The evening times., 1901-05-17
TO WIND UP IT'S BUSINESS.
\ Meeting Of tbs Ln"@spr"t Commit
tee In the Near Futgre.

The affairs Of the Inaugural Commit
tee viii be finally disposed of at Its next
meeting While no call for the meeting
has yet been issued, John Joy Edson, ths
Chairman Of the Commiuee,- states that he
is desirous of winding up ala business
connected with the recent celebration, and
will undoubtedly call the committee to-
getler some night next week No meeting
OF the Inaugural Committee has been held
for over a month. Practically, but two
matters viii claim the attention of the
body w1en i d2es assemble again. The
most IMPORTANT Of these matters is the
disposition Of the surplus fund, represent
ing the profits of the various entertain
rnents provided during the Inauguration
celebration. Former Inaugural Com
nittees have given such balances to charI-
ty. Already part Of the present surplus
has been applied in that direction. Wheth-
er the remainder of the surplus viii also
be given to charity is d matter for the
committee to determine
There is a strong disposition on the part
of some of the more prominent members,
and the ruling element of the committee,
to devote the sum to the establishment
of a. perpetual memorial of the recent In
sugufatiOn Other members have lists
of individual charities to which they Will
demand that a portion of the funds be
applied. Some of these proposed benefic-
iaries are the new Public Library, the Va
rious hospitals, and other local eleemosy-
nary institutions 1t is quite certain how
ever that if the remaining surplus be de-
voted to charity it will all &c to the Dis
trict of Columbia Charity Fund, which is
disbursed under the general direction of
the Board of Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia
The disposition of claim for Sl,I0
made by Frank N Carver. the contractor
and builder. is the second matter that will
demand the attention of the Inaugural
Committee at the final meeting, Mr. Car
yer contracted to construct the Court Of
Honor. in front of the White House, for
the Inaugural ceremonies for the sum of
s., ESQ, and the plans were materially al
tered to permit him to do the work within
this contract price.
He now claims that the cost OF con-
struCtiOn exceeded his contract price by
the amount of the bill submitted, $l,tOc,
and asks the consideration and approval
by the Inaugural Committee OF claim
for this sum At the last meeting OF the
Inaugural Committee the matter was
referred to a subcommittee of five. Inis
subcommittee took up the claim, and by
a vote of three to two recommended that
it be paid. Mr. Edison, Chairman OF the
Inaugural Committee, and Michael l.
Weller were the two members of the sub
committee who were opposed to the pay
ment of the claim.
1t is the final settlement of this claim
which has delayed the work of the Inau-
guraI Committee
1t appears that bid was made prior
to the award of the contract for $500
for the construction of the Court OF
Honor. This proposal was based on the
original plans. which were afterwarf
greatly altered, so as to lessen the eX-
pense of the work Of construction, when
Carver agreed TO take the contract for
s2 000-
Those who oppose the payment Of a
bonus to Carver assert that IL is not
just discrimination against the other con-
tractors who bid on the work, and that
the payment OF his claim win he an OBJ
jectionab!e precedent for future Inaugu-
raj Committees