Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-30
PROTEST HOLDING
INAUGURAL BALL IN
PENSION BUILDING
Committee Members Say
Event Would Disturb Gov
ernment Business.

Use of the United States pension
office building for the inaugural ball
is seriously objected to by members
of the joint congressional commi ttee
which is arranging for the inaugu-
ration.
able place for the inaugural ball is
made to this congressional commit
tee, it is probable that the use OF the
Capitol building will be offered as a
place where the people who come to
the National Capital from all parts of
the country may tender a popular re-
ception to the new President.
The use of the pension Office build
ing is objected to on the ground that il
will mean disturbance of government
business there for practically a month
and the moving of many government
documents and records. 1t is pointed
out that the last time the building
OF important records were lost.
Members of the joint congressional
committee said today that it is doubt.
ful whether If it came to an actual
vote the use of the pension office
building would be granted. Uncle Joe
Cannon. who is chairman Of the House
committee, stated positively, mot
with my VOTE" and in the meeting OF
the committee spoke at some length
against the proposition.
Cannon FavOrs Capitol.
Mr.. Cannon spoke strongly in favor
of Congress offering the use of the
Capitol building as the most fitting
place in which to hold an inaugural
reception. He said that gathering
in the Capitol would mean much more
in historic association and as an Of
fetal function to the people from all
parts OF the country who come here
for the occasion. He suggested the
use of the rotunda and statuary hall
with the corridors leading out Of it.
and pointed out that the Senate and
House chambers and galleries could
be used by the guests to meet friends
in a much more comfortable way than
il the ball were held In the pension
Office building.
Senator Nelson of Minnesota. who
conference OF the joint committee in
the absence Of Senator Knox Of Penn
sylvania, also spoke efnphaticalIy
against allowing the use of the PEN
sion Office building. 1t seemed to be
the general sentiment of the meeting
offer the use Of the Capitol building
to the people Of the country for the
big social event Of the Inauguration.
Inquiry into the method of making
appropriations for the inaugural cere-
monies was made on the floor of the
said that he understood that there
was no limit placed upon the appro.
pr}4tton8 made hy Copgress. bur that
f1fe bfl4s we're paid VIXEN prhsenfed.
The Idaho senator said that he would
like to see economy begin at the be.
ginning Of the new administration.
'.As far as ! am concerned, sald
Senator Borah, "I would like to limit
the approximations, to SO, to pay for
an automobile from the White House
to the Capitol and return"
Senator Borah said that on. Monday
he would propose some plan for linn
iting the expenditures to be made by
the federal government, He said that
he did not care how much was raisef
and expended, privately. for inay.
gural ceremonies In Washington.
Senator Nelson Of Minnesota, SIN.
ator Smoot of Utah and Senytol
Norris Of Nebraska Joined in the dis
cussion. It was pointed out fthat
public buildings are used as ffr az
possible to house visiting org; mia
tions.
Senator Smoot said that IL the in
augural ball was held in the Ieension
office, as has been the case in the
past, 1t would be under thu, charge
Of the citizens committee Senator
Lenroot of Wisconsin SUGGESTED that
it would cost the governnypnt S25. .OOC
or $4,000. because the. furniture
would have to be moved out and in
and Senator Norris said THAT the gov
ernment would lose money. because
the clerks would haye, to give ur
their work while the preparations
were being made for the ball, but
would continue to drS.w pay.