Evening star., 1948-12-17
President Backs
Committee Ian
For|naugura|
Group Carrying Out
Ideas Agreed On,
Executive Asserts

The 1949 Inaugural Committees
plans to make next months festiv-
tiles a major event for Washington
and the Nation have the approval
Of President Truman.
The Chief Executive made this
clear at his press conference late
yesterday but not without q round
of laughter at the expense Of his
military aide, Maj Gen. Harry H.
Vaughan, who had been quoted as
declaring the program was 40 times
as large" as the President wished.
Mr.. Truman was asked If he
agreed with the reported comment
by his aide The President at first
said he had no comment, then
added, with smile, that the general
had said he did not remember max
ing such a comment for publication.
Vaughan Present.
Several reporters murmured "for
publications." and laughter swept
the Presidents Office. The general
was standing behind Mr.. Truman
during the interchange.
The President said the Inaugural
Committee is carrying out the
inaugural plans as agreed on with
him.
Gen. Vaughan had denied to The
Star that he made any such state
ment but said he might have said
something like it at a meeting.
Meanwhile. the prices for the
inaugural gala, to be held the night
of January 10 at the Armory, were
set at $3.50 to $40 after a meeting
between the general chairman, Mel
win D. Hildreth, and Carter T.
Barron, head of the Parade and
Special Events Committee.
Mr.. Barron announced that ap-
plications for tickets to the gala, ex-
pected to feature stars of the movies,
stage and other entertainment
fields, should be sent to the gala Of
fee, Room 160, in the Tariff Build
ing at Seventh and E streets NV.
Applications must be made by mail
and be accompanied by check or
money order.
Box Subscriptions.
Mr.. Barron also announced that
subscriptions to boxes in the presi-
dental circle at the gala will be
handed by the Patrons and Pa
tronesses Committee, headed by
Mrs. George Mesta. They will cost
$50 seat.
Tickets for the inaugural ball, to
be held in the Armory Inauguration
night, January 20, will be sold on
invitation only at $40 each. Sub
scriptions for boxes seating eight
persons will be $3.50.
John F. Morrissey. head Of the
Parade Ticket Seat Committee, an
nounced that only the So and 81
seats are currently being offered for
sale. He said no more seats in the
other price brackets will be offered
until contracts are signed for ad-
ditional stands. At that time more
seats will be offered in the 50 to $6
he added.
Rooms for Visitors Sought
Meanwhile, the Montgomery
County Inaugural Housing Commit
tee announced that a group Of
prominent county citizens has been
set up to encourage householders
there to make rooms available for
visitors. Mrs. James v. Bennett is
housing chairman for Maryland
with Mrs. Minnier Hostetler in
charge of Montgomery County.
J. Bond Smith, chairman of the
Democratic State Central Commit
tee, has asked all district and
precinct chailmen and co-chairmen
as well as presidents Of women's
Democratic clubs to hold neighbor-
hood meetings in order to canvass
the county block by block.
Members of Mrs. Hostetler's COM
mittee include William Carl, Mrs.
William Knox, Mrs. King Mularkey,
Mrs. H. S. Hurlbut, Mrs. Russell
Hardy, Mrs. Gordon M. Street and
Mrs. Lewis B. Sims.
To register an extra room, call
Sterling 1855. Housing headquar-
ters for the entire Washington Met
ropolitan Area are at 500 Fourteenth
street NV.