The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-19
DAMAGE TO THE PILLARS
Secretaries of State, War, and
Navy Fix the Responsibility.
They Hold That the inaugural Com
mittee Must Repair the Pylons In
iured by the Recent Fire in the
Presidential Reviewing stand.

Where shall rest the legal responsibility
for the damage done the granite pillars
between the White House and State, War
and Navy building caused by the fire
which destroyed the Presidential review
ing stands is "A question which promises
to be thoroughly discussed. Comma nder
G. w Baird. Superintendent Of the state,
War and Navy Building. has notified the
Inaugural Committee that the Secretaries
of State War and Navy hold the COM
mittee responsible for the damage. This
view of the matter is by no means con-
CURED in by Chairman John Joy Edison,
and the liability Of the committee will be
duly considered before any responsibility
is acknowledged.
In the event that the responsibility Of
the Inaugural Committee is finally con-
ceded 1t is more than probable, it Is said,
that it will be then shifted to the Shout
ders OF the contractor who built the
stands, and who may be charged with
lack OF promptness in removing the lUm-
Der. The stands, il is held. have been
absolutely the property of the contractor
since week ago last Friday
To Commander Baird's letter announc-
ing the position of the Secretaries of the
three departments Mr. Edison has sent
only an acknowledgment of the receipt of
the communication The liability Of the
Inaugural Committee will be thoroughly
considered. Mr.. Edison says, before he will
commit himself or the committee to the
extent OF promise to defray the cost of
repairing the damaged property Mr.
Ralrd's communication follows:
March Is. 1901.
john JOY Edison. Chairman inaugural
Committee, Washington, ID. c.:
Dear Sir The fire which occurred
last night in your observation stand,
which extends over the approaches to
this building. has seriously damaged
the granite pylons which carry the
iron gates
The Government will expect your
committee to make good the dam
ages.
by direction Of the Secretaries of
state. War, and Navy Very re-
specially, &. ". BAIRD.
Commander, L. s. N Supt"
The damage to the Government proper
~ amounts To about S2.J10. Any action
in the matter Is improbable until the next
meeting of the Inaugural Committee,
which will be held ia about two weeks
It is expected that all Of the financial af-
fairs will he wound up at the meeting
Mr.. Parsons, the contractor it is stated,
was repeatedly advised to remove the re-
viewing stands. and urged especially on
the score of danger from fire. His failure
TO remove the lumber. or even to clear
away the immense amount of paper which
had accumulated under the stands. is re
spoHsble for the fire, according TO MEM
bcrs Of the Inauguration Committee.
There is a strong disposition ON the
part of members of the Inauguration
Committee to sympathize with Mr. Par
sons, whose profits, or the bulk thereof.
viii be wiped out, If he is required to
meet the entire amount of the damage. In
view of this sympathy. it is possible that
an appropriation will be made to HELM
cover the expense
Chairman Edison said yesterday that the
expenses of the various Inauguration COM
mittees had come within the amounts APP
propriated for the different departments OF
the Inauguration celebration by more than
N.Go- The sum appropriated for all pur-
poses was about 81, 600 This saving in
the expenses incident to the festivities
will materially increase the surplus i'm
the hands of the Inaugural Committee.
Chairman Bell, of the Inaugural Finance
Committee reports the receipt of abou,
5000 to date. for the sale of souvenir in
yitations. The invitations are still on
sale, and the final figures will perhaps
reach 5000 before all the souvenirs are
disposed of. The invitations are now SELL