Evening star., 1940-11-16
Inauguration Plans
May Be Affected
By Rising Prices
Size Of Stonds at Copitol
Reduced; Nicely May
Yield Choirmunship

Plans for the Inauguration of
President Roosevelt on January 20
may be considerably affected by
rising prizes of building materials
and labor and by changes decreed
by American voters at the polls on
November S.
The increased cost of lumber and
wages for labor already has resulted
In curtailing the size Of the stands
being built in front of the Capitol.
At the same time uncertainty as to
the future plans of Senator Nicely
of West Virginia, chairman of the
Joint Congressional Committee on
Arrangements for the Inauguration,
who on November was elected to
the governorship of West Virginia,
has delayed the beginning of ar
rangements for the ceremonies.
To take advantage of current lum-
ber prices construction Of the plat
form and stands at the Capitol is
far ahead of normal schedule. De-
livery of materials began October
II, and construction work now is far
advanced.
Halsey Is Probable Chairman.
1t is expected President Roosevelt
will designate Col. Edwin A. Ralsey.
secretary to the Senate, as chairman
of the General Committee on Ar
rangements to succeed the late Rear
Admiral Cary T. Grayson, chairman
for the first two Roosevelt inaugurals
Col. Halsey said today he had not
yet received oficial notification.
It is considered likely, in view
of the world situation, that the in
auguration will stress American
unity and preparedness.
Congress has appropriated only
$685. 900 this year to defray the in
augural costs, compared to $42 900
last year.
David Lynn. architect Of the Cap
tol, said there will be at least 5000
fewer seats available in the Capitol
stands for the inaugural than in
1887. Present estimates place the
total at 1854, compared to 1852
four years ago.
Plans by the joint committee
probably will be delayed until Sen
ator Neely discloses whether he will
take the oath of office as Governor
of West Virginia before the January
20 ceremonies or will wait until after
the President is sworn in for his
third term.
Barley May Replace Nicely.
Friends say he probably will be
inaugurated as Governor in the
immediate future. In this event,
Senator Barkley Of Kentucky, ma
jority leader, probably will succeed
him as chairman of the joint COM
mittee. Senator McNary of Oregon,
Senate minority leader, is the third
Senate member Of the joint COM
mittee.
House members are Speaker Sam
Rayburn, Majority Leader John w.
Mccormack of Massachusetts, and
Minority Leader Joseph w. Martin,
IT,, of Massachusetts,.
It probably will be left to WASH
tngton business and civic leaders to
determine how elaborate the non-
official inaugural plans will be. For
the 1887 Inauguration . fund Of
500, 900 was pledged to q commit
tee, headed by Robert v. Fleming,
president of Riggs National Bank.
He was assisted by Lloyd B. Wilson
as finance chairman. It Is Gus
tomarys for any balance Of funds to
be turned over to the Washington
Community Chest after the books
for the inaugural ceremony have
been balanced.
The stands at the Capitol are
financed out Of the congressional
appropriation, but the bulk Of the
expenses Of the celebration are un-
omcial and are met By local ccntrt.
butionA Il was Dotnted out. solci.