Evening star., 1948-11-30

Ill NcolUy AICo9
Sum Would Increase
Guarantee Fund From
S150,000 to $500, 900
The 1s4s Inaugural Committee
has decided to raise its guarantee
fund from s150O00 to 100000 and
to ask the businessmen of nearby
Maryland and Virginia communities
to subscribe the additional $50,00O
1t was announced today.
Chairman Melvin D. Hildreth said
the move was necessary in view of
the higher costs of putting on the
big show during the January 20
event.
1--WE feel the nearby communities
will benefit from a business stand
point just as will the City of Wash
ington and therefore that the mer-
chants in nearby Maryland and Vir-
ginia will be willing to help back
the committee" he said.
$4,000 Collected So Far.
Mr. Hildreth said that about $50
900 Of the $15O,000 fund originally
set has been collected. He added
that the committee has every hope
to paying back every cent subscribed
but that the larger guarantee fund
is necessary to insure success OF
the week-long celebration.
The decision was taken at Budget
Committee meeting late yester-
day at the Riggs National Bank,
Mi. Hildreth added. A committee
will be named to approach business
groups in the nearby communities.
The compelling reason for the
higher guarantee is the committees
desire to hold down the price of
the parade seats. The committees
desire in this respect was reinforced
by White House call Yesterday to
submit to President Truman the
architects plans for the inaugural
stands in front Of the executive
mansion.
Wants Cost Kept Low.
IN giving his approval of the
sketches, Mr.. Truman added, Mr..
Hildreth said, the comment that he
wants the cost of seats for all in
augural events to be kept low so
that as many people as possible will
be able to attend.
Mr.. Hildreth said today the COM
mittee now feels it will be able to
keep all the seats along the line Of
the parade's march in the So to So
brackets with at least 5000 available
at the minimum price of So. The
seats opposite the White House
stand, generally considered the most
desirable since they afford the oc-
cupants a view of Mr.. Truman and
other high officials, may cost more
than the $40 figure originally set.
Final seat prices and ALLEGATIONS
by price levels cannot be decided
until bids are received on erecting
the stands at the White House. Bids
are due to be opened at p. m. next
Monday.
Mr.. Hildreth said that $18,205 has
been received in payment for tickets
and that many more applications
have been received without checks,
pending decision on seat prices.
He estimated that over 10000 ap-
plications have now been received
for the approximately 10000 seats
to be available. This does not in
clude 10000 seats requested by bus
lines running special trips into the
District for the event or another
10000 requested by the railroads
and other transportation agencies
also planning special one-price all
inclusive tours.
December 20 Deadline Set.
In order to make sure that tickets
will be held only for those who
actually want them the committee
has decided to require that all tickets
reserved must be paid for and picked
up not later than December 20, Mr..
Hildreth said.
Other inaugural developments
include:
The Hospitality and Housing Com
mittee, headed by Mrs. Ernest K.
Lindley, held its initial meeting at
the Tariff Building yesterday. Near
ly IS members were on hand to hear
preliminary plans for meeting the
housing needs for the 10000 visitors
Mr.. Hildreth has estimated will come
here in Inauguration week.
A housing bureau will soon be set
up on the second floor of the Whelan
Drug Co. building at Fourteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue
NV. 1t was stressed that the COM
mittee will attempt to match hous-
ing requests with offers from Wash
ingtonians to help meet the need,
but that the question of paying for
rooms will be left to the visitors and
their hosts. A branch of the bureau
will be located at Union Station.
The housing job will be under direc-
ton of Mrs. John McClintock.
The day after Inauguration, jan
uary 81, will be known as hospitality
day with Mrs. William o. Douglas,
wife of the Supreme Court justice,
in charge. Mrs. Charles Brannan,
wife of the Secretary of Agriculture,
will be in charge of children's ac-
tivities for the day.
To Ask Army's Help.
Housing plans are still in the
formative stage, but it was decided
to ask the Army to open some of
its facilities, especially buildings ca
pable of being turned into dormi-
tories. Persons having buildings
even though no beds are available
will be asked to help with cots to
be provided from other sources. The
public schools will be asked TO eX-
plore the possibility of using gym
nasiums for dormitories as was done
for soldiers during the war.
1t was stated that the committee
has no legal right to determine
what rents may be charged visitors
for these accommodations or for
those in private homes although the
committee may later publish what
1t considers a fair rental scale.
Housing activities will be confined
to a 50-mile radius of Washington