Evening star., 1902-02-15
Inaugurations Of the Future.

resulting injury to e-Warand Navy
gate posts, and on the strength OF Mr.
I;cll's misunderstanding and consequent In
accurate presentation of the facts IN the
case the House has voted that no public
building or the approaches thereto except
the Capitol and White House shall here
after be used in connection with inaugural
ceremonies,
The inaugural stand which caught fire
was the Presidents grand stand. from
which he reviews the organizations that
parade in his honor the Fourth of
March. II is occupied by him and the Vice
Tresiden; and the new cabinet and by dis
,inguished invited guests. Though built
at the expense OF contributing citizens of
the District there is no income from it.
ard it is distinctly public structure balt
for a specific public purpose, in the same
category with the stand also erected from
the contributions of citizens at the east
steps of the Capitol, on which the oath is
administered 10 the new President and
from which he delivers his inaugural ad
dress
The representatives of Washington who
as the inaugural committee devote time and
brain and fimitless energy to the arrange
ments for honoring and welcoming the in
coming President appreciate the privilege
part Of their honorable task of gratui-.
tpus!y erecting certain public structures for
the new executives use; but If through no
fault OF their own an accident to one of
these structures results in damage to a
public building or its surroundings. these
uncompensated committeeman naturally
hesitate to undertake personally to meet
this damage. Establishment OF the pru-
ciple that they were thus legally liable
would cause appointment on the inaugural
committee to expose a man to the possi
bilty of financial ruin. The duty Of re-
building the State. War and Navy Depart
ment building, or the Capitol itself, might
be imposed upon the committeeman. TIE
bond exacted from the inaugural chair
man to make good any damage 10 the
pension office. even TO the extent of restor-
ing it If destroyed, represents alone an ex-
cessive and unjust burden Of responsibility.
Tie proper solution OF the gate-post
problem is 10 remove the gates entirely.
The street situated between the White House
and the State. War and Navy Departments
should be opened 10 public use. just as the
corresponding street on the other side OF
the White House between that building
and the Treasury Department Is opened.
To permit gate on one side OF the White
side is to be guilty OF approving lack of
symmetry. an offense which calls for the
immediate and vigorous attention OF the
Parking Commission, whose adherence is
the unsymmetrical. The gate Is moreover
Il sham. 1t merely obstructs one end Of a
street. 1t does not constitute the entrance
ID anything, preventing, when closed, public
access thereto. South of the State War
and Navy Departments the street is open
10 the public, and the only obvious practical
effect OF the existence OF the gate is to pre-
sent timelosing obstacle to the Fire De-
partment in approaching from the north TO
q fire on the east side of the State War
and Navy building or the west end of the
White House.
The Senate IN dealing with Mr. Bell
amendment Should appreciate that a reyo-
luton in inaugural proceedings Is pro-
posed. II no public building Is hereafter
10 be used for the great popular reception
called the inaugural ball, such receptions
will doubtless cease, and with them will
be discontinued much Of the celebration in
honor of the new executive in expensive
fireworks. illumination, decoration, etc
wi,ch the revenues from the ball helped to
pay for. The makeshift structures erected
on few occasions in the past for inaugural
u
comfort, of pneumonia. and OF failure in
every respect, pecuniary and otherwise Be-
fore Congress prohibits the use Of public
buildings for inaugural purposes. it should
provide the proposed combination structure
Of armory and inaugural ball room to serve
as substitute for the pension building
II Is mistake TO suppose that Washing
Ton In its honorable inaugural task finds
Droft I'm the local uncompensated expendi-
ture or time and money on the various
features or inaugural preparations, the
systematizing and regulating on harmon
ious and aesthetic lines of the decora tions
OF the city, and especially the line OF
march. the assurance of symmetry and a
maximum of attractiveness in the stands
whether to be occupied by the President
and distinguished guests of the city, or by
ordinary paying spectators the arrange
ments for the comfortable housing at rea-
sonable prices, OF visitors, the considerate
handling and care OF participants in the
great parade. the provision Of electric H.
Illumination and fireworks, the painstaking
and elaborate arrangements for the re-
ception in honor OF the President at the
pension building or some other available
and suitable place. The committeeman s
reward. outside OF the approval Of his con-
eCicHtt, - Iouliu Al tie privilege OF DaSk-
fne I'm the radiance OF the incoming execu-
tive.
BY rendering the position OF inaugural
commit teeman untenable for the citizen Of
Washington Congress can easily transfer
the superintendent OF the function, the
performance OF these labors. and the burden
of these expenses. from local to national
shoulders. The cost of the national cele-
bration can be met by a national appropria-
tion and the national committee of the vic
torious party can undertake all the In
auGnra! labors. and enjoy all the honors ac-
cruing therefrom.
But why even then should the govern
ment tie its own hands as to the place In
which the great popular reception may be
held? Are our future Presidents to be in
augurated with less iInpressiveness OF well
come than those who have preceded? VIII
any senator or representative. q potential
President of the future. take such action
as to render 1t certain that his own in
aug1ration some day. will lack In oppor-
tunities for the display of hearty popular
enthusiasm In his honor which his predeces-
sors have enjoyed?