Omaha daily bee., 1920-12-31
May Limit
Inaugural
rs.
Proposal Made to Cut Cost
Of Seating Harding to
$40 for the Hire Of
Automobile.
Borah Seeks Information
By ARTHUR SEARS HENNINC
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire

By ARTHUR SEARS HENNINC
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wir~
Washington, Dec. 30.--The high
cost of presidential, inaugMations
and particularly the prospective ec
pense OF the ceremonies and festiv-
tiles attending~the installation OF
Senator Harding to the executive
office on March 4 next. engendered
some spirited remarks in the senate
today.
A proposed expenditure of $780,
900 was deplored as wasteful ex-
travagance. while from a republican
source came the suggestion that the
expense be limited to flo for hire
of an automobile for the president
elect and from democratic source
plea for return to simplicity OF
Thomas Jefferson, who rode into
Washington on March 4, and hitched
his horse outside the capitol.
Senator Harding sometime ago
expressed a desire to limit the in
auguration to the taking of the oath
of office and delivery of his address,
with no parade and no ball, but
he has been overruled.
Borah Asks Information.
"I desire to learn" said Senator
Borah, who started the debate, Nby
what means we appropriate money
for the Inauguration of the presi-
dent. | am unable to find from my
investigation, any other practice
than that of cxpending whatever
the inaugural committee sees fit TO
expend and then the appropriations
committee takes care of 1t. Four
years ago we appropriated $4,000
and / understand this year the ex-
pense will reach 100000.
Senator Smoot said the reports of
prospective expenditure Of 100000
referred only to the private funds
subscribed by citizens to be expand
ed on all the activities of Inaugural
ton day, .'..
81 am not referring to the money
private citizens are raising" retorted
Senator Borah. That's a matter
which does not concern me. I am
glad to see them contribute in any
amount. What l am interested in is
to find out what congress appro.
PIRATES for the occasion. Is the mon
ey in an estimate, or does the COM
mittee simply 60 ahead and make
the expenditures and then congress
pay the amount?"
Joint Resolution in Past.
Senator Jones Of Washington said
that heretofore joint resolution ap-
propriating $35,000 had been passed,
while Senator Smoot called attention
to the fact that the resolution Great
ing the inaugural recently carried no
resolution.
Gas / recall" pursued Senator
Borah, neither that resolution nor
any previous one specified any
amount, but merely gave blanket au-
thority. | call attention TO this be-
cause | think there should be a limit
to the amount we are to spend a.
the beginning of this economical ad-
ministration and if some else who is
better fitted does not take charge
of the matter. I shall attempt, early
next week, to put a limit on the ex-
penditure."
Would not it be . good idea to
! bark back to Jeffersonian simplicity
little at this timer" ventured Sem
ator Fletcher of Florida.
II should like" responded Sen
ator Borah, ito limit the amount
to be spent to $40, which would be
enough to pay the presidents auto
mobile fare to the capitol and back"
"Will legislation be required to
permit the use OF the pension Office
for the inaugural ball?" inquired
Senator Lenroot.
Senator Smoot said the ball would
be under the jurisdiction Of Dis
trict of Columbia committee, which
always asked congress for permis-
sion to use the building.
THE inaugural ball." said Senator
Norris, always has cost in excess
of $25,000 or $30,0O0." Practically
everybody in the building stops
work, but the pay foes on all the
time"
The last time the Pension building
was used a number of records were