Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-17
Washington's Inauguration Work.

The outbreak of criticism against the
manner in which the District manages
the Inauguration, at yesterdays commit
tee hearing on the subject of the pro-
posed change Of date. was not only
wholly inappropriate to the subject I'M
der consideration. but was grossly I'M
just to Washington as the host OF the
nation. The business men OF the capital
are quadrennially drafted into the service
as committeeman and work like horses
for the success of the ceremony Of presi
Dental induction. They devote them
selves to this task with greater zeal and
diligence than even to their own business
affairs. for while in the conduct Of their
own concerns they relegate much to
subordinates and exercise chiefly a SUI
pervisory authority, in the Inauguration
work they enroll themselves In the ranks
and perform arduous labors, for no COM
pensation whatever. animated solely by
a desire to contribute to a result that
will be creditable to the United States and
to the District.
In return for these invaluable labors
the citizens of Washington rarely receive
the commentators that are given to the
humblest workers In the field of phys
ical labor. They are, on the contrary.
subjected to abuse and criticism. fndi-
vidually and as a community. by unin-
formed critics who fail to recognize the
magnitude of the task of entertaining a
vast crowd Of people intent upon seeing
the inauguration and hurrying home.
II is inevitable that there should be
some overcharging at such time. with
the city suddenly thronged with people
who have made no preliminary arrange
ments, have secured no accommodations
in advance, and trust to good fortune to
find what they want and need at the
eleventh.. even the twelfth hour. But
there is less in Washington at Inaugural
ton. it is entirely safe to say. than else
where on similar occasions. There is
. no such gouging of the public as that
which has been suffered by visitors in
St Louis. for example, at times of con-
gestion.
In fact. the preparatory work in Wash
sington is conducted mainly upon the
principle Of preventing just such excess
sive charges as usually mark the descent
of large numbers upon a city for some
special affair. The public comfort COM
mittee is at work for weeks in advance
TO provide quarters for all classes of peo-
pie at moderate prices. 1t is only in
of the business men that the Inaugural
,tion visitors are assured decent provisions
at reasonable rates, and IL those who
attend the Inauguration will avail them
selves of their obvious opportunities they
will have no occasion whatever to COM
plain of ill treatment.
Washington would be glad to have the
government relieve it of the burden and
responsibility of Inauguration manage
ment. 1t is a thankless task, costly in
time and money. Yet 1t is q public duty
which is cheerfully assumed every four
years because Congress does not see fit
to take over the work of preparation. 1t
may be doubted whether the public would
ever fare as well under direct govern
ment supervision of all the details of the
Inauguration as 1t does now. The gov
eminent could not guarantee the mod
crate rates and the sufficiency of accom-
modations which are assured under the
established system of preparation under
the auspices of the citizens to those who
in good time take advantage of this sys-
tenn
The change-of-date proposition is en-
tirely apart from any question of over
charging or any ill-tempered criticism of
the manner in which the great national
ceremony is managed. Representative
Fuckers departure from the issue can
not be regarded as an indictment of
Washington. II is simply one OF the un-
fortunate evidences of a disposition to
asperse the good faith of the capital
community which crops out occasionally
at the Capitol. Those who know the
situation thoroughly do not subscribe to
the view thus peevishly expressed, for
they are aware that the people Of WASH
ington contribute in time. money and la
Dor more to the entertainment of the
inauguration throngs than can ever be
repaid to them.