the In
augural committee, has made an explana-
tion of the views of the committee regard
ing its refusal to reimburse the government
for the damage to the granite gate posts
between the White House and State, War
and Navy building, which were injured by
the burning of the reviewing stand. The
matter was brought to his attention
through the recommendations made by
Col. Theodore A. Bingham, superintendent
of public buildings and grounds, that here
after the members of the inaugural COM
mittee be required to give a personal bond
and become liable for any damage that
may be done to government property dur
ing an Inauguration.
No Friction.
Mr.. Edison. emphasized the fact that there
was no friction between the committee and
Col. Bingham. In his statement Mr.. Edison
Gays:
This matter of paying for. the damages
caused by the burning of the President S
grandstand is simply an honest difference
of opinion. Col Bingham and some other
officials consider the committee ought to
pay. The committee did not agree with
them. 1t is true there was some delay in
removing the stands. The contractor was
dilatory and might have had them re-
moved three or four days earlier than he
did. In my report / recommended that
hereafter in letting contracts for review
ing stands a clause should be inserted re-
quiring the contractor to remove them
within a certain number of days. But that
had nothing to do with the fire. 1t might
have occurred the night before the inaugu-
ration so far as that is concerned
when the question of paying for the
damages to property caused by the hre
was presented the committee discussed the
fhoronph1V unanimously de-
cided that it should not be held responsible
for the payment 1t was nothing to the
members personally or committee how
the surplus should be disposed OF further
proper manner.
Its position was this In the first place,
the fire was happening that could not
be foreseen nor absolutely prevented. 1t
was an accident. like most all fires. They
occur when every precaution has been
taken.
I'm the second place, for the committee
to have to pay the damages would have
been setting a serious precedent. Suppose
the damages, as was possible, had amount
ed to 100000 or s15O,oOO? Would the COM
mittee. individually or collectively, be ex-
pected to pay that amount? No matter
how small or how great the damages are,
If we had paid in this case subsequent In
augural committees might consistently be
called upon to pay larger sums
National Affair.
Mr. Edison also discussed briefly the rec
concentrations of Col. Bingham in regard
to future inaugurations.
IT fully agree with his first recommenda-
tion about keeping reviewing stands off the
grounds of the Executive Mansion" he
said. "At my suggestion. on this occasion
(as at the G. A. r. encampment In 1S92),
the committee decided not to permit them,
except at the east and west ends Of the
grounds, thus securing full, open view of
the White House. Many of the soldiers in
the parade came here but for the day, had
never been here before and may never be
here again. and that was their only chance
to see the White House, and they had the
opportunity on this occasion. Besides it
gives ii visitors a better view.
Il cannot say l concur in the second rec
ommendation, as to requiring the inaugural
committee to give personal bonds, with
guarantee deposits. for the repair of all
damages directly or indirectly The inau-
guration is great national affair. The in
auguratlon committee, for the time being,
1t may be said, represents all the people of
the nation. 1t is not local celebration or
personal affair on the part of the COM
mittee. The members of that committee
are well known business and professional
men For weeks they virtually leave their
business and devote their time and labor
cheerfuily and enthusiastically to the work
of preparing suitable ceremonies for the In
auguratlon of the President chosen by the
people. To require these gentlemen to give
a personal bond to insure the government
against loss by unavoidable accidents, it
seems to me- would not be right Citizens
might seriously hesitate before assuming
such responsibility or liability