The Washington herald., 1909-01-14
InaururaI Leeislation-Auditorium


Alive to the necessities OF The situation,
the Senate has passed the resolution
granting the use Of the Pension Building
for the inaugural bah and making further
provision for the celebration and cere-
monies incident 10 the Inauguration Of
Mr- Taft Naturally, there was not a
dissenting vote Now the House. If
equally alive 10 It's duty. will complete
the legislation without further delay Il
is a pressing, imperative duty.
In The debate in Committee Of the Whole
House on Monday opponents Of the
measure put special emphasis upon the
fact that assurance was given four years
ago that the use Of the Pension Building
would not again be asked. That assur-
ance was given in good faith. Il was con
hdently expected that the auditorium
project then under way, would be con-
summdted- The sum OF $4,000 was sub
scribed- Whether If was difficulty in rails
ing further funds OF the failure OF Con-
gress 10 gYnt charter that halted the
project We are not prepared 10 say.
Doubtless both contributed 10 It. But 1t
is slander upon the city 10 assert that
10 earnest effort was made.
An auditorium project. both national
and local in character. IS to-day well ad-
vanced- An advantageous site hss been
secured Secretary Root and other men
Of national note are identified with the
project-men who appreciate that Wash
ington must have more than local CO.
operation and enterprise 10 consummate
national project What prompted the
taking up OF this auditorium project
anew L was rot this ouadrennial diff
Guilty over the inaugural ball. though that
figured in the equation, but primarily II
was the failure Of this Nations City
properly 10 provide for the sessions Of
the tuberculosis Congress invited by the
nation-a failure that has subjected Us TO
sharp criticism abroad.
Some OF those who discussed the inau-
gural ball question on Monday took the
position that 70 refuse the use Of the Pen
sion Building would stimulate the erec-
ton OF the auditorium. while others held
that TO grant the use would retard the
Undertaking Either position betrays IN
familiarity with the local situation. and
quite ignores the country's interest IN
that undertaking. The energy Of the peo-
pie Of Kansas City and Denver, we are
told, caused huge structures 10 rise there
Ike magic But Is It not a fact that
those auditoriums were substantially sub
sidized by the cities themselves. and paid
for, in whole or part. out Of municipal
funds as in all prOpriety they should
have been?
Why should the District Of Columbia
be abused when Congress has il within
its power 10 say what the District shall
do2 Congress can appropriate money TO
build an auditorium and charge = wholly
against the revenues Of the District. II
it so elects, inequitabIe as that would be.
Is Il really not the fault Of Congress that
we have not the auditorium which
everybody admits this Capital needs?
We are fully convinced that the present
auditorium project viii be carried TO com
pletion- But We are just as fully con
WINGED that. owing 10 the nations interest
in IT. the entire financing Of il should
not fall upon individual subscribers. Con-
gress should help. And We believe Con-
gress viii help. for in spite OF the abuse
that so jars our sensibHities, Congress
in the end-when il sees the light
usually deals fairly and sQuarely with US.
All this, however. Is apart from the
pressing duty Immediately confronting the
House. That body should concur at once
in the Senate's action, and permit the
inauguration work TO proceed.