Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-17
Congress and the Inauguration.

Immediately after the assembling OF
Congress that body must decide upon the
character of the inauguration ceremonies
to be held In this city on the 4th of March
next. If the burden of this ceremony Is
to be assumed, heretofore, by the clti-
zens of the District, Congress must
promptly designate the pension office, the
new museum building or some other suit
able public structure the location of the
inaugural ball and reception. The citizens
cannot safely take step until the queS-
ton of the inaugural ball building has
been decided: and under the law nobody
but Congress can make this decision. 1t
should not postpone action upon this
proposition until after the holidays, but
should reach a conclusion as soon as pos
sible after converting. If Congress grants
the use of such public building then the
inauguration can proceed on the custom
airy lines. If Congress refuses to permit
this use, then the alternative will be ma
tional control of the entire inaugural cere-
monies, and they will be as simple or as
elaborate as Congress shall decide
If Congress concludes that the inaugu-
ration ceremony should be conducted
under the direction of the government and
wholly at public expense, 1t should so
declare promptly after converting, and 1t
should directly or indirectly, designate
the official or the individual to take charge
of the preparations. 1t has been sug-
geSted that in this event the chairman OF
the national republican committee might
most properly be charged with the re-
sponsibility for conducting the inaugural
ceremonies on behalf of the government.
He would then undoubtedly have at his
disposal the services of the people OF
Washington. who in their long experience
i'll this field have become expert in the
handling of the details.
1t is unfair to intimate that the people of
Washington in a spirit of greed wish to
control the inaugural ceremonies They are
glad and proud to participate prominently
in the inauguration of President. and
would be especially gratifed to welcome as
President next March man whom they
know and for whom they have the pro-
foundest admiration and regard. The men,
bers of the executive committee, in re-
lance upon the citizens guarantee fund,
render themselves liable for many thou
sands of dollars for the necessary ex-
penses incidental to the inaugural, with
only a prospect of reimbursement at
the fifty ninth minute of the eleventh
hour. when the doors of the inaugural
ballroom are thrown open and the pub
lie is admitted. If any event, such as
the death or serious illness of the
President or any of his family, should put
a stop to the ball the contributors to the
guarantee fund would lose everything.
The members of the executive committee
are. furthermore. held financially respon-
sible for damages that may result from
the occupation of the pension building.
They give bond against loss by fire. II
the pension building should by accident
burn, some of them might be bankrupted.
Men of affairs who in their own business
leave details to lieutenants labor as COM
mittee- chairmen over the minutest inau-
gural detail. For their strenuous labor
of love and heavy financial responsible
ties assumed their compensation is inau-
gural honor and gratified patriotic pride.
In these circumstances it is only fair to
the people of Washington. who always re-
spond loyalty and generously to the de-
mands made upon them at Inauguration
time. that their status should be defined
without delay by Congress- which must
either in any event grant or refuse per-
mission to use for the ball reception one
of the public buildings belonging to the
government. without which the citizens
cannot possibly undertake the manage
ment of the affair. If the houses refuse
this permission the government must It
self assume the cost and responsibility of
the inauguration.