Evening star., 1901-07-26
OF NATIONAL SCOPE
Character of Movement to Change
Date of Inauguration.
GENERAL SENTIMENT FAVORS IT
April 80 May Be Decided Upon
as the Best Selection.
COMMITTEE TO BE NAMED

The matter of appointing a committee,
| national in scope. to consider the question
Of a change IN the date OF the Inauguration
OF the President Of the United States, and
to take proper steps to secure such
change Ii 1t be deemed advisable, has been
formally placed In the hands of the Dis
trict Commissioners by Mr.. John JOY Ed
| son, the chairman of the last inaugural
committee. The Commissioners will act
soon.
Mr.. Edison today called upon Commits
sioner Macfarland, president OF the Dis
trict board, and presented to him a letter
on the subject. In the letter the fact was
recited that at the last meeting Of the in
augural committee of 1901, held May %,
resolution was adopted, authorizing the
chairman of the inaugural committee ito
request the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia to appoint such number or
persons, in their judgment and discre-
tion may be necessary, to constitute d COM
mttee of national character, to consider
the question of, and to take proper steps
to secure a change of the date OF shc m
auguration of the President of the United
States, from the 4th of March to such
date, as in the judgment of said commit
tee, would be more suitable for inaugura-
ton day..
General Sentiment for Change.
Commenting upon this resolution in his
letter Mr.. Edison says:
There manifestly prevails general SEN
timent here and throughout the country
that a change of date for the inaugui alton
of the President is desirable, not only on
account of the inclemency of the weather
in March, but for other public economic
reasons
1T is hoped the committee you Will Sc
lect will so carefully and thoroughly con-
slider this important subject that their con-
clusions and recommendations will lead to
right and final settlement of the ques-
ton"
Commissioner Macfarland. who was O
member of the last inaugural committee,
will present the matters to his associates
of the District board, and suggest that the
committee be composed of the governors of
the states and territories of the Union and
of fifteen prominent citizens appointed at
tion of the District of Columbia. 1t will no
seen that the committee will be entirely
national In scope although the residents of
the District of Columbia are taking the In
itiative in the matter The matter VIII
have to be brought before Congress, and 1t
is proposed to give the recommendations Of
the committee conclusive strength.
AS the people Of the District have charge
of the inauguration ceremonies and cele-
brations in many ways, ii is considered
proper that the committee to consider the
change of date should be appointed by the
District Commissioners and that the Dis
trict should be appropriately represented in
the body.
April 3Oth Favored.
In the discussion of a change In the time
of the inauguration of the Presiden. the
date which has generally been suggested
is April 30 which is the anniversary of the
first Inauguration Of George Washington
in New York. 1t is claimed that the wealth
er in Washington at that time Of year is
generally more propitious for such an
event. including as IL does an outdoor ad-
dress by the chief executive and the re-
view by him of lengthy pageant made up
Of the martial forces and prominent civic
organizations of the entire country. 1t is
further urged that April 30 would prolong
the short session of Congress to an agree
able date and would result I'm the transac-
tion Of much valuable public business,
which. because Of the early adjournment
now in vogue, is often delayed for ten or
twelve months or more.
1t is not known as yet whether not
meeting of the national committee to be
appointed by the Commissioners will be
called. 1t is generally supposed that much
Of the work of the organization will be
done through correspondence A meeting
may be called however, when the matter
Is well in hand, so that the decision may
be forcibly ratified.