Evening star., 1948-11-26
President 10 Check
Architects Sketches
OF Inaugural Stands
Institute Drofts Simple
Plan to Reduce Cost
For Parade BIeuchers

President Truman is expected
to take a look on Monday at the
sketches for the 1949 inaugural
parade stands, prepared by the
American Institute of Architects
for the Inaugural Committee.
The stands are a strictly stripped
down version of some Of the more
extensive and ornate structures of
prewar inaugurations. The 1887 in
auguration featured a reproduction
of Andrew Jackson's home, the
Hermitage, in front Of the White
House, but the higher building costs
this year will prohibit any special
treatment, according to Melvin D.
Hildreth, general chairman Of the
Inaugural Committee.
Mr.. Hildreth said the severity OF
design was a necessity in order to
keep within reasonable budget.
10000 Seats Planned.
Mr.. Hildreth said the institute was
preparing the architectural sketches
without cost to the Inaugural Com
mittee and that he felt they would
be in keeping with the archltecture
of the White House and other ad-
joining buildings.
Many of the stands along Penn
sylvania avenue will be the simple
movable types used in previous
years and familiar to sports fans
generally. Bids are being taken from
several concerns who can supply
them.
About 10000 seats in all will be-
available this year, compared to
about 10000 at the 1941 ceremonies,
the last big inaugural gathering.
General plans for the inaugural
celebration were taken up with the
President briefly today, but the de-
sign of the stands was not laid be-
fore him.
William M. Boyle, assistant to
Chairman McGrath of the Demo-.
cratic National Committee, and
Neal Roch of the committee called
at the White House and conferred
briefly with Mr.. Truman and Mat
thew j. Connolly, presidential sec
retary. Mr.. Boyle is the liaison
man between the Inaugural Com
mittee and the White House.
To Set Ticket Prices.
The Budget Committee of the In
augural Committee is to meet Mon
day to 90 over figures in an effort to
set prices for the inaugural stand
tickets. Mr.. Hildreth already has
stated that "at least 5000 OF the
seats will be available at 81 each
and that he is hopeful of keeping
the top price at $40. Whether this
will be possible, however. will be
determined by a review OF the budget
figures. Originally, the committee
hoped to operate on a $150,000
budget.
Meanwhile, there were these other
DEVELOPMENTS on the Inauguration:
Col. Waldron E. Leonard, director
of the District Veterans Service
Center, proposed a plan to erect a
special grandstand for disabled vet
erans at the center at Pennsylvania
avenue and Fourteenth street NV.
He said such a stand could take care
OF 500 amputeeS and parapleglc
cases, all those in this area. The
stand would start at sidewalk level
and reach to the roof of the build
ing or even higher.
Col. Leonard said his office would
arrange for the necessary trans
portation to bring the veterans to
the parade and take them home.
Steam Calliope to Be Used.
Col Zack Terrill, owner of the
Cole Brothers Circus, has offered
to send a steam calliope from Louis
Vile, KY, to add a pleasant old-time
musical note to the big parade.
Mr.. Hildreth, one Of WaShlngtons
foremost circus Sans, said the cal
liope would be drawn by eight
dapple-gray horses as it plays such
tunes as THE Missouri Waltz" in
honor of President Truman and
MY Old Kentucky Home for Vice
President-ele Barkley. 1t is the
only active steam calliope in the
country, Mr. Hildreth pointed out.
All others are air operated.
Carl Paul Jenlewein, New York
sculptor, was commissioned to de-
sign the official inaugural souvenir
(See INAUGURAL, Page A-20