Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-16


top there would be no place in which the
floor where dancing would be In pro.
gress.
Beyond these points Of difficulty those
who have charge OF the care OF the Capitoi
building consider that to permit such Q
large crowd to enter It, crowding the hall
ways beyond the power OF the guards 20
great injury to the building The strictest
care is constantly exercised on occasions OF
large crowds at the Capitol to prevent any
form Of vandalism. and yet now and then
ing.
Senator Gallinger's Opinion.
Senator Gallinger, chairman Of the COM
mittee of the District Of Columbia, today
declared that. as far as he was concerned.
the inaugural ball would not be held In
either the Library building nor within the
Capitol He regarded the pension office
building as the proper place for that func-
ton. Senator Gallinger before becoming
chairman of the District of Columbia COM
mittee was chairman Of the committee on
pensions. so that he is especially acquainted
with all conditions that prevail in the PEN
sion office building. and his committee has
already recommended that that building be
used for the inaugural ball.
In the pension Office building all the
available space Is equally desirable Tor
those who wish to see the ceremonies at
tors comment on the fact that while they
hope that there will be no further need
to grant the use Of the pension office for
the inaugural ball. yet the building is so
constructed as to be admirably adapted for
that purpose.
To Report Resolution.
1t was arranged today by Chairman A.
b. Browne Of the subcommittee on legisla-
ton of the inaugural committee and Rep
reSentatfVa M0rra11 nF pfo mh
has charge of the amended joint inaugural
resolution. to report the resolution to the
House on Monday next. AS told in The
Star yesterday. the District committee OF
the House amended the joint resolution SO
as to provide for the use of the Congress
sfona! Library building for the inaugural
Dali instead OF the pension office. There
WIN undoubtedly be considerable debate on
the floor when the amended resolution
comes up It is thought that the amend
ment naming the Congressional Library
building will stand in the House, but the
members of the inaugural committee and
those others who think the pension office
the best place for the function have hopes
that the latter building will finally be
agreed upon in the conference committee
or the two houses.
Mr. Putnam's Views.
Herbert Putnam, the librarian of Con-
gress, does not believe that it would be
a good thing to use the Congressional LII
brary building for the inaugural ball and
concerts.
Mr.. Putnam doesn't think that the build
Ing would be seriously damaged. and he
declines to express an opinion as to the
question Of policy involved, but on the
score OF the convenience, comfort and
safety of the guests he sees a number of
strong objections to the use of the build
ing. Mr.. Putnam said today to Star re-
porter:
Would Heartily Cooperate.
IF Congress should decide to grant the
use of the library building, Superintendent
Green and myself would heartily cooperate
to make the occasion a success. He and I
are entirely In accord in the matter. 1t was
for him to say whether there might be any
injury to the building itself. He thinks that
there would be little risk Of this, and u
should have every confidence that with him
in charge there would be none. l do NOT
believe that there would be any serious
interruption to the work of the library. The
doubts that he has and that l share are
from an entirely d.-erent standpoint We
think that the building would not be at all
CONVENIENT for the purpose 1t is a large
building, but very small part of it indeed
would be available for either reception or
dancing.
There is the main staircase hallway and
there are the two galleries on the second
lloor connecting with it's second landing
There is long gallery on the second floor.
south side, connecting with one Of these.
put when you have listed these spaces you
have counted all. The main reading room
Is hiied with set fixtures that could not be
moved, and every other room has either
shelving or other heavy fixtures which
would block any use by large company
There is practically but one entrance,
which would have to be both entrance an
exit. There would be no one room large
enough for the dancing, nor the possibility
OF providing properly for the supper, an
less for these two purposes struct,Ires
should be erected in the two west court
yards. These could not be heated, and
they would at once raise the peril of fire
1t would be difficult to introduce into the
courts the materials for their construction
and their construction and demolition would
involve noise and confusion for a consdera-
Die period before and after the 4th Of
March.
The effect on the main staircase hallway
and in the two adjacent galleries might
De very brilliant indeed. but we should fear
great disappointment beyond this
Upon he question of policy, since this is
under consideration by Congress itself we