Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-12

In the pension office, 30 as to make way
for the crowd d inauguration evening.
MIR. Weller. Chairman OF the committee
on publiCi comfort, reported that he has
about concluded his arrangements with the
various Total ho{els for the accommodation
q guests, Other chairmen made reports o.
James Rush Marshall, chairman OF the
committee on decoration of the ball room
stated That there would be no canopy OF
bunting over the court, as formerly, put
that another scheme of drapery had been
He explained also that steps would be
taken to have all bunting and whatsoever
other fnf1ammabfe material as might De
us SEQ IN 1 tns decorations nreproo .s M,,tarv
Academy. who is in the city on business
before Congress affecting the school at
West Pofrst. hadEa conference with Gen.
Aipsworth4 the military secretary, at the
War Department this afternoon. To a Star
reporter who Inquired for Information on
the subject Gen. Mills said that the entire
corps of cadets, numbering about 465 young
of the academic staff, will be in Washing
ton In ample time to participate in the i'll
augural parade
Meets Little Approval.
The proposition to change the usual line
of march OF the inaugural parade from in
front of the White House to the elipse in
the rear of that building finds little or no
favor as purely military arrangement
among the officers of the army stationed at
the War Department and many prefer to
adhere to the former line of march past the
w hlte House. rather than risk the possible
failure of the parade from purely spectac-
ular standpoint by the adoption Of an ex-
perimentai and untried route.
general officer who has had probably
more experience in the management OF
inaugural parades in a purely military ca
pacity than any one identified with the
coming Inauguration, has made a careful
study or the proposition to have the re-
view In the White Lot. He says there are
many advantages in the scheme. BY put
ting the stand in the White Lot all the
public parks along the avenue will be kept
clear and made available for purposes of
ornamentation, and Lafayette Park in par
ticular can be utilized for the display of
the beautiful works of art to be brought
from the st. Louis exposition for the in
augura! ceremonies. Furthermore, the
stand in the ellipse can be constructed
without great expense and easily dis
mantled, and would undoubtedly accommo-
use for the parade in the afternoon II
would be available in the evening for the
display of fireworks
No Military Advantages.
All these admitted advantages. the officer
said bear no relation to the adaptability OF
the ellipse for the line Of march, for which
1t possesses no military advantages what
ever over the older. simpler and more IA
miliar line of march up 18th street and
past the White House. On the contrary
said he, 1t presents distinct disadvantages
1or the proper, movement of troops in re-
view. by reason of its conformation and
physical obstruction of trees, shrubbery
ETC.. that cannot be removed. besides offer.
Ing difficulties with respect to entrance and
exit and the freedom of movement of troops
within the ellipse
These difficulties arise mainly from the
number of turns and the shortness of I'M
necessary straight line of march before
the PRESIDENT. Another serious objection
to the use of the eHipse would be the diff
Guilty or police control over the vast crowds
that would undoubtedly press about that
portion of9ehe stand occupied by the Presi.
dent Although the police force of the Dis
tr1ct Is admittedly efficient, it is, in the
opinion of this military expert, entirely in.
adequate to cope with an assemblage of the
probable extensive proportions of an inau.
guration crowd. For these and other rea.
sons it would be better, in the opinion OF
the speaker, to continue the use of the ia
miliar and successful line of march fol-
lowed in the past than to run the chances
of a questionable innovation which is mani
testify inadvisable from military stand
point. f''-t 80 fai az