The Washington herald., 1909-02-03

The Office OF 81. L Weller. chairman Of
the Committee on Public Comfort. begins
TO assume the busy air OF a place where
4 vast amount OF business IS transacted
with efficiency and dispatch. which does
not show IN the general Inauguration
/ ceremonies, but which IS more important
than anything else so far as the comfort
I OF the throngs visiting the Capital al the
Inauguration Is concerned.
Few persons are aware Of the amount
OF labor required TO provide for the thou
sands who come here only for a few
days. but who. without the care exercised
by Mr.. Weller and his committee. might
go hungry and without lodgings
Expects 100000 viaitors.
Mr.. Weller estimates that $4,000 visitors
win be n Washington ny noon. March 4,
and out Of that number probably q hun
drsd thousand viii have 70 be provided
for through the agency OF the committee
OF public comfort. IN this work the
needs OF colored visitors have not been
overlooked, and ample provisions have
been made for their comfort through q
subcommittee OF the main committee,
with the following officers: Daniel ssy1r-
ray. chairman; p r Homer, first vice
chairman: L. u. King, second vice chair
man; George H. Murray, secretary. Head
quarters OF this subcommittee have been
established st SO F street
The work OF this committee. composed
OF fifty widely known colored citizens re-
siding IN Washington. Is supplemented by
20 auxiliary committees 10 80 principal
cities. the chairman OF which selects ten
associates. making an organization OF Z750
committeeman, who find out in their sev-
eral localities who among the colored
population design visiting Washington
during the Inauguration and wish pro-
vision made for their entertainment By
this method all friction on account Of
color Is avoided.
Started 9n Year 1895.
This arrangement was first brought into
operation IN 1886. when John joy Edison.
AZ the instance Of the late Senator Hanna,
created the subcommittee on public con-
fort for colored visitors and appointed
Daniel Murray as chairman. with power
70 select his associates. This worked SO
vel that each subsequent chairman has
continued the said committee, and Mr.
Murray has had charge OF the work
Gen Bell yesterday received 3 message
from Colon that 100 officials and employees
OF the Isthmian Canal Commission have
formed an organization and VIII coma 10
Washington for the purpose OF appearing
in tSe parade. The message asked that
quarters be reserved and that necessary
arrangements for the comfort of 10 men
be made The request from Panama was
turned over 20 MI Weller.
The coming OF the West Point cadets
and of the rnilshipnent from Annapolis to
the Inauguration Is about as uncertain a.
the stock market. One day press men are
informed that one Or the other win be
here. and the next. Or n Two OF three
DAYS. i IS found out that one OF the other
viii not coma unless some contingency
which has arisen can be met
Cuts on Appropriation.
Just as Gen Bell had settled down 20
the idea that the West Point men would /
certainly be here. some wise legislator
at the Capitol raised g point OF order on
the item in the army appropriation bill |
which was 20 provide the money for the
and now unless the Sen
ate restores the item and insists OF 4 n 4
conference committee The West PoIters 4
nay rot come.
On the other hand. when the inaugural 4
workers had settled down 20 the belief
that the Annapolis boys would not come
they are informed from the Navy Depart
nent tnat q way has been found. and
hat they VIII be here
IDasrnuch as the West Pointers and
TIE Annapolis men are the two drawing