Evening star., 1948-12-07
Contract Is LET
For Inaugural
Parade Stands
Skinker & Garrett
Bid Assures Keeping
Down of Seat Costs

s~~
Down of Sect Costs
General Chairman Melvin D. Hill
dreth of the 1949 Inaugural Com
mittee said today that award of
contract for construction of the
principal parade reviewing stands at
a price of $54,950 made certain tick
ct prices could be held to the level
of eight years ago.
Mr.. Hildreth said he was greatly
pleased" bids for the work made
such a figure possible. He joined
with District Construction Director
Archie G. Hutson, stands subcom-
mittee chairman, in announcing the
contract for stands in the White
House area was awarded to Skinker
g. Garrett, f719 street NV.
The President was most anxious
that we keep ticket prices as low
as possible, Mr.. Hildreth said, "and
now we can assure the public they
will be no higher than eight years
ago-from 81 to So"
Meeting late yesterday, inaugural
budget officials decided to sell about
10000 tickets at Sc. So and $40, with
the balance of about 10000 prices at
81 and $4.
Low Base Bid Ignored.
In contracting for stands, the COM
mittee passed over the loW base bid
-s82 ,O00-submitted by the ]. D.
Hedin Construction Co., 800 Mich
igan avenue NE. The Skinker g.
Garrett firm had entered base bid
OF $3.50, but its offer on one of
two alternate proposals was lower
than that of the Hedin company.
Skinker & Garrett agreed to fur
ther reduction when plan less pre-
tentious than this alternate was
decided on 1t was explained this
decision brought the figure to $54 $50.
Mr.. Hildreth and Mr.. Hutson said
the Presidents reviewing stand, ae-
commodating his official party,
members of Congress, the diplo-
matte corps, other high officials and
their guests, would be the only COM
pletely covered stand.
A small section of the stand op-
posite the Presidents in the La
fayette Square block also will be
covered, because the penthouse"
for. newsreel and television camera
men will be above it.
Stands Are Modified.
Despite modification, the major
reviewing stands will accommodate
approximately the same number OF
spectators as those of eight years
ago, it was said. .
Mr.. Hildreth was to meet today
with Attorney General Clark to
prefect plans for exhibition OF
the Freedom Train here as part OF
the inaugural program.
In breaking down the parade seat
ing arrangements, the committee
explained there would be approxi-
mately 1900 seats across from the
presidential reviewing stand on
PENNSYLVANIA avenue at the White
House which would sell for $40.
Avenue Seats at S2-$4.
All other seats in the Lafayette
Park block will cost So. Seats In
the Treasury area will be available
at S6 and those along the Avenue
between the Treasury and the
Capitol will be the 50 and 81 va
riety. |
Robert v. Fleming, chairman of
the Finance Committee, announced
after a meeting of his group late
Yesterday that it had been decided
definitely to seek a guaranty fund
of at least 100000 Mr.. Fleming
said it was absolutely essential that
subscriptions be more widespread
and in larger amounts than in pre-
vious inaugurals, due to the in
creased costs of handling the inau-
gural ceremonies"
The guaranty fund, to be sought
from Washington area businessmen,
would be used in the event ticket
receipts did not cover expenses.
Committee officials said later the ,
program had been insured in the ,
amount of the guaranty fund against
emergency cancellation"
Vice Chairmen Appointed.
Mr.. Fleming announced appoint
ment of the following vice chairmen
of his committee: Robert H. Lacey, |
Mark Lansburgh, H. Randolph Mad
dox, l.. Gardner Moore, H. L. Rust,
jr., and Wilmer J. Waller. John NJ
Christie is executive secretary.
Mr.. Fleming also announced the
following Executive Committee
members and said additions might
be made to the list:
John G. Bell, A. Julian Brylawski,
Lee D. Butler, Lowry N. Coe, James
E. Colli1ower, James A. Councillor,
jr.; John H. Davis, sr.; Tilford E.
Dudley, Richard P. Dunn, A. G.
Earnest, J. Clifford Folger, Gerald
D. Grosner, Granville Guide, Gilbert
Hahn, Maurice K. HEARTFELT, Theo-
dore Hudson, Samuel H. Kaufman,
Thomas T. Keane, Milton S. Kron-
helm. L. Lowell Lamotte, jr.
Also, Ralph w. Lee. jr.; James B.
Luttes, Edward L. McAleer, William
j. McManus, Kirk Miller. D. L.
Norman, E. K. Morris, Alfred G.
Neal, Maurice L. Nee, Victor H.
Peterson, Clement F. Preller, Will
liam H. Press, Jennings Randolph,
James H. Simon, Ward B. String
ham, Arthur Sundlun, Phillip M
Talbot, Martin Wiegand and A. D.
Willard.
Ticket Demand Great.
Fifteen thousand of the approxi-
mately $4,000 parade seat tickets
are being made available to Gov
eminent employees, and Mr.. Hill
dreth said yesterday he was amazed
at the demand for tickets from
these workers.
Mr.. Hildreth met with the Gov
ernment Department Ticket Sales
Committee. headed by Joseph F.
Major, and said the demand was
greater than ever before in the
history of inaugurations." They said
Government workers would be able
e. II, IL L. 4.