Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-23
FINAL REPORT MADE
GENERAL WILSON'S STATEMENT
OF INAUGURAL COMMITTEE.

Gen. John NJ. Wilson. chairman of the
committee that hae in charge the cenenlo-
MES incident to the Inauguration Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, today issued, in printed
form. his final report In the one hundred
and twenty pages are included the indi-
viduai reports from the chairmen of the
various minor committees, showing in de-
tail just how the guaranty fund OF Sc, SS0
was collected and expended. Due credit
is given by Gen. Wilson to each committee
for the portion OF the work which 1t accom-
plished. and he bestows particular praise
upon the treasurer OF the committee. Mr..
Milton E. Allies, and the secretary. Mr..
Frank H Hitchcock. now first assistant
postmaster general.
In opening his report Gen. Wilson re-
cites the various difficulties which the COM
mittee encountered when 1t undertook the
task of arranging for the inaugural cere-
monies. He mentions the trouble in obtain
ing permission for the use of the pension
office for the inaugural ball. the bond of
$4,000 demanded for the loan of flags used
in decorating the line of march, the bond
of 81 goo demanded By the federal govern
ment to guarantee IL against loss or dam
age resulting from the erection of the Presf-
dents reviewing stand and the main grand
stand in Lafayette square, and the efforts
to secure quarters for the members of the
visiting National Guard. After this re-
sumo, Gen. Wilson says:
I'm spite of all these vexatious worries,
your committee moved forward with en-
ergy and skill, and with the paramount
thought that the work placed In Its charge
should be a success. and that the fnaugu-
ration ceremonies in honor Of our beloved
President should be equal. If not superior.
to anything of the kind that had ever oc-
CURED before" esas
Advocates Erection Of Auditorium. !.
| Gen. Wilson attributes the success of the
parade to Lieut.. Gen. Chaffee and Ibis able.
indefatigable and knightlyA chlef-of-stan.
Gen. John A. Johnston" In concluding his
report. Gen. Wilson refers to the proposed
national auditorium. and says: -
Reference has been, made In the fore
going pages to the fact that great DIM
Guilty was encountered in obtaining the use
OF the pension building for the ball. and
OF. proper buildings for quartering the
troops of the national guard OF the various
states
This committee in It's efforts to obtain
the use OF the pension building, assured
Congress, 50 far as 1t was in its power,
that similar request should never again
be made. and that steps would at once be
taken toward the construction, within the
next three years. under the direction of the
citizens of the capital of the nation, of
large building in which future inaugural
ceremonies can take place and which could
be made self-supporting by renting il for
large conventions. concerts and other func-
lions.
keeping in view our promise in this mat
ter. let us use every possible effort to see
that 1t is fully carried out and let the men,
bers of this committee come promptly to
the front and by personal effort obtain the
funds required for the construction of a
building that win be suitable for the great
national ceremony, and which, In architec-
tural beauty will be in consonance with the
superb structures erected by the general
government.
Work Should Begin at Once.
Let US not lose another day IN pushing
this matter but let US show to the citizens
Of the nation that although we are de-
prived OF the right of suffrage, we are more
than anxious to do all in our power to
add to the splendor Of the ceremonies in
cident to the inauguration OF the chief mag
istrate Of the nation.
ITO those accomplished gentlemen, Col
George Truesdell and Commissioner Henry
L. West, the vice chairman OF the inau-
gural committee. who freely placed their
services at my disposal. and who by sug-
gestions from time to time aided me so
greatly, beg to tender my sincere thanks"