The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-20
AGAINST HOLDING BALL
 IN CAPITOL BUILDING
HOUSE DISAPPRoVEs PLAN or
 INAUGURAL coMMITTEE.

Both sides Emphatlc-Mr. Baker ob-
 iects to Few Individuals Getting
 Together for Their Own Social Pres
 tige-Puts House in Uproar When Ht Declares the Object of the Bah is ts
 Give Opportunity for Wealthy to
 Parade Themselves.
 Washington. Dec. 1s.-Tne house oi representatives to-day emphatically disapproved the proposition to hold the inaugural ball in the capitol building. The committee having the matter in charge had substituted for the pension building. as provided for by the senate resolution, the congressional library, but MT. Morrell of Pennsylvania, who called the matter up. announced that the opposition to the latter building was So great the committee had con cluded to substitute the capitol build ling. A storm of protests came fom both sides of the chamber
 MT. Morrell gave several reasons for not agreeing with the senate to utilize the pension building, among them be- ing the enormous number of valuable documents which would have to be dis arrangedt the risk of fire and the tact that business would be practically sus- pended for month. The capitol build ing, he argued. was an ideal place for the ball on account of it's having It's own police force, it's own heating ana lighting plants, broad corridors and TO- tunda and many exits.
 MT. Williams (Miss.) said that it would be petty and spitefuI to raise an objection at this time to use a govera- ment building for the ball, but called attention to a promise by the people Of the district of Columbia given to com mittees of congress that thep would build a suitable place in which this qlladrennial function should he held He scored the inaugural committee for having refused in the past to restore Ito their original condition reservations or public spaces occupied by stands or other structures. An amendment by him was adopted requiring the inaugur- al committee to give bond guaranteeing to repair all damage done. i MT Baker (N. Y.) said that if She lcIstom of mixing up of public duties with social functions was wrong one, lit was the duty of the house to oppose that function regardless of the fact that lit had been the custom 100 years or more. What he objected to, he said, I was that of few individuals getting l together flor their own social pres \ tige.1 It created class distinctions, and was undemocratic, he said.
 Having got rid of a saloon in the capitol, interjected MT. Sims (Tenn.} ;, we don't want to turn it into a ball room" ai A E5 K Ss1s
 MT. Thayer (Nfass.) said that the only place where the ball could be held with regal splendor was the pension build ing.
 q want to know" he inqnired, ssin whose fertile mind originated the idea of turning the capitol into a dance hall or ball hall for one single night. 1t would, he said, be beneath the dignity l of the American people to hold the ball 3l in thecapitoi.
 MT. Baker convulsed the house by l referring to MT. Thayer's use of the word s'pegal."
 1T am opposed, {. he said, ''to anything being done in this country in q regal, I kingly manner. He wanted it done in a democratic and simple manner. He I then turned his attention to the presf- .l dent and said he was impressed that the greatest authority in advocacy of the simple life should have such ardent \ friends upon this floor demanding that Ehe be inaugurated in a regal manner ! Mi. Baker put the house in an up- \ roar when he said that the object of I the ball was to give opportunity to the Ewealthy to parade their jewels. their gowns and their fnery so that 1t can 4 go all over the United States that Mrs, Tom Jones attended the presidents ball and that she was arrayed in such and such finery, which is believed to have cost $5.00G.
 l By an emphatic "nos' the house vot- ed down the resolution.
 5I The resolution went back to the cal I endar It can be brought up again on District of Columbia, day, which Is the second Monday in January. T The house also voted down the resolu- tion making special order on January the bill to restore to the naval aca- demy three cadets who were dismissed for hazing.