The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1912-12-17
INAUGURAL
BALL Will
COST MUCH
ONLY AVAILABLE PLACE At
CAPITAL is PENSION OFFICE
STRONG AGITATION is GOING ON
FOR MORE FITTING PLACE FOR
HOLDING THIS BIG SOCIAL
FUNCTION.

Washington, Dec. II = As in the
case of nearly all presidents of the
United States, Woodrow Wilson will
celebrate his introduction into the
White House by holding an inaugural
ball in the pension office. 1t is the
only available place in Washington
for this purpose and even this is I'M
able to accommodate the thousands
who attended the event.
Although at every session of con-
gress the question of erecting a struc-
ture for the purpose of holding the in
augural, or presidential ball is agitat-
ed the necessary vote has not yet
been obtained to get the funds for
such a building. Various suggestions
have been made from time to time
by public spirited citizens of this
city, as well as outsiders for a more
modern structure in which to cele-
brate this great inaugural function in
a fitting manner.
The commissioners of the District
of Columbia proposed a plan of erect
! ing a beautiful building to be used
for the dual purpose of an armory
for the District National Guard and
as a place for holding the inaugural
reception and ball. The project went
so far in the Roosevelt administra-
ton as to receive hearty support from
the district committee in the senate
and house of representatives, but
the congress refused to make the ap-
preparation.
Colonel Roosevelt, while president,
ordered the old Pennsylvania railroad
station at the corner Of Sixth street
and Pennsylvania avenue torn down
to make way for the proposed new
armory structure. The station proper
ty came into the possession of the
United States government through the
building of the new Union station
which supplies terminal facilities for
all railroads entering WASHINGTON.
Since that time interest in the
proposition has waned and this SEES
sion congress VIII be asked to make
the necessary provision for holding
the inaugural ceremonies in the pen
sion office.
The big red brick building compIet-
ed shortly after the civil var. is re
ported to be the largest brick struc-
ture OF its kind in the world. 1t occu-
pies about a square and a half of
ground in Judiciary Square. 1t is 325
feet long by 225 feet wide. The roof
of the building which is 10 feet from
the street level is supported by 25
massive Tennessee marble pillars,
giving the lower floor a wide space
into which thousands of people can
congregate.
+ At present this space is utilized
for the storage of millions of pension
claims and pension vouchers, held
in long rows of cases. Before the
building can be used for the inaugu-
raj ball, it is necessary for congress
to authorize the removal of these cas-
es and to appropriate $4,000 to pay
the expense incident thereto.
For the Taft Inauguration, the
money was not appropriated until
three days before the ceremonies were
held and at that time a small army
of $50 clerks were employed by Com,
missioner of Patents Davenport tc
! remove the pension files to places OF
safety in other parts of the building,
When the carpenters leave and turn
the building over to the inaugural
committee, the sight presented is
somewhat similar TO that of a coun
try fair
All that is noticeable of the pension
building from the street corner is
the massive roof that towers above
The sides Of the building are com
pletely surrounded by the sheds and