The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-08

committee was selected. At the first meet
ing Of the Inaugural Committee Mr.
Wight had outlined a most elaborate
scheme for the production Of souvenir in
vitations which should surpass anything
of the kind seen at former Inaugurations
Pert OF the plan was the preparation OF
magnificent steel engraVings, TO be made
by the Bureau Of Engraving and Printing.
These engraVingS Of former Presidents Of
the United States were 10 be placed in the
souvenir invitations facing brief accounts
OF the Inauguration Of each President.
Mr. Wight announced that no work
containing accounts of former Inaugural
tons, whether IL brief or extended ac-
counts, had ever been published. This
statement was contradicted at the meet
ing of the Inaugural Committee. and a
work of this character was afUerward pro
duced, and the use Of it rendered to Mr..
Wight and his committee From this
work on the inaugUrations Of former
Presidents the accounts of preceding in
augurations in the souvenir invitations
We're compiled
The souvenir invitations however. note
the fact that the book was prepared from
data secured from the Congressional Lii
brary- No credit IS given TO the author Of
the DOCK. rom Which the accounts were
taken Moreover. 1t Is very doubtful # d
copy OF the book TO which the souvenir
invitations is indebted for its subject
matter IS on the shelves Of the Congress
sional Library.
At the time Of the publication of the
book containing the accounts OF the lnau-
guratiOns. d IRE in the stOrerOOm IN
which the volumes We're stored, destroyed
all but q few cOpisS-leSS than twenty-five
remaining in existence
Later Mr.. Wight made the announce
rnent as given above that the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing was unable TO
supply the engraved portraits OF he Pres
identS- Al the same time Mr. Wight OK
planned that he had given the con
tract TO n New York firm 10 fur
nish half the portraits of the Presi-
idents from copies supplied 10y the Bureau
OF Engraving and Printing Mr. Wight
Gisy not give The contract TO a Washington
firm ana explained that the New York
/ contra ct1rs could prouuce what could not
be done eiSeW here, in the character OF
h=If-tOne engraving This Uzs the pro
ductiOn Of half-tOue eugravingS with q
mesh twice as fine as the ordinary mesh
used for the work, and Mr. Wight claimed
that the result would rival steel engraE'-
ing
The souvenir invitations as produced.
compare more than favorably with any
souvenir invitation issued by former In
augural Committees But judged by itself,
or judged by the claims made by the
Chairman Of the Committee on Invitations
and Souvenirs. much i left 20 BE- desired.
The preSSWOrk is excellent The cover.
which purports to b. an art standard,
falls short Errors grammatical and in
punctuation abound galore One OF the
most erroneous statements IL the book Is
found in the account Of the inauguration
Of President Harrison. whore il is assert
ed that the venerable '-cx-PresiGent Ham
lin was present Reference to histories
Of the United States whether OF the best
authorities. or more inaccurate character,
fan 10 record that Mr.. Hamilu was al any
time President Of the United States
II is understood that the estimate made
for steel engrayingS by the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing was WOefully
niscaIculated. Thousands Of dollars. IL IS
understood. would have been lost had the
work been done at the quoted price In
view Of the fact that the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing proposed To do the
work without profit to the Government. il
could hardly D., held TO do the contract at
the price first quoted.