Evening star., 1921-01-04
INAUGURAL STORM
BREAKS IN SENATE
OVER $4,000 ITEM
Knox Offers Resolution Ask
ing Amount for Expenses
at the Capitol.
BORAH LEADS FIGHT TO
DEFEAT APPROPRIATION
Plans Less Elaborate Than Before,
Knox Answers, Defending
His Proposals.

Knox Answers, Defending
His Proposals.
A storm broke today in the Senate
over proposed expenditures for the
inaugural ceremonies for Harding and
Coolidge.
Senator Knox of Pennsylvania, as
chairman of the joint congressional
committee in charge of the inaugural
ceremonies az the Capitol. introduced
resolution appropriating $50.o00 to
pay the expenses at the Capitol
This Immediately aroused Senator
Borah of Idaho. who is leading the
fight for economy in the inaugural
ceremonies. and who had previously
announced he would offer a resolution
limiting the government share in the
expenditures to $4,000. He declared
that he believed the inauguration
would cost $1,00O.000, SO far as the
governments were concerned, If present
plans are carried out.
Senator New of Indiana called at
tention to the fact that Congress
would be asked to appropriate about
$4,000 in addition to the amount re-
4QCStC0 lu thS AhoA 1CSoiobioii'
would be used for maintaining public
order. comfort stations and informa-
tion booths about the city.
The District Commissioners today
sent to Senator Sherman. chairman OF
the District committee. resolution.
the introduction Of which they recon-
mended, calling for an appropriation
of $4,000 for the purposes described
by Senator New. In the absence OF
Senator Sherman, the resolution was
fn nil1in q ham of
Vermont, the ranking republican mem
Der Of the District committee.
After being debated for two hours.
the Knox resolution was displaced by
the unfinished business of the Senate
and went over until tomorrow 1or
further consideration. Senator Norris
offered an amendment. limiting the ap-
preparation to $4,000, which was pend
ing when the resolution went over.
Pension O1lce Csst ez0o,0OO
Senator Borah said that it would
cost the government about 100000
TO permit the use of the pension Of
flee for the inaugural ball as proposed,
and about 1000 to bring the West
Point cadets here to take part in the
parade. and another 425.e00 to bring
the midshipmen from Annapolis. He
said he had beer fhfofaseA- that the
governors of ten states were contem-
plating sending the National Guard
here. and that he believed the total
expenditures would easily reach
81 600. 900.
This is a good beginning he said.
for an administration eOnsecrated to
economy. We have all served here in
the Senate with Senator Harding, and
with ostentation- I feel sure IL he
could have his own way the inaugura-
tion would be a simple and dignified
affair, and in keeping with the condi-
lions which now confront the coun-
try. With a debt of $4,000. 600:
with $1,000, ,000.0 coo as current ex-
penses, and with a $4,000. .000. 600 de-
Aciency staring US in the face, / look
upon it as almost a crime to propose
these expenditures
Marion. Ohio. published in a news
paper. in which it was said that it
was proposed to hold the most dag
zling celebration in history at the
while Senator Harding had desired
simple ceremony. he had been pre-
vailed upon to fall in with the plan
for q more elaborate ceremony.
II would be interested to know what
influence 1t was that caused Senator
Harding to change his mind" said
Senator Borah. Il shall vote against
This resolution"
To Bar Public Stands.
Senator Nelson of Minnesota an
nounced that he had introduced
resolution today prohibiting the Dis
the erection of any stands or seats
along the streets or in the parks, and
also prohibiting the Secretary OF
War from erecting any such stands
on the public reservations in WASH
ington. The third section of his res
oiution provides that the resolution
shall not apply to the White House
grounds nor to Lafayette Square
Il introduced the resolution" said
Senator Nelson. so as to put the
people who come here on an equal
footing when it comes to seeing the
inaugural parade"
He added that he desired to pro-
hihit the erection of stands and
speculation in seats on the stands.
He said that he hoped the District
committee would investigate the sale
of seats at the last Inauguration.
Senator Borah suggested that many
American citizens would be unable
TO come to Washington this year on
account of the high cost of trans
portation and other necessariea
Senator Knox, taking up the cud gels
for his resolution. said:
Knox Defends Resolutioa.
Il regret that having presented one
proposition. my distinguished col
league has undertaken to discuss an
other"
Senator Knox said that his resolu-
tion had to do with the inaugural
ceremonies at the Capitol, and moth
ing to do with ceremonies outside of
that He said that the joint commit
tee had ascertained what had been
customary for Congress to do with
regard to inaugurations and had gone
back as far as 1917. He said that the
committee had found that ever since
that date Congress of its own voIition
had taken upon itself the inau9ura :
tion of the President.
As a matter of fact. he said, a Presi-
dent has to do but one thing. and
that is to take the oath OF office.
"He can send out from his hotel and
get notary public and for SO cents
subscribe to the oath Of Office" said
Senator Knox.
Senator Knox recalled that he was a
member Of the cabinet at the time OF
the Inauguration OF President Roose.
Welt after the assassination Of President
Mckinley and that Col Roosevelt took
the oath of Office in a private house
whatever.
Senator Knox said that tho Join,
committee proposed to build q stand al
tho Capitol capable of seating I0,o ,o00
people. that the Invitations would be
issued by members Of Congress-, and
said that the plans for the Inauguration
at the Capitol were more simple than
those Of other Presidents in the past.
Senator Fletcher of Florida said that
he found himself in sympathy with the
stand taken BY Senator Borah This
fCnnttnued on PsEe2 Colume a