The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-04
CHANGING INAUGURAL DATE
By FREDERIC ]. HASKTN.

Of a quorum. fixed the date. as cited
above, on the motion CT BENJAMIN Frank
lin.
Congress did convene in accordance
with the resolution fixing the 4th OF
March as the date for commencing I'M
der the said Constitution" But there was
no quorum Of the Senate. No telegraphs
were in use then, neither were there rail-
roads. So IL was not until a month and
two days after that date that a quorum
was gotten together. Gen Washington
Was declared elected on April 6. but no.
tice could not be gotten 10 him for some
ten days II took about an equal time for
him 90 get to New York This was the
reason for his inauguration on April 80
When he was sworn in. in a building on
the site OF the present subtreasury, Il
was by Chancellor Livingston, who ex-
claimed. after Washington had taken the
OATH Long live George Washington,
President OF the United Statesr'
History is silent as TO how Washington
settled the difficulty Of having his term
shortened 70 three years and ten months.
II he had insisted on having his fun term.
however, ali OF the difficulties now be-
setting those who want 70 change the
date would have been obviated. A pa
thetic thing about the retirement Of Gen
Washington was a letter written by the
new President, John Adams. 10 his wife
after his Inauguration In that letter
he said that there was more weeping than
had ever been witnessed at A tragedy.
but whether from the loss Of a beloved
President or the accession Of an unbe-
loved one, he could not say When Adams
was succeeded by Jefferson. he moved
everything out OF the White House the
night before. and refused 10 greet his
successor. The only other instance Of the
kind was when Johnson refused 10 meet
Grant, but 1t is said that he was not
10 blame for this; that Gen. Grant had
said he would not ride 10 the Capitol with
Johnson. One writer says that John
Quincy Adams refused 10 meet Jackson.
and knew only by the booming OF cannon
that his successor had been inaugurated.
The younger Adams did not follow the
custom OF his predecessors. nor what has
been the custom Of his successors. in de-
ivering his Inaugural address He de-
hvered Il before he took the oath. James
Monroe was the originator OF the Gus
tom OF holding the inaugural ceremonies
on the east pOrtico Of the Capitol. Most
Of the ceremonies preceding his had been
held In the Senate chamber. He wanted
il held in the hall OF the House. With
Characteristic caution he notified Congress
OF his intention some days ahead. and a
Wrangle between the two Houses ensued
Monroe cut the GOrdian knot OF the trou-
bic BY having il on the east portlco.
where most OF those which have followed
have been held.
There have been three times in the his
Of = b.
guratiOn date fell on Sunday. The first
time was the second Inauguration OF Mon
roe. the second time at the Inauguration
Of Taylor, and the last time when HAYES
was inaugurated. II viii not occur again
until 1917 It win also occur In 1916 and
1873.
1t has been hoped since the last inaugu-
ration that Congress would take upon
Itself the building Of a great convention
hall suitable for the holding OF an inaug-
ural ball. But there seems little prospect
now that an appropriation can be Sc
cured in time for the erection OF such
a building For years the inaugural balls
have been held in the Pension Of5ce
Each time the authorities have declared
that il Is the last time that Il should be
done. The records in that building could
never be duplicated. and their loss would
be an irreparabie one. The danger Of fire
Is ever present on these occasions. It Is
not improbable that the authorities will
have 10 yield TO necessity again, and that
the Inauguration Of 1909 will not be DIFF
ferent from those which have recently
gone before, except that there will be a
change OF persons in whose honor II is
held. The merchants. hotel men. and
other patriotic citizens OF Washington
will again be called upon TO put I'D the
money for the success OF the Inaugural
ton. relying on the receipts OF the inaug-
ural ball and from the reviewing stands
for reimbursement Crowds will surge
to the Capital City from all over the
country, tireless spectators will take
their places at an early hour along the
line OF parade, thousands will pack the
space around the east portico OF the
Capitol and another 4th OF March will
go down to history.