Evening star., 1948-12-04
Bark|ey's0ath
Maybe Taken
Beside Truman
Inaugural Unit Asks
Ceremony Be Held
On Stand Outside

President Truman and Vice Presi-
dent-elect Barkley both would take
the oath of Office on the outdoor
stand at the east front of the Capt.
tol under a proposal being consid-
cred by the Joint Congressional In
augural Committee.
This would be a change from ira
dition under which the Vice Presi-
dent in most instances has been
sworn in before the Senate itself in
the Senate chamber, Immediately
before the Inauguration of the
President.
No decision has been reached on
the proposal, it was learned today
but the matter is being seriously
considered. Senator Barley, when
asked about the ceremony during a
recent press conference here, said
details had not been agreed to at
that time He now is at his home
In Paducah, KY.
Advantages Cited.
The proposal for having both the
President and Vice President sworn
In January 20 before the throng in
the open is being urged strongly be-
cause of the advantage it would
give the outdoor radio and tele-
vision audiences.
Meanwhile the committee origi-
nally set up to sell" Government
employees on buying 1949 inaugural
parade tickets probably will end up
In the exact reverse position-trying
in every way possible to find the
precious tickets the Government
workers are requesting.
This appeared to be the situation
today as it was announced the So
man committee on Government
agency participation will meet Mon
day to discuss the ticket situation.
The committee, which includes a
member from every agency and de-
partment in the area, is headed by
Joseph F. Major, legal liaison Of
ficer at the War Assets AdminiStra-
ton and a World War I fellow SOL
dier of President Truman.
Thousands of Requests.
Mr.. Major said today that thou
sands" of requests for tickets for
Government workers are coming in
to his committeeman. He estimated
that about S per cent of the 5000
Government workers in the Wash
ington area, or more than 10000
persons, will want parade tickets.
But the 1949 Inaugural Commit
tee already has exhausted its ex-
pected supply of all tickets except
those in the Sc, ST and So bracket
and requests for blocks of tickets by
railroads and bus lines are sufficient
to cover the remainder of the ap-
proximately 10000 seats.
However, applications are still be-
ing taken for seats with the under
standing that they must be paid for
by December 20, thus enabling the
committee to know by then just how
many applications it has for blocks
Of tickets.
Historic Booklet Planned.
Mr.. Majors committee thus will
likely be faced with the problem of
how to dig up enough tickets to sat-
isfy the demand of Government
workers.
Other inaugural developments:
John Clagett Proctor was named
to head the Historic Sites Commit
tee. Mr.. Proctor is president of the
Association of Oldest Inhabitants of
the District. The committee will
publish a booklet describing the
various sites open to inaugural
visitors.
The Program Committee, headed
by Edward Boykin. approved pre-
liminary plans for the souvenir
booklet it plans to issue for sale to
inaugural visitors. 1t will contain
historic pictures and stories OF the
previous inaugurations.