The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-21
he Inaugural Ball,

Congress will mistake the temper
OF tie American people if it decides
against the inaugural ball or fails
to provide a suitable building in
which that ceremony can take place.
The installation of our President diff
fers from the coronation of a king in
many respects, but in none more COM
pletely than this-that Berlin, Lon
dor, and St. Petersburg look on to
see their ruler assume his throne,
while il America the people them
selves induct their chief into the Of
fee to which they have chosen him.
The inaugural is significant, then.
not because of it's pageantry, but be-
cause it permits the people TO unite
with the officers of their Government
IN the most important ceremony en-
tailed by their Government This it
is which makes the inaugural ball
almost Indispensable. II is the one
element OF social distinction in the
whole affair. It has no parallel in
the festivals OF any other power. 1t
is open to every citizen of the United
States who is willing. TO bear his share
OF the expense. And it brings the
people Of the nation into respectful
but near association with their Execu-
tive.
washington offers but one building
suitable for this use That structure
IS the Pension Building, and was de-
signed, in part at least, to meet that
particular need Its broad court and
high roof lend themselves admirably
to decoreEls I-riznsiz lid formal
dancing Frightened by decorations
appropriate TO. the day. The whole
assemblage remains on the ground
floor, with exits open at every hand.
The building is freproof Until the
District is provided with another
structure equally safeguarded-
private citizens have pledged. them
selves TO do so within four years
the inaugural ball, If any be held, must
be given in this building There
have been attempts to use the Capt.
tol for great ceremonies-it is not
necessary now 10 recall with what
melancholy and dreadful results. The
Library of Congfess. the only other
building suggested, is not on the
ground floor, has only one exit, and
offers particular opportunities for
vandalism and accident An armory
was once suggested, but the District
has no armory and will be lucky to
get one in time for the next ball.
The objection to the use of the
Pension Building is that it costs the
Government about $50, 0W-eomputed
according TO some unexplained proc
ess-in the services of Government
clerks excused from their desks to
make room for the decorators Ifthere
were no other basis Of comparison how
would the constituents of the Con-
gressional 1watchdogs" weigh this
sum against the inaugural ball2 Not
an even hundred notable citizens in
all the districts represented by those
t'watchdogs" could be polled against it.
But there is another basis of com
parison. What part of the expenses
incidental to the coronation of King
Edward VII or the present Gar could
be paid with $4,000? AS a matter
of interest, the United States spent
more than $4,000 to be represented at
both those foreign ceremonies. Yet
$4,000 is practically the only cost to
the National Government involved in
this whole ceremony.
The Times has no idea the ball will
be omitted from this years program
II has as little doubt that in the end
the House VIII join the Senate in
the joint resolution providing that
the ball be given in the Pension
Building. But it wishes that as an
incident to the discussion it might
be possible for all the Representatives
who have opposed that resolution to
hear from their constituents on the
subject