The Washington times., 1915-09-03
Col. Robert N. Harper and As
/ sociates Anxious to Dispose
of Review Places at Once.
WORK TO BEGIN SOON
Preparations Rapidly Being
Made for Decoration of
Court of Honor.

A meeting was begun in the office Of
Col. Robert N. Harper this afternoon
for the leasing of all the grandstandc
to be constructed for the G. A. r. en-
campment. Several Of the stands have
already been leased, and only q few
more remain to be disposed Of by the
finance committee. The financiers are
anxious to dispose Of the stands at once.
so as to determine how much money
they can spend on the elaborate court
Of honor.
At the meeting this afternoon the COM
mitteemen discussed the day for the
next meeting of the executive commit
tee, which will probably be held Tues
day or Wednesday in the Chamber of
, Commerce.
Work Of constructing the grandstands
along Pennsylvania avenue will begin
about the middle Of next week. From
then until within few days Of the be-
ginning Of the encampment the sounds
Of carpenters hammers and saws will
be heard at various places between the
Peace Monument and the end of the
court of honor at Pennsylvania avenue
and West Executive avenue.
Plans Rapidly Made.
Preparations are rapidly being made
for decorating the numerous stands, the
court Of honor, business houses in the
downtown districts and private resi-
dences. Chairman Isaac Cans. OF the
committee on decorations. today re-
ceived q letter from Acting Secretary
of the Navy Franklin Roosevelt say
ing the keeper Of flags would turn over
to the local committee all necessary
emblems, bunting, ETC.. for the proper
decoration of the city in honor Of the
G.. A. r. veterans.
The decorating committee has been
given permission to use laos New York
the distribution Of flags to business
houses and individuals wishing to
decorate their buildings. All the flags
will be loaned by the decoration com.
their proper care and safe return.
Everyone wishing to borrow fags for
use during encampment should COM
municate with, Manager, sinsrey at
from STATS will be loaned upon the fur
nishing Of bond by the borrower.
Col. John McElroy, acting commander
of the Department Of the Potomac,
has appointed all the past department
commanders Of the local veterans as a
committee on reception to visitors. John
8. Walker Is chairman of the commit
tee. He has called a meeting for to-
night at 7:3O o'clock. in G. A. r. Hall
at which the members will discuss re-
ception plans and be given their assign.
ments.
1t was announced today that Orville
J. Neve. chaplain-in-general Of the G.
A. r.. had called a meeting of all the
chaplains and past chaplains in the
organization for the discussion Of plans
for betterment Of social and religious
conditions in the present army and
navy. The meeting will be held in the
old Census office. to be known Off
cially as Camp Matthew G. Emery dur
ing the encampment. on Tuesday. Sep
tember H.
Returns to Town.
E. H. Droop. chairman Of the music
committee, and to whom the human
flag idea was referred for development
and successful contamination returned
to Washington today after an absence
Of three weeks, He will confer with
the human flag and hopes to make
500 letters on his desk upon his re-
turn. Although he had not opened
them all this afternoon. he said he had
seen enough to warrant the belief
that nine-tenths Of the letters were
from mothers anxious to enter their