The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-16
WANTSASHARE OF GLORY
The House Demands Representa-
tiOn at the Inauguration.
n Recommits n Resolution Passed by
the SENATE With instructions to
Report Another Providing fhns
the Programme Shall BE De-
termincd by u Joint Committee.

The House of Representatives yesterday
recommitted joint resolution Ito enable
the Secretary of the Senate to pay the
necessary expenses of the inaugural cere-
monies of the President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, March 4, 1901.
with instructions to report a resolution
providing for the expenses of the inaugu-
ration of the President to be had under
a programme subject to arrangements to
be made by a joint committee of the
House and Senate. The action was taken
by the House after a colloquy of more
than ordinary intensity.
Mr.. Bingham, from the Committee on
Appropria tions, reported the resolution
with an amendment increasing the sum
appropriated from five to seven thousand
dollars and asked unanimous consent for
its immediate consideration.
Nh. Richardson of Tennessee asked:
"Is it not rather unusual for the House
to raise the amount of an appropriation
bill from the Senate? | thought the op-
posite was the usual course Laughter ]
Mr.. Bingham-This is an expenditure of
money that does not come from the con-
tingent fund, but is a fixed appropriation,
anu WHICH lue fiOuSe ItCSlNfS SPS-
cial and direct benefit.
MIR. Richardson asked the gentleman
If it is not unusual for the House to raise
an appropriation from that fixed by the
Senate?
Mr. Bingham-We do raise it $1,000.
Mr.. Riehardson-Does the gentleman
think it is necessary to make that in
crease?
MIR Bingham said: ''The resolution of
the Senate is identical with the resolu-
tion four years ago whereby a centre plat
form was erected that had accommoda-
tions for 5000 seated guests. 1t is the in
tention, after conference with the Ser
geant- alarms of the two Houses. to make
anexpansion OF the seating oapacityso that
on each flank from the centre platform
will be seats for 2.1G0 guests of the Sen
ate and 100 guests of the House, for
which tickets will be issued by the Ser
geant- t-at-Arms of the respective houses.
There has been serious complaint hereto
fore that sufficient convenience has not
been given to the guests of the members
of the two houses. This, u, is believed,
Will obviate that criticism so that the
seating capacity will be little in excess
of 1000 guests, or seats.
The committee, upon enquiry, found
that the building of this platform would
that the seats in distribution would be in
control of the two houses, of the respe--
tive Seargents- alarms.
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee-Where
are the House seats 10 be located?
Immediately on the flank of the CEN
tire platform, the entrance on the outside,
the parties receiving the tickets TO enter
from the outside and go to their seats.
The Senate seats will be on the other
nd will ba Gid
OF the platform. Those who go on the
centre platform will be such parties as
have the right to the entrance to the Cap
itol by tickets, as heretofore two tickets
for each member of the House, as hereto
fore. four tickets to each member Of the
Senate The Cabinet and the Supreme
Court the members of the next Congress.
Senator's. and Representatives, the for
eign legations, all the employees of the
House, who are within the limits Of its
walls, will have the right to go upon the
centre platform, but the distinct right of
the flank platforms, covering 2,100 feet
for each chamber, will be within the alb
soiute control of the Sergeant alarms of
the respective Houses. This it is assum-
ed, will give to each member six addi
tional seats"
Mr.. Grosvenor interrupted by saying:
81 would like TO ask The gentleman If 1t
would be an unfair advantage to give the
357 members Of the House as many tickets
as the so odd members Of the Senate
have?"
At this point Mr. Dalzell said: II want
to call the attention of my colleague from
Pennsylvania to the fact that in the joint
resolution which he presents there is no
recognition Of the House in any shape or
form. This is proposition to enable the
Secretary of the Senate to pay the nee
essary expenses connected with the inau-
guEal ceremonies, etc, and to provide for
the carrying out of the programme de
yised by the Committee on Arrangements
appointed by the Senate"
Mr. Bingham-But my colleague under
stands, of course, that the proceedings
are in the Senate
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee-Does the
gentleman from Pennsylvania know that
il has always been the case almost in
variably since the foundation of the Gov
ernment down to the present time? Now
does the gentleman think il time to try
to change that and give the House some
voice in these proceedings again? Zap
plause.l
Mr.. Dalzell-I agree with the gentleman
from Tennessee that there should be some
change in this proceeding.
Mr.. Richardson hope the gentleman
will stand upon that suggestion.
There was an interchange OF opinions
and suggestions between Mr.. Bingham,
Mr. Clark Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee.
Mr.. Gaines, Mr.. Hall, Mr.. Robinson of
Indiana, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Bromwell
concerning the distribution of tickets,
Mr.. Gaines. among other things, Saying:
Il have been informed here by citizen,
and, indeed, by some of the members of
this House, that privileges are let out
here to sell tickets to these various plat
forms. and that the tickets thereto fal:
into the hands of sharks, and that the
people who come here from all over the
United States to view these ceremonies
are robbed by being charged from five 10
ten dollars a ticket
Mr. Hepburn Joined in the discussion by
saying: Il should like to ask the gentle
man from Pennsylvania (Mr. Blngham)
why the House should have anything to
do with the Inauguration OF the Vice Pres
ident? Is not that entirely a matter for
the Senate? Is it not entirely analogous
to our installation of our Speaker? 1t
seems to me that the House has nothing to
do with that. that it is entirely an affair
for the Senate. II gives occasion for the
invitation of the House there, from time
TO tine to be treated with extreme dis
courtesy, as It has been on every occasion
during the last twenty years to my knowl-
edge The House has been invited to par
ticipate. We have gone there and found
that the head OF the column could get in
side of the Senate Chamber, but often
found the seats occupied by the officers
of the Senate. and it has always been an
occasion of complaint and displeasure on
the part of members.
Now. it seems to me that We ought 10
divorce ourselves entirely from this pro-
ceeding. We are interested in those OBJ
servances that occur outside of the Sen
ate Chamber We have no interest in
those that occur inside the Senate Cham
ber. and think we should confins ourselves