The Washington herald., 1909-01-01
INAUGURAL PLANS ADVANCE
Various Committees at Work to Ar
range an Elaborate Programme.
Guarantee Fund Reaches Large
Amount and All Indications Are
for Unusual Festivities.

The preparations for the inaugural ball
are far advanced The inaugural commit
tee Is thoroughly organized and as much
OF the detail as well could be accom-
plished this early in the proceedings has
been got out Of the way.
The committee on civic organizations
and the military division Of the parade
have been in correspondence with those
al the head Of the large organizations in
various parts Of the country, and the re-
plies show that the marching column In
both its principal divisions viii be up
10 the standard set in former years.
There is yet two months before the in
auguraton. and in that interval many
more organizations. both military and
civic. viii be heard from. and every indi-
cation points now 70 one OF the longest
and most interesting parades that ever
assembled al the Capital 10 aid in the in
ductiOn Of the President and Vice Presi-
dsnt into Office
4 conservative estimate made yesterday
from the figures now on the books Of the
various committeeman. added TO those
which may be expected. gives the total OF
10000 in line. including the personal es-
cort to the President made Up OF the
veteran bodies Of Washington and other
cities, and the marching column. which
will follow President Taft from the Capt.
tOl 10 the White House and pass IN re-
view before him at the mansion
n Z Weller. chairman OF the commit
tee on public comfort. has been busy for
ten days assigning different organizations
10 their quarters in the city and cOmDlet-
ing arrangements for the proper housing
Of the military and civic delegations as
well as the thousands Of visitors who
viii come 10 Washington 70 attend the
ceremonies.
Never before in the history OF inaugu-
raJions has the local committee had so
large a fund placed in its hands to frame
up the ceremonies Of the day Already
more than $500 has been contributed
and II is not extravagant 10 hope that
the guarantee fund sill reach Sf00000.
True. II IS expected that from the revenue
OF the ball. the sale Of privileges. and
that from other sources this fund VIII
be returned 10 the subscribers and a
comfortable balance left 70 charity. vet
the committee always makes its prepara-
tons in the light Of the guarantee fund
This being Of larger proportions than
usual. the committee viii naturally feel
justified in framing corTespCndingIyI large
programme. and the idea has gone forth
that the ceremonies incident 20 the in
auguration Of Messrs. Taft and Sherman
viii be the most elaborate ever seen in
Washington.
The District Committee Of the House
%
resolution granting the Use Of the Pen
sion Building for the inaugural ball. and
making an appropriation Of $1,000 for
the government share in the ceremonies.
Until this legislation Is enacted the com
mittee on the ball and the several cog
nate bodies can only wait II IS likely
that upon the assembling Of Congress
next week the necessary legislation VIII
be quickly passed, and then VIII begin
a swarm Of activities.
The committees on souvenirs. review
ing stands. and public order have not
made much progress. Meetings have
been held and preliminary steps taken
but the actual arrangements which these
committees are TO complete are yet In
their infancy.
The fireworks committee which will
provide for one evenings entertainment
for the thrOng Of people at the Inaugural
ton. has its plans well in hand. The date
OF the entertainment has not been set
tied, but viii be al the next meeting OF
the committee. Just at present the opin-
ion Of the committee seems to favor the
evening OF March 8. that being the time
when the greatest number is in the city,
and when the programme would be most
thoroughly appreciated
Washington. as on former occasions. I
viii extend cordial greeting 10 the na-
ton and do Its best 20 entertain those
who come and make their stay at the
Capital one TO be remembered and re-
peated as succeeding Presidents are
placed IN Office.