Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-26
MUCH INTEREST FELT
Proposed Federal Control Of
Inauguration.
CITIZENS VOR IT
WOULD BE GLAD TO BE RELIEVED
OF THE BURDEN.
Mr.. Sherman Will Reintroduce His
Resolution if It Fails of Passage
This Session, as is Probable.

Representative Sherman of New York
has aroused considerable interest among
members of the lower branch of Congress
and the citizens of the District of Colum-
bia by the introduction of his Joint resoIu-
t1on providing for the Inauguration of the
President of the United States at the hands
OF committee of senators and representa-
tives. The fact that he intends to secure
hearing on the measure before the House
committee on the District as soon as pos
sibe and personally urge a. favorable re-
port and then to follow it upon the floor
of the chamber to secure it's passage by
the House, if this is possible, lends very
much additional Importance to the resolu-
ton, for Mr.. Sherman is recognized as a
power in the House and friend of Chair
man Babcock of the District committee. If
the resolution fails of passage at this ses-
SION, which is quite likely on account of
the shortness, of time Mr. Sherman will
reintroduce it at the next session and push
1T again.
Support Of the Resolution.
Letters have been received by Mr. sber
man from interested residents of the Dis
trlct heartily favoring the proposition. on
the ground that the Inauguration of the
president should have its national side en-
contemplates. Many members of the Jousa
nave signi1ed their Willingness to vote for
Tue measure and the question now seems
10 pc only whether vote can be secured
ro.tl ;, iiitioaucea the resolution in good
Ia'th' SAID Mr.. Sherman to a Star reporter
tCda!' Tor L Thought something should be
done along this line not because OF any
criticism: of the District or of the wav in
mEien the citizens of the District have
cCfoucted lnaugurations in the past, but
Decause believe the ceremony is essen
.aiy d hational matter and that the peo-
PIE Oh tie entire country should bear the
expense rather than the District
expressly provided in the resolution
that the Joint committee of the House and
Senate could call for assistance in an ex-
ecutive or advisory capacity and, if the
. measure t IS enacted into law. it is probable
that the arrangements for the Inauguration
10 great extent will be the same as in
former times
After saying that he would try to get a
nearing on the resolution in committee as
soon as he was able and if successful in
TINS would appear before the committee TO
advocate favorable report, he said that
this would be the time for the District to
tative citizens
believe the District will take this op-
portunlty to urge the passage of the meas
ure,' he stated
In reference to the ultimate disnos,tion
of the resolution he said:
Whiie i realize that this is short ses-
SION and the event which it is intended to
ieach IN this resolution will come some
tlme IN the future, and that. owing to this
fact, L may not get much consideration
FOR 1t as If it were of immediate interest
Yet If the measure fails TO pass I shall re-
Introduce it in the next session of Congress
ana 90 all L can to secure it's enactment
into law"
Mr. Sherman said he was very glad that
the proposition was meeting with the ap-
prevail of the District people and press. be-
10 in n -i-1,
law, and he regarded any aid from the
District as very timely and much to be de-
sired.
Sentiment of Inaugural Committee.
1t is known that many members of the
present inaugural committee look with ia
vor on Mr.. Sherman's proposition and would
be glad to see it become a law. especially
In view of the recent anxiety in connection
with securing place for the inaugural ball,
which is necessary in order to enable the
committee to meet expenses.
Let the federal government take charge
of the Inauguration if it wants to- appears
to be the general opinion of members of the
committee who have had the actual work
OIL preparing for the great event. The sug-
gestion. of course, is that 1T is mighty
hard job, and If you think you can do It as
well as we can. why, go ahead; we don't
mind being relieved of the work-not in the
least
1t has been said by Mr.. Sherman himself
that if congressional committee in pre-
pairing for the Inauguration of a future
President of the United States should decide
to leave the inaugural ball off OF the pro-
gram no one need feel any disappointment
and the District could not in any way be
held responsible for the omission. And the
local opinion is that the District win not
feel keen regret at the abolition of this
function If the necessity for 1.-THE reim-
bursting of the subscribers to the expense
funds removed. as it would be by the es-
tablishment of the 100000 fund mentioned
in the resolution introduced by Mr.. Sher-
man.
Origin Of the Resolution.
The origin of the Sherman resolution is
conceded to have been in the fact that the
inaugural ball this year is to be held in the
pension Office, in spite of the opposition Of
many congressman Some persons have
suggested that If four years from now there
is an auditorium in the District large enough
for such a ball and available for it the
Sherman resolution or any similar one win
not be enacted into law.
But this is contrary to Mr.. Shermans
stated purpose in introducing the resolu-
in securing the use of the pension office sug-
also said that 1t is his belief that the event
should be taken out of the Districts charge
for broader reasons of patriotism, and that
he will push the matter on this ground
chiefly.