Evening star., 1901-04-08
CHAIRMAN EDSON'S REPORT
AFFAIRS OF THE INAUGURAL COM
MITTEE UNDER CONSIDERATION.
Recon- mmendatiOn for Change in Date
of Inauguration CeremOny-New
Building for the Ball.


of recommendations, including the sugges-
ton that a united effort be made to Sc
cure a change in the date of inaugurations
of the future and the provision of some
place other than the pension building for
the purposes of the inaugural balls. Mr..
Edison had hoped, he said, that one meet
ing of the committee would suffice to clear
up all the business remaining unfinished,
but there are several matters yet to be
acted upon, including the disposition of
the surplus fund, and consequently an
other meeting will be held in the near fu-
ture.
After calling the committee to order,
Chairman Edison presented a number of
unsettled bills on which payment had
been deferred for one reason or another.
The committee ordered that the final in
stallment of s2UD0 due James l.. Parsons,
the contract for the reviewing stands i'll
the court of honor, be paid. The amount
was held back because of the claim Of the
government for damage done the granite
pylons at the entrance to Executive ave-
nue. in the fire which partially destroyed
the southwest stand while in course of
demolition. 1t was thought Mr.. Parsons
might be held responsible in case it was
found he had not proceeded cXpeditlously
in removing the structures. The commit
tee decided the contractor could not be
held responsible, however, and the amount
was paid. The government claim will
at it's next meeting.
Claim for Additional Compensation.
Contractor Frank Carver, who construct
ed the pillars and pylons of the court OF
honor, submitted claim for sl,7OO addi-
tional compensation, saying that the eX-
pense of construction had exceeded the
amount of the original proposal to that
extent. The matter was referred to a COM
mttee, consisting of Chairman Edison and
Messrs. Marshall, Stellwagen Davis and
Kaufman, all of the inaugural committee.
An appropriation of S139 was made from
the surplus for the pay of employees of the
pension office who worked overtime in serv-
ing the inaugural committee. The recon-
mendation was made by Major James E.
Bell, chairman of the committee on COM
fort at the ball.
bill was presented by the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company for S42l, being the
amount due for transportation of the naval
cadets from the Annapolis Academy to this
city and return. In arranging for the par
ticpation of the naval cadets in the inau-
gural parade it was found that no govern
ment funds were available for their ex-
penses. General Francis V. Greene of New
York grand marshal of the parade, with
few friends, guaranteed the expenses of
the cadets Upon receipt of the bill Cen
eral Greene transmitted it to Chairman
Edison a proper claim upon the surplus
in the hands of the inaugural committee. 1t
was decided that an appropriation could
not be made to pay the bill, as the commit
tee had, Immediately after organization,
placed itself on record as not being able
to undertake the payment of any part of
the expense of visiting organizations. The
precedent of paying the expenses of the
naval cadets would, therefore, be an en-
barrassing precedent for future Inaugural
committees 1t was then determined that
the item should be provided for in some
other way, probably by private subscrip-
tion of the members of the committee.
'hai airy0 an off to trih
toward the settlement of the claim.
The Chairman's Report.
Mr.. Edson's report was next taken up.
1t was read by the chairman himself and
at it's conclusion the committee ordered it
printed and bound in pamphlet form. Mr..
Edison referred to the fact that the guar
antee fund subscribed this year was great
er than any heretofore provided by. more
than $1,000. He stated that about 5000
people attended the inaugural ball and
about 10000 people attended the concerts in
the pension building. The chairman praised
in highest terms the work of Chairman
John B. Larner and the members of the
committee on parks and reviewing stands.
He stated that the committee had turned in
a profit of $1,000 from the sale of seats in
the court of honor stands and the disposal
of privileges.
Mr. Edison suggested that the attendance
would be greater and the interest better
maintained if in the inaugural parades of
the future the civic division precede the
military. He complimented Grand Marshal
Greene for his excellent management of
the affairs of the parade. The chairman
proceeded down the list of subcommittees
briefly telling of the work accomplished by
each, and complfmenting each subchair-
man for the capable manner in which the
duties assigned were discharged. Congress
should have provided for the illumination
of public buildings, he declared. The pri-
vate display was the finest ever witnessed
In the city. Mr.. Edison noted the recon-
mendation of the committee on printing
that In the future the official program be
published by the committee as the means
of securing the most satisfactory results
1t was stated that only one committee ex-
ceeded its appropriation, the carriage COM
mittees expenses being s1S6 In excess of
the arount allowed. The sum of $11O was
appropriated for paying a Philadelphia firm
marshals Of the parade. A total of 81 600
had been turned back unused by the COM
mftteeS.
Inaugural Ball Room.
The report next went into the question
of the inaugural ball. Mr.. Edison declared
that of late there had been no alternative
but to use the pension office for the func-
tion. The building is finely adapted for
the purpose. he said, but it's use had caused
the government considerable inconvenience
and much expense A large public building
for such functions is practical necessity,
whether separate or combined with a mu-
nicipal building or armory. Steps should be
taken at once, Mr.. Edison declared, looking
to the erection during the next four years
of building for public functions. The
President and many senators and represen-
tatives he declared, are heartily In favor
of such project.
In regard to the date set for inaueura-
tions. Mr.. Edison said that while the
weather the past 4th of March was not as
bad as on some previous occasions, it was
nevertheless. disagreeable. He suggested
an Immediate move for changing the date
and said the matter should be placed In the
hands Of committee, national in scope.
for proper presentation to Congress and
the state legislatures. A change in the
date to later month would mean length
entng of the short session of Congress- and
hence would require an amendment to the
Constitution.
Mr.. Edison extended the thanks Of the
committee to Vice Chairman T. E. Roessle,
through whose courtesy the committee had
held its meetings In the parlors of the Ar
lington Hotel. He also referred in terms
of warm praise to the valuable aid lent
him by the secretary of the committee, Mr..
Harrison Dingman.
Mr.. John B. Larner submitted a resolu-
tion extending thanks to large number
of persons and corporations who had given
assistance to the committee. 1t was unan-
imOuSlv adoptad ---