Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-17
ONE VIEW PREVAILS
Pension Office for the Inaug-
ural Ball.
BEST PLAC E KNOW N
TALKS AT HEADQUARTERS OF
INAUGURAL COMMITTEE.
Letter From Mr.. James n. McGill on
the Subject-Places Asked by Or
CARNATIONS in Parade.
BEST PLAC E KNOW N

PgndlnS action by the House and senate
in appointing a conference committee to
consider the matter of a place in which
to hold the inaugural ball, citizens gener-
| ally and more particularly the members Of
the inaugural committee are indulging in
all sorts of discussions. and arguments
from every point of view are profuse. But
all these arguments point in one direction
that the pension office is the only available
place and must be got 1t is pointed out
that the rotunda of the Capitol, admitting
that it could be decorated and prepared In
time for the ball. has a capacity of only
1900 persons, and the Congressional Ii
brary only $500 persons When it is re-
membered that there have been 1900 per-
sons at an inaugural ball in the pension
Office the difficulties to be encountered by
the committee. In case the use of the
pension office is not granted. are manifold.
1t is claimed that should either the Capitol
or the Library be used the number OF
casualties resulting from the rush and
crush of the 5000 or 1900 persons not in
the best vantage point would be appalling.
These are some Of the arguments, and In
fact are arguments which a representative
| Of The Star has been unable to have con-
troverted either inside or outside of Con-
gress.
Mr. McGill's Letter.
| To show the interest taken in this ques-
| ton by prominent persons. General VIII
| son. as chairman of the inaugural commit
tee today received the following letter from
James II. McGill of the McGill building:
81 see by the newspapers that the COM
mittee in charge of the inaugural ball find
that there is objection made by members
of the House Of Representatives to the use
of the pension building for the ball. Per-
haps if 1t were generally known that Gen.
iy,k, tod
with designing and erecting the pension
building contemplated and arranged the
roofed-over court of this building and de-
signed the balconies around the seconu and
! third stories of thus court so they would be
! we'll adapted for for presidential inau-
| gural balls. they might be willing to waive
| their objections.
| Il personally know that this use of the
| building the generals intentions and
| expectations because l had many talks
| with him on this subject. both at his office
and at the building. AS you are no doubt
aware, l had several contracts with him
for a large amount of material for the
building and had the contracts for and laid
the tile floors in the court and the bal
comics, being the parts of the building that
would be used for the ball.
IF the gentlemen who object knew how
enthusiastic General Meigs was over the
contemplated use of the pension office court
for inaugural balls they would In reverence
to his honored name and memory waive
tnelr ooJections until at least a more suit
able building for the purpose was pro-
vded
Other Views on Subject.
Another citizen. who because of not car
Ing to appear debating to the members
| Of the executive committee desires his
name withheld. suggests that as since the
lasr Inauguration, there has been con-
structed a spacious basement under the
entire south side Of the pension building.
there is ample fireproof room for the stor-
age of any files or papers which the Interior
Department seems so feaful of having de-
stroyed by fire. 1t is explained that there IS
no exposed woodwork. and that the room is
an ideal place for just such storage pur-
poses as the Interior Department Graves.
Want Place in Parade.
A delegation representing the Freling-
huysen Lancers of Newark. N. j.. called on
General Wilson this morning and requested
place in the parade. The gentlemen who
composed the delegation were Major J. r.
Salmon. Capt. William L. Blanchard and
Guido Y. Groebe.
Messrs Fred. w. Tasney. Henry Akin
| son and Harry G.. Snyder called in behalf
of the Phelps Guard of Paterson, N. j., re-
questing a place In line on the day Of the
Inaugural ton. Both requests were filed, to
| be acted upon later
Quarters for Troops.
Unless there Is legisla ton to that effect
at the present session OF Congress the off,
Gals of the War Department say that 1t
will be impossible to grant the use Of the
corridors of that building for the quartering
of troops who come to this city to partici-
| pate in the coming Inauguration. as has
| been the invariable custom on similar oc-
casions In the past This statement is based
upon liberal construction OF the Joint
resolution of February Z. 1902. which pro-
vided that no public building or approaches
thereto other than the Capitol or the White
House, shall be used or occupied In any
manner whatsoever In connection with cere-
monies at the Inauguration OF the President
of the United States, except as may here
after be expressly authorized by law.
AS Is well known. that resolution was de-
signed mainly to prohibit the use Of the