Evening star., 1902-02-14
REPLIES TO Mr., BELL
\ NJ
John Joy Edison Defends the
inaugural Committee.
HE CITES AFEW FACTS
SAYS COLORADO REPRESENTA-
TIVE WAS MIsINFORMED.
The President, District Commissioners
and Other Public Men Wrote
Congratulations.

Mr.. John Joy Edison, chairman OF tue
committee which directed the arrangements
attending the ceremonies of the second IN
auguration of President Mckinley. In an
interview with an Evening Star reporter
this afternoon, replied to the speech OF
Representative Bell of Colorado IN the
House of Representatives on Friday of last
week, in which the latter criticised the in
augural committee.
The speech was made in favor or an
amendment Mr.. Bell offered to the legis-
lative, executive and judicial Appropriation
bill which was under consideration by the
House as a committee of the whole on the
state Of the Union. The amendment was
that hereafter no public building or the
approaches thereto other than the Capltoi
building and the White House In the DIS
trict of Columbia shall be used or occupied
in any manner whatever in connection with
ceremonies attending the inauguration Of
President Of the United states. or ftor othes es
public function, except as may hereafter De
expressly authorized by law
In the course of his remarks In the House
Mr.. Bell took occasion to critic1se the IN
augural committee, particularly In connec-
ton with the presidential reviewing stand,
In which fires started and caused damage
to the granite columns leading to the state,
War and Navy building The charge was
also made that the inaugural committee
speculated on the governments property
and refused to make good the damage
caused by the fire.
Mr.. Edson's Reply.
II was absent from the city when Mr.
Bell delivered his speech, and l have just
received a copy Of the Congressional Rec
ord containing it, Mr.. Edison said Il
cannot help but be surprised at the state
ments made. for they are in the most part
inaccurate. Mr.. Bell. take it. Of course,
has been misnformed. otherwise, from
what have learned of him as to his usual
fair-mindedness, he would not have per-
mitted himself to publicly proclaim things
that unjust to the inaugural COM
mittee, collectively and individually.
For instance, he says in his speech that
the reviewing stand. the burning Of which
caused the damage to the gate and pylons.
was occupied by persons who paid $ for
each seat to the inaugural committee.
The fact is, 1 stated in my letter to
the Secretary Of War; and which is not in
cluded In the letters printed in the Con-
gressional Record, that this stand was
inaugural committee for the use of the
President and his guests, the members
of the cabinet and their guests, Of
ficials Of the government. visiting gov
ernors. chiefs Of staff and their la
dies and other distinguished visitors.
Out Of the $50 seats over 800 were thus dis
tributed. The balance We're used mainly
by visitors compimented by the inaugural
committed This stand, which was the
presidential inaugural reviewing stand,
was designed and erected by the inaugural
committee for the purpose indicated, and
al no cost to the government.
Says Mr.. Bell is in Error.
IN his speech Mr.. Bell also says that the
surplus Of the inaugural committee was
$1,000, which is an error. 1t was $1,000,
after paying all expenses, and this was
turned over to the inaugural emergency
fund and applied for the poor Of the Dis
trict of Columbia. The inaugural commit
tee is accused of the most arrogant treat
ment to the entire force Of the
government and that the committee ig-
nored the commander 1t Is supposed this
refers to Commander George w. Baird. su-
perintendent Of the State, War and Navy
building.
Amy public man acquaint ed with the citl-
zens who composed the inaugural commit
tee must know that there is not a single
member Of the committee who would be
guilty Of any dscourtesy to a government
official, In his intercourse as a member
thereof, matters connected with the in
augural ceremonies. II Mr.. Bell had been
provided with all the correspondence and
the substance of the interviews with the
Secretary Of War and with other officials
he would know that every courtesy possible
under the circumstances was accorded to
government officers.
Labored Hard for Success.
'In the letter not published, which has al
ready been referred to. in stating the position
of the inaugural committee to the Secretary
Of War, said: The citizens Of Washing
ton consider it a privilege and honor to do
all within their power to make the in
auguration ceremonies appropriate in every
respect interesting and dignified and
credit to the nation. The members of the
committee give freely their time and means
and enthusiastically endeavor to accomplish
the best results. 1t seems to the inaugural
committee that 1t should not be held too
strictly responsible for unavoidable acci-
dents-for risks that must be taken The
amount in this case is comparatively small
1t might have been many times greater, and
thus too great liability to be voluntarily
incurred. While the loss in this instance
might be paid. or part Of 1t, out of the pres
ent surplus. it is felt that. however clear
the disclaimer of responsibility might be
stated the fact would be a precedent to i'm
properly hold future Inaugural committees
"The gentlemen composing the inaugural
committee are active professional business
men. At considerable expense time and
neglect Of private business interests they
respond to the call to assist in making ar
rangements for the inaugural ceremonies
as public duty. feeling thew renresent for