The Washington times., 1904-12-15
Opposition to Use of
Pension Building in
Congress.
RESOLUTION IS AMENDED
Substitutes Library of Con
greSS " as Place for
Function.

The House Committee on the District
of Columbia today surprised the inaugu-
raj committee by saying. in an amend-
ment To the joint resolution as reported
by the Senate. that the Library Of Con-
gress be used for the inaugural ball and
reception next March.
The members of the House committee
took this action IN spite Of the fact
that the Senate District Committee had
already favorably reported the Joint
resolution allowing the use of the Pen
sion Building for the ball. and in direct
opposition TO the wishes Of the inaug-
ural committee on the point as set forth
today by Chairman Brown. OF the sub
committee on legislation, in a public
hearing held by the House committee at
the Capitol
hay Go to the Capitol.
Tie final result Of this unexpected de-
velopment, it is confidently said, viii be
that the inaugural committee viii have
to hold the ball and grand reception in
the Capitol, using the ROtunda as A
dancing and reception room.
Such an outcome is looked for, be-
cause such prominent Republicans as
DalZell OF Pennsylvania and Payne of
New York are known TO be bitterly op-
posed to the use of the Library, as well
as the Pension Office, for the purposes
contemplated. 1t is also asserted on
high authority that even the Speaker
Of the House shares the views of Rep
resentatives Payne ana Dalzell on the
subject
Object to Pension Building.
In all quarters in tse House there is
a determination 10 prevent the ball be-
ing held in the Pension Building. anG
fer this there are two great reasOus.
FIRST, the recent law OF Congress pro-
hibits the use OF the structure for the
inaugural ball, and members Of the
House see no reason for undoing the
legislation that was enacted. because
il was recognized as an undesirable
thing 10 so use the Pension Office
Second, members DO not like the idea
or exposing to destruction by fire the
valuable records in the building. nor
do they see the use of the EMPLOYEES
losing much valuable working time,
as would be caused by the preparations
incident 10 the inaugural ball
For these reasons, and for the ad-
ditiOnal one that the action OF the
House committee today IS regarded as
final concerning the Pension BuiIdfng.
the verdict at the Capitol today is:
The Capitol, or nothing, for the
ball"
Committee Still Hopes.
Several members OF the inaugural
committee this afternoon expressed a
slight hope Of obtaining the use OF the
Pension Building in spite of all that
has happened, and one characterized
the use Of the Capitol as being worse
than holding the ball in Center Mar
ket on Saturday" The chances for
any other building than the Capitol for
the ball are generally described as
slight.
The only hope lies in the result of the
amended resolution being brought before
the House But. il the House votes TO
deny the use OF the Library. as is more
than probable the only alternative now
thought Of by ma1y viii be the Capitol
not the Pension Building.
Certainly the House District Commit
tee viii not desire the Pension Office,
as, al the hearing To-Day. Chairman Bab-
cock ard several other members showed
thei" opposition To the use of that struc-
tcre by suggesting 10 Mr. Brown. the
speaker for the inaugural committee, the
feasibility OF using o'ner buildings, even
going SO Tar as 10 inquire if temporary
structure would De advisable.
General Wilson Dazed.
The Grst information OF the action OF
the House committee that General VII
son. chairman Of the inaugural COM
mittee, had this afternoon was given
to him by a Times reporter, as the gem
eraI was walking through one of the
corridors of the Capitol.
When information of what had taken
place the general at first seemed utterly
bcWlldered. but contented himself with
saying he hoped everything might come
cut all right after the resolution Went
10 conference
Those Who Were Present.
Among those present were: Augustus
Z. Brown. chairman OF the committee
on legislation; II. II. Darneille, District
Commissioner West, 3. h. Warner, Gen.
George II. Harr.es, c. c. Glover. A. 4.
Wilson. James J.. Norris. Fire Chief
Bet. Bernard r. Green, Superintendent
Of the Library OF Congress. and several
other members of the inaugural COM
mlttec
Mr. Brown explained that Gen. John
NJ Wilson. chairman of the inaugural
committee. was unable 10 be present at
the meeting owing 90 his having some
tine ago called q meeting OF the inau-
eural committee ar about the same time
STeaking Of section .. of the resolution
providing for the use of public grounds
by the inaugural committee, Mr.. Brown
said the Senate committee had amend
ed il by providing that the committee
shall be- responsible FOR all damage done
20 public buildings and grounds Ey the
inauguration. This stipulation. he said,
was acceptable.
Coming TO the clause allowing the use
OF the Pension building for the inaugu-
aI bali AIr Brown said it was me
crust of the whole matter" He eX-
planned that the Secretary Of the Inte-
riOr has refused 10 make any recon-
mendation in the matter, taking the
ground that il Is a thing 10 be decided
by Congress.
The Secretary also told the commit