The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-12
COST OF INAUGURATIONS
Representative Bell Opposes the
Appropriation of $4,000.
The Colorado Member Declares in
the House That Citizens of the Dis
trict Make the QuadrennfnI Event
an Occasion for iSpecuIntion-Res-
oiutiOn Passed without Division.

oiution Passed without Division,
Representative Babcock, Chairman of
the Committee on the District of Column
bia, called up in the House Yesterday. by
unanimous consent, the Joint resolution
authorizing the Secretary of War to
grant permits to the Committee on In
augural Ceremonies for use OF reserva-
tions or public spaces in the city of Wash
ington on the occasion of the Inaugural
ton of the President-elect on March l.
1901, and so forth
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee asked of
Mr.. Babcock if the pending resolution was
in usual form, and was affirmatively an
swered
Mr.. Bell of Colorado addressed the
Chair on the subject of the resolution,
particularly opposing the provisions con-
tanned in section 8, which recites: THAT
so, 1000, or as much thereof as may be nee
essary, payable from any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated and
from the revenues of the District of CO.
lumbia in equal parts, is hereby appro-
the District OF Columbia to maintain pub
lie order and protect life and property in
said District from the 2sth of February to
the 9Th OF March, 1901, both Inclusive
Mr. Bell said:
MIR. Speaker, / remember very dis
tinctly that four years ago we made
similar appropriation and adopted similar
provisions to those which it is proposed
we make today. Four years ago-I might
say also eight years ago, and probably
TOT quarter OF century-these inaugu-
rations have been made great business
enterprises by the people of the District
of Columbia. / do not object to that /
am glad to see the people of the District
OF Columbia making this a great occa-
sion. But 1t seems to me that they
ought TO pay the expenses connected with
providing the place, etc.
Il notice that among the different
Governors who are being inaugurated in
the different States, many of them are
slorying in the fact that they are having
simple ceremonies that are costing the
people nothing. One Governor of a West
ern State few years ago-a millionaire
boosted that it had only cost the peopIe
80 for his inauguration. On the occasion
of the inauguration Of the Governor of
New Hampshire the other day the papers
OF that state boosted that the people had
gone back to thet timelhonored custom of
simple ceremony in connection with the
induction of the highes: officer of the
State into his official position.
In Washington four years ago we had
grand ball in connection with the in
auguration. People came here from all
parts OF the country. Many of them paid
from *oO to 50 for seats in our parks |
IN order to witness the parade. And. ac- |
cording to my remembrance, when the in |
auguration ceremonies were over the COM |
mittee of citizens of the District of Co. |
iumbia had large surplus arising from
the different means they had adopted to |
meet the expenses. e
They contributed $4,000 They had got
ten II all back. They had gotteRa splendid |
fund in addition, notwithstanding that the
hotels, the business men; and everybody
else mad been greatly benefited. and the
government is contributing a portion a |
the expense that II never expects to get
back. Now, want to say that four years
ago the inauguration Of a President of the
United States cost US from s25O,OOO to
S3OO, eco, in my judgment"
Mr.. Babcock-Does the gentleman from
Colorado understand what this appropria-
ton is for?
Mr.. Bell-Yes, understand 1t thorough
y. know what II is for cannot afford
10 nave my time taken up now. I am |
going TO talk upon 1t generally and am
not going to oppose your bill in particular.
But what / want to state is that after the
Inauguration was over even the Republican
paper OF this District was astounded at
the way in which the Government sub
nitted its Interests to the interests of the
;peculators around the city of Washing
ion. Its representative went over TO the
Pension Office and said to the Commits
iioner of Pensions: 81 want to know what
/ costs the Government of the United
states for you 70 give up the Pension Of
ice for ten days for the inaugural ball"
What did 1t cost the Government of the
United States TO have the inaugural ball?'
Mr.. Murphy said. 81 cannot give you the
'xact figures but over his own signature
he Commissioner OF Pensions said: II
an give you the statement that the sal
.ries of the employees of the Pension Of
ice alone while they were thrown out of
employment and in idleness to allow the
committee to decorate the Pension Office
ost this Government $40, 0O0." You can
ind that by looking back in the columns
u one Of the papers here, over the sigma
ure OF the Commissioner of Pensions 1t
cost the Government $4,000 for the sal
iries OF these men Kept in idleness while
he great Pension Office was being decor
lted. Probably the other expenses were
quarter Of million dollars The same
hing may be repeated at this Inaugural
ion. l am in favo- of giving the Executive
| decent, moderate, a becoming inau-
5uration. but I am not in favor OF giving
Up these parks, giving up the Pension Of
ice. putting these employees out of the
'fice and leaving them in idleness for nine
" ten days, while the Pension Office is
icing decorated. Let them charge the peo-
lie who come here to see this inauguration
rom dollar to two dollars and half
.ach for a seat on these public parks. Let
hem pay S. to walk through our Pension
Office called the grand bail Let them ere
tie great fund, let the people of this
District make untold dollars out of the
yisitors here. and the Government pay the
.Xpenses-l am opposed to it.
Mr. Gaines-How much did 1t cost TO
naugurate Thomas Jefferson?
Ar. Bell-It cost the price of a boy to
lold his horse
Mr.. Maddox-He hitched his horse to a
rec.
Mr.. Bell-The cost was very little. !
want to say that the Inducing of Gov
chair OF Colorado six years
Ego was announced TO have cost Just So.
Every newspaper in the State and through
tut the West commended that. They COM
nended the act / saw it in our papers
lere, and the papers throughout the coun-
ry commended the Governor of New
the other day that he had a
simple and businesslike induction into Of
ice Now. | am not in favor of cutting
Town any necessary expenses. but / want
o say / was here in Washington at an