The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-19
LOCAL TALENT FAVORED
Contracts Awarded for Inaugural
Ball and Concert Music.
The Marine Band and w. A. Haley
the Successful Bidders - Director
Choral Feature-PIans for Einbo-
rate Decorations on Buildings.

The most important question which the
inaugural Music Committee has had to
consider, the selection of the band and
orchestra which will furnish the music at
the inaugural ball and prone made con-
certs, was disposed of yesterday after
noon. At a meeting of the committee the
proposition of William II. Santelmann,
leader OF the Marine Band. to furnish for
S3,1S5 the band music for the ball con-
cert and the five promenade concerts
which will be held on the two days fol-
lowing the ball was accepted. Haley's
Band has been selected to provide the
dance music for the ball for 81, $50
The selection OF Lieutenant Santelmann
and of Mr.. Haley is in line with the ex-
pressed purpose of the Inaugural Com
mittee to patronize local talent wherever
possible. The orchestra which will rem
der the dance music for the bail whl con-
sist of i25 instruments. The band will be
made up of seventy-ive pieces. The or
chestra is only to play on the night of
the ball, while the band will be required
to serve at the ball and the succeeding
promenade concerts which Will be held
on March and 6 ending up with choral
concert, in which vocal music will be
rendered by chorus OF 500 voices.
At the meeting Of the Music Committee
Chairman W. II. Rapley presided. After
lengthy discussion. the motion TO adopt
the bids of Lieutenant Santelmann and w.
A. Haley was adopted.
Percy S. Foster, director Of the choral
music. rendered a gratifying report OF the
first rehearsal of the chorus. He stated
that of the SOC voices required to make up
the entire chorus 300 applicants were
present at the rehearsal. Mr.. Foster stated
that the voices were divided into los So
pranos, 20 altos, So tenors, and so basses,
which he considered a very satisfactory
apportionment-
Among the members Of the chorus is
Miss Lawrenceson, a granddaughter OF
James Lawreneeson. who was the first TO
sing publicly the national hymn. The Star
Spangied Banner which he did in Bal
timore shortly after it was written.
MI Foster reported that the stand which
viii be used at the Pension building, for
the orchestra and band at the inaugural
ball, would afford sufficient room without
alteration for the accommodation of the
chorus All that would be required. he
believed would be tine removal of the
floral decorations
An executive meeting CT the Commit
tee on Badges. a subcommittee of the
Committee on Medals and Badges, was
held yesterday afternoon. The sub-com-
mittoe is preparing designs for the badges
to be worn by the m.mbers of the various
inaugural committees and subcommittee.
The decoration of the public buildings
during the inaugural ceremonies will lie
more elaborate thsn on any previous &C.
casion. The Treasury Building will lie
trimmed with bunting and flags and the
pillars that surround the building will be
draped from top to bottom in the national
10 nd
Building. the immense number Of yalr-
able flags which are in the possession OF
the War and Nay Departments furnish
especially sHltable material for decora-
tions.
The Posiofice Building will not be far
behind in he character Of its ornamental
ton. At the Agricultural Building. from
each window, tweive-ioot bunting flag
on twel1e-foot STATS viii be displayed
The order for The flags for the Agri-
cultural Department was given 10 local
dealer this morning.
John b. Larner, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Parks and Reviewing Stands, is
the author of suggestion to abandon
the construction OF reyie@.iEg stands on
the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Mr. Larner warmly advocates his idea
and has the support Of all business men
on the Avenue. The public spaces which
he proposes to abandon and leave free of
stands. are in front of the National The
atre. at the Franklin Statue, at the Han
cock statue. and at the fountain in front
OF the Central National Bank Building.
The erection OF these stands has been
found very undesirable by the merchants
whose business is seriously interfered with,
not only during the time OF the inaugural
ceremonies. but during the whole time
that the stands are in course OF building
and remain standing. Mr.. Larner be-
lieyes that in Difference to the wishes of
these merchants. who are giving all en-
couragement possible to inaugural affairs.
tho stands should be abandoned.
Another object TO be subserved will be
that the north side Of the Avenue from
the Peace Monument to Fifteenth Street
will be an open thoroughfare. interfering
not az all with pedestrian travel. and per-
hitting greater standing room for visit
ors who are unable to purchase seats on