The Washington herald., 1909-01-12
House. as Committee, Denies
Use of Pension Building.
MAY OvERRULE THE ACTION
Full Membership VIII Be Called
Upon to Vote on the Question by
Roll Call, and II Is Thought the
Use Of the Building Finally VIII
Be Granted Inaugural Committee.

There vas but a small attendance and
Democrats led the opposition. Bhe vote
was almost entirely a partisan one.
No final action was taken on the meas
IRE, but Il Is believed the House viii
Oserrule the action OF the committee
when the bill Is called up for final vote
When the vote was taken there was
doubt as 10 quorum being present
and many Representatives who are
known 70 favor the use OF the Pension
Building were absent The opposition
forces had their fun strength, and car
ried their point by g vote Of s. 10 Al
a call for teilers followed, and they won
again By q vote OF IS TO Ss. Representa-
tive Smith then obtained postponsment
OF final consideration until a later day.
sims Leads Fight.
The fight against the bin was led by
Representative Sims. Of Tennessee. who
declared holding the ball in the Pension
Building would endanger valuable papers
and documents in the files, and that also
It would delay the payment OF pensions
70 old soldiers throughout the country.
He said the inaugural bali was 3 com
mercial, and not social. affair anyway.
and added no dignity to the Inauguration
Of the President
He quoted Commissioner Warner, Of
he Pension Bureau. who said that II the
ball were held there II would necessitate
moving heavy safes aid files from ths
building. and that the work OF the en-
pleyes would be worthless for q period
OF twenty days. Mr.. Warner added that
this would cause q loss Of nearly $4,000
% the government IN salaries; that II
the salaries were not paid for the period
The employees could not work u would
amount 70 a donation OF that amount by
the employees. He declared this would
work a hardship and would be imprsc-
ticabie.
Champ Clark was another 70 oppose the
use OF the Pension Building He said
the people OF Washington should furnish
u building, and IN support of this argu-
ment told OF what the people cf Kansas
city and Denver had done n erecting
auditoriums for large conventions and
gatherings similar 70 the Inaugural func-
tiOns
OIcOtf supports Measure.
Representative Olcott. OF New York. was
an ardent supporter OF the passage OF
the bill He declared il would be a
shame for the government not TO grant
the use Of the building He said the
inaugural ball was & great and important
event. and that il was usually attended
by 1000 people, representing al parts OF
the United States.
eft has been the custom 10 hold festfvi-
ties incident 10 the Inauguration Of the
President since the birth Of the nation"
said Mr. Olcott- Tt has been the custom.
10 hold inaugural balls since Grover
Cleveland first went into the White
House." he added, "and Il would not be
right 10 change now. The people expect
Il. and none Of those who come from afar
would feel that they had attended the
Inauguration unless they went 10 the in
augural ball They had rather attend
this feature than any other OF the in
auguraton ceremonies
''I 90 not see why the gentleman from
Tennessee contends that Il IS a commercial
OF pay ball. It IS true that tickets are
sold. but this Is done simply to clear ex-
penses. No money Is made from the
scheme Il Is an entertainment given by
the people Of Washington. and enjoyed
by the people OF the nation. Il Is looked
forward to with greater pleasure than
any other feature Of the Inauguration,
and hope the bill will be approved
Mr. lands Appeals for Bill.
Representative Lands expressed his
unqualified approval Of the use Of the
building, and said the inaugural hall was
an affair which should not be shouIdered
BY the people OF Washington He said
that while the ball was attended by people
who paid for their tickets, It was an i'm
portant feature OF the Inauguration.
Mr. lands, in an attempt TO Offset the
contention Of Mr.. Sims that IL would cost
Sl00s00 10 hold the ball IN the Pension
Building. stated that when King Edward
was crowned the harness alone on the
horses that drew the royal carriage cost
$sa.ooo He told OF other enormous ex-
penses 20 which the English government
was put on such occasions.
Says Ceremonies Are Simple.
The ceremonies incident to the jnduc-
ton Of our President into Office are very
simple" said Mr Lands. and besides
the inaugural ball there are very few
features Of the ceremonies that would
draw crowds from distant parts OF the
country The ball is the chief attraction
10 many, and while persons who live in
Washington do not think # an event OF
unusual Importance, the people away
from here believe II IS the most interest
ing part Of the programme.
The people Of Washington should not
be responsible for the Inauguration Yet
they go ahead and raise guarantee from
the business men. II the receipts do not
come up to the expenses they must 70
Gown IN their pockets and pay for IL
themselves.
Mr.. lands cOntenGed that the BAH had
been given for so many years that peo-
Die expected il, and that If it were not
given this year IL would be an apparent
loss Of interest in the new President
Keifer Amendment.
Az amendment offered 10 that sec
ton of the bill providing for the use Of
the Pension Building was offered by Rep
resentative Keifer. Of Ohio. and proposed
that the part OF the building used for
paving of pension claims be not in
Guided in the bill This would mean that
five rooms on the first floor Of the build
ing would not be molested. and the
amendment vas not seriously objected to
By members Of the District Committee
This amendment. also. viii be decided BY
roll call when Chairman Smith calls
Up the bill for consideration by unzni-
nous consent
In Offering his amendment Mr.. Keifer
stated that he did not oppose the use Of
the building. but simply cid not want the
pensioners to be late In receiving their
money. He believed BY this Changing
CT the measure the p-omtp payment Of
the claims would not be hindered.
The bin as approved by the Committee
o. the Whole House stin provides for an