The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-01-01

Borah Would Limit Expense to sic.
600.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-At the
very moment that dispatches were
reaching Washington from Marion say
ing that the inauguration of Harding |
as president would be the most daz
zling celebration within the memory of /
the present generation, members of |
congress began to set the brakes against |
some of the contemplated plans and eX
penditurcs for the event.
Senators and representatives on the
joint congressional committee having |
charge of the inauguration opposed at |
a meeting the use of the pension office |
building for the inaugural ball
Senator Nelson and Representative |
Cannon were especially positive in |
their objections because use Of the build |
ing meant that government records |
would be diSarranged and furniture and |
archives moved out. at much expense. |
1t also came out that pay To the pen |
sion Office employees would continue,
even though they might be out of the
building for 4 month.
Suggestions were made that the Capt.
toll might be used for the ball. Whether
congress will grant authority for this is .
question.
The question of Inauguration expendi-
lures also came up in the senate. SEN
atOr BOrah made an inquiry as to the
amount to be $pGlt. and Senators Jones
OF Washington, LenrOot of Wisconsin
and Norris of Nebraska all showed de
cidcd insurgency against extravaganza
when the choice of their party was in
augurated.
Il wish to learn" said Secretary Bo-
rah by what means and methods VIC
appropriate money for the Inauguration.
am unable to tind from my investiga-
tlOn any other practice than that of eX-
pending whatever the inaugural commit
tee sees fit to spend. and then the appro-
priatlOnS committee takes care of it.
Four years ago we appropriated So
600, and | understand that this year
the expense will reach 100000"
Senator SmoOt said that the newspa-
per reports of q probable expenditure of
100000 referred to money collected by
the people of the district, which would
be expended, not around the Capitol. but
for other activities of inaugural day.
Il am not referring to the money the
citizens are raising" replied Senator
Borah. That's 4 matter which doesn't
concern me. I'm glad to see them con
tribute what they want in any amount
But what I'm interested in is to find
out what congress appropriates for the
occasion. Is the money offered in an
estimate, does the committee simply
90 ahead and make the expenditures and
then congress pay the sum-"
Always in the past the work has
proceeded. and when the bills We're all
in the appropriation has been provided
for" answered Senator Smoot
Senator Jones thought that Il joint
resolution providing S:}J.0OO had uSu-
ally been passed. Senator Smoot re-
called that a resolution passed 10 days
ago author Z"d the appointment Of
committee II take charge Of the cerc-
monies. Senator rah replied:
AS [ recall, neither that resolution
nor any previously pa sod specified any
amount but merely gave blanket au-
thority. | call attention to this because
/ think there should be a limit to the
amount we are TO spend at the beginning
OF this economic administration. If
someone else does not take charge of the
matter who is better fitted to do so and
Is connected with the appropriations
committee. I shall attempt early next
week to put a limit TO the expenditure"
Mr.. Porah further remarked:
Il should like to limit the amount to
be spent to SO. which would be enough
10 pay the presidents automobile fare
from the White House to the Capitol
and back"
In n colloquv between Senator Smoot
3nd Senator Nelson it was shown that
the lowest bid for building a platform
on the Capitol plaza for the 1921 in
auguratiOu was 80 per cent higher than
the bid for the same work at the Viii
son inauguration in 1917. Senator Mel
son said that the senate committee was
trying to get hold of unused government
buildings to house the military organiza-
lions coming for the parade, and he
wanted a specific anpronriatiOn for that
purpose but Senator Sm0ot said that
this bod npvor been dome.
I should like TO ask Whether 3ogi~la-
tion will be required - permit the use
of the pension Office for the inaugural
ballP' incurred Senator LenrOot
We hav" nothing to do with that"