Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-20
NO BALL At CAPITOL
The House Decides Against
the Proposition.
INTERESTING DEBATE
USE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
LIBRARY NOT FAVORED
Provision for Social Features of the
Inauguration Yet in Allegiance
Plans for Tomorrow.

The House of Representatives, by its ac-
| ton yesterday afternoon in voting down
| the MOrrell amendment to the joint naugu-
| raj resolution from the District of Column
| bia committee, placed itself on record as
! emphatically opposed to the use of the
| Capitol building for the inaugural ball and
| concerts The debate on the floor which
preceded the vote on the resolution made II
| just plain that majority of the MEM
bers were also intensely opposed to the use
| of the Congressional Library for this pur-
pose, and from the enthusiastic applause
which greeted every mention of the pension
office 1t was apparent to even the casual OBJ
server that popular sentiment favored the
use of the latter-named building as the best
place. from every point of view, for the
great inaugural function AS result of
the defeat of the Morrell resolution which
had been taken under a suspension of the
rules, the whole matter, if left to take the
regular course. will not come up in the
House until the second Monday in January
Efforts to Be Made Tomorrow.
But the District committee is anxious to
| have the matter disposed of before the holl-
| days, and as many influential members on
| the floor think the came way, strong eff
fCrt Will be MADE tOmOfTOW u oDtdiH eiio
concurrence of the House in the Senate
| resolution providing for the use of the pen
sion office. Today the House is not in ses-
| sion, a resolution offered by Representative
Payne of New York the republican floor
leader early Yesterday morning Ii1 n. having pro-
During the debate yesterday rather IN
teresting situation was revealed. 1t was
apparent that the House leaders, for rea-
sons best known to themselves. were eX-
tremely DESTROYS of having the body go on
record in favor of using the Capitol for the
ceremony. The rank and file of the House,
however, took a very few minutes TO tear
this proposition to shreds. Representatives.
Baker of New York. Thayer of Massachu-
sets and Gaines of Tennessee declared II
was beneath the dignity of the United
States government to turn the Capitol into
dance hail. and Mr.. Thayer wanted to
know sin whose fertile brain this brilliant
idea orignated?" The fight on the resolu-
ton was sharp from the very moment MI;
Morrell offered the amendment proposing
the Capitol building and was full of inter-
est to the members on the floor and to the
spectators in the galleries
Mr.. Morrell Urges Use of Capitol.
After the ordering of a second on the
amendment Speaker Cannon announced
that Mr.. Morrell and Mr.. Baker were
each allotted twenty minutes time for
debate before the vote. Mr. Morrell, in
urging the adoption of the amendment
designating the Capitol, quoted the Sec
rotary of the Interior in opposition to
the use of the pension office, spoke of the
fires that had occurred there during the
inaugural function four years ago, elm
mated the Congressional Library from
the list by quoting the remarks OF MT.
Bernard r. Green, the superintendent Of
the building; and finally urged that the
Capitol be selected. :
Representatives Burkett OF Nebraska and
Douglass of New York asHto the deco
rating that would be necessary In the
Capitol the time it would take, and what
part of the building would be thrown
open to the public. Mr.. Douglass thought
that if the Capitol were designated the
Senate and House and Supreme Court
chambers should be reserved for the
legislators and their guests.
Mr.. Williams Opposed.
''As an original proposition" said Mr..
Williams of Mississippi 'I am unalter-
ably opposed to permitting public build
ing to be used for purposes of this kind.
But for years and years it has been the
custom to use some public building. 1t
has been done under republican admins
trations and 1t has been done under dem
ocratic administrations 1t would now
seem petty and spiteful for me to raise
an objection of that sort want to ex-
press my view. however. now that the
people of the District Of Columbia. know
ing beforehand that every four years
there is going to be an immense Access
sion Of people here at the inaugural cele-
brations, will keep that promise which
they once before made to Congress or to
it's committees, to erect a building for
such purposes as this and suitable for
general convention purposes as well"
Mr.. Williams then offered an amendment,
which was agreed to, providing that the in
augural committee must give bond. with Sc
curity to be approved by the Secretary OF
War for the restoration to the original con-
dition of all public spaces, parks, streets
ant nrn W cad r.
poses of the inauguration.
Sees No Need Of Ball.
Mr. Baker of New York said he was OPP
posing the resolution because he did not
see the necessity for any inaugural ball at
ALL Mr.. Baker said that If the question
had to do merely with the use of the
Capitol building for a public show he should
not offer any objection, but" he added
when a few individuals get together for
their own social prestige, which we are con-
stantly hearing of on this floor; when pub
lie carriages are used, as they have been
used. to maintain the social prestige of
minor officials of the government: when
any action Is taken by this House the effect
of which Is to create a social prestige for
some individual or some class, 1 am OPP
posed to that. / am opposed to the Use of
public buildings for any such purpose. I
should oppose this measure IL a democrat
had been elected and democrat was to be
inaugurated on the 4th of March. 1t Is not
a question Of Mr.. Roosevelt. His person.
ality Is not involved in this proposition at
all. The question is should public property
be used for social functions? 1 say not
am opposed to Its use for any such pur-
pose"
in IN n nnt yo,f 70