Evening star., 1948-12-06
Bids Today Due
ToDecideCost
Of
Budget Committee
To Set Exuct Prices
For Parade Seats

Inc 1919 inaugural COmmlCLee
will find out today what it is
going to cost to put on the big
festivities next month. Bids on
erection of the stands at the
White House were to be opened
this afternoon at the Municipal
Center.
General Chairman Melvin D. Hill
dreth has indicated that the Budget
Committee, meeting later in the day,
will attempt to work out final
budget an6 thus be able to set exact
prices for parade seats and deter
mine how many will be offered at
the various price levels.
Mr.. Hildreth announced today
that Col Charles w. Gettys had
been named chairman of the armed
forces inaugural committee.
Armed Services Invited.
Under direction of Gen. Bradley,
Army Chief of Staff, and Maj. Gen.
Hobart R. Gay. commanding gen.
eral of the military district of
Washington, Col Gettys will CO.
ordinate the participation of service
units in the ceremonies, Mr.. Hill
dreth explained.
Gen, Bradley is marshal of the
parade, and Gen. Gay is his deputy
In announcing Col. Gettys' ap-
pointment, Gen. Gay and Mr.. Hill
dreth joined with him in empha-
sizing the services were participants
In the ceremonies by invitation and
did not presume to exercise any di-
rection over them.
THE Inauguration of the Presi-
dent of the United States and all
ceremonies and celebrations associ-
ated Herewith are fundamentally
civil affairs they pointed out in a
statement.
In keeping with the above stated
conception, the inaugural parade,
while military in character, reflects
the wishes Of the civil populace, as
expressed by the President-elect, by
congressional committees, or by
other responsible public officials,
agencies or subcommittee ="
YOungheart Appointed.
Mr.. Hildreth also announced the
appointment of Samuel o. Young
heart, executive vice-president of
Warwick and Legler, Inc, New York
advertising agency, to the national
participation committee.
Mr.. Youngheart will head a group
which will seek aid of major adver-
tising firms in publicing the tradi-
tions and significance of the in
augural program through. the Ma
ton. Mr.. Hildreth said
Mr.. Hildreth today cited an action
of the 1889 committee which planned
the ceremonies for President Ben
1amin Harrison's Inauguration as a
precedent for the decision of the
present committee to give any sur
plus it may hold after January 20
to the Community Chest Federation.
The 1889 group prescribed that
earnings Of a trust fund established
with its surplus be used "for the
purchase of fuel and clothing for
the poor Of the District"
every Little" Money Used.
The original S26, 900 coverage has
grown to $3.50 in principal, and
about $1,000 in accrued interest is
on hand, according to District Audi
tor Arthur r. Pilkerton.
Very little" of the money has
been used in the last year, he said.
Mr.. Pllkerton pointed out that the
restriction placed by the 1889 COM
mittee prevented use of the money
to help defray expenses OF the 1949
Inauguration.
After President Harrison was in
augurated, the committee which
planned the program adopted this
resolution:
Resolved, that the surplus earn
ings Of the Inaugural Committee
shall be transferred to the Com
missioners of the District of Colum-
bia, and their successors, to be
kept intact as Centennial Inaugu-
raj Relief Fund to be invested by
them in good real estate securities
in the District at the best obtain
able rate of interest and to be
held and used for the following
purposes, viz: The annual interest
to be expended in the discretion of
said Commissioners for the purchase
of fuel and clothing for the poor
Of the District
"Rediscovered" In 1910.
The long dormant account was
"rediscovered" by Mr.. Pilkerton in
1910 when, as acting auditor, he
made check on the Districts mis-
cellaneous trust funds. At that time,
the Commissioners appointed a
Citizens Committee to recommend
disposition of accrued interest. The
committee suggested that $4,000 be
expended that winter through well
fare officials and that the balance
be held for later needs.
Since then, disbursements have
been made from time to time, Mr..
Pilkerton said-always for fuel or
clothing for the INDECENT.
The principal is invested as fol-
lows: $39,450 in Government bonds
and $4,000 in first-trust notes on
two pieces of real estate.
LIE ScIlIellllldl III Llle name OF
the fund derives from the fact Pres
ident Harrison's Inauguration oc-
CURED 100 years after the first in
auguration of George Washington.
Ben Strouse, chairman of the Store
Display Committee, has announced
that inaugural medals will be award
ed as prizes for outstanding store
window displays during inaugural
week. One medal will be presented
to the display manager of the de-
partment store having the most i'm
pressive display and another will 60
to the display manager of the
smaller store with the best exhibit,
Mr.. Strouse said.
Meanwhile, the Housing Commit
tee, seeking accommodations for
thousands of out-of- town visitors,
was preparing for Wednesday, S
opening of its Housing Bureau. The
bureau, at 500 Fourteenth street
NV, will be opened with a recep-
ton from 5 to pm. Wednesday.
Many Expected to Attend.
Expected to attend the opening
will he Mrs Ernest K Ijndlev GEN.