Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-12
The Citizens and the inaugural.

The part played by the people Of the Dis
trict In the Inauguration of President
does not seem to be fully appreciated py
others as attested by the remarks OF KEEP
resentatives Bell and Gaines in the House
Yesterday when the bill was passed appro-
priating $4,000 from the joint revenues OF
the District and the government for add
tional police protection on March A. The
residents and Taxpayers of the capital pear
the great bulk Of the burden OF cost ana
inconvenience and reap very small pront
from the affair They provide an elaborate
spectacle for the throngs of visitors from
outside They organize a social event OF
great proportions to permit the minging of
guests and an opportunity to observe the
dignitaries of the nation. They decorate
their homes and business places to give the
city an appropriate aspect In order to &C
complish these results they pledge them
selves by individual subscriptions, to de-
fray all expenses guaranteeing a fund
which this year approXimates $4,000. They
run a chance of not getting this money
back. 1t has only been in the past few in
augurations that the guarantors have Sc
cured reimbursement in full AS taX-pay-
ers they pay their part of whatever may be
jointly appropriated for the use of the
municipality to preserve order They ex-
pend thousands of dollars in flags, bunting
and illumination. They are the principal
patrons of the ball and occupants Of the re-
viewing stands. paying literally for these
privileges and often taxing themselves for
the pleasure and comfort of thousands of
their guests from the states.
The government is called upon merely to
assume its normal half of the municipal
expense Incidental to the affair. amounting.
shortly to appropriate further for the dec
Grafton and illuminat ton of its buildings, as
one of the partners and residents of the
capital. Its expense in this item will be
but a 1.-THE of that which will be expended
by the people of Washington for a similar
purpose which Is not reimbursed.
Representative Bell yesterday spoke of
the profits reaped by the people of the Dis
trict from this vast enterprise suggesting
that it is a money-making affair AS has
been already stated, 1t is only recently that
The guarantee funds raised by the citizens
Of Washington We're returned to the donors
the enterprise being conducted at pc
runiary loss, In 1893 and in 1897, however
the balance sheets showed profits, or rath-
er surplus sums, remaining after all bills
were paid and the guarantors reimbursed
In each case this money was paid over to
charity. Not a penny has ever gone to
the pocket of an individual subscriber to
the inauguration fund to any other per-
son save as matter of aims.
A few of the people of Washington do
profit somewhat by the assemblage of the
thousands of visitors, the keepers of hotels
and boarding houses. the owners of street
car lines and, in very few cases indeed,
the dealers In certain lines of merchandise.
ID, -
here on March and Washington does not
expect 1T to become such. All it asks is
that Congress provide for the municipal
itys share of the incidental expenses. half
of which the citizens themselves bear. dress
its buildings in appropriate style, and per-
NIT the use of the pension building for the
pail. which involves theoretical loss and
does not in fact cost the government a cent
in extra outlay.