Evening star., 1948-11-19
Mc6rath Backs
Extra Holiday
For Inaugural
Will Introduce Bill
Giving U. S. Workers
a Days to Celebrate

a Days to Celebrate -
Senator McGrath of Rhode
Island, chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, will introduce
q bill in the new Congress to make
the day after Inauguration Day
Friday, January 21-a holiday fol
Government workers in the District
There is no doubt that Govern
ment workers will be dismissed In
auguration Day itself to witness ano
participate in the festivities.
The 1s4s Inaugural Committed
has been making plans for a four
day week end of celebration oi
President Truman's Inauguration
Senator McGrath, a member ol
the Joint Congressional Inaugura
Committee, expressed doubt that 8
January 81 holiday would be pos
sible without legislation.
Meets Committee Chairmen.
General Chairman Melvin D. Hill
dreth met yesterday with about Z!
of his committee chairmen and vict
chairmen for the first time since
he assumed charge of the celebra'
ton.
The committee opened headquar.
ters this morning in IS Offices or
the first floor of the old Tariff
Commission building in the BLOCK
bounded by Seventh and Eighth
streets and E and F streets NV.
Robert v. Fleming. chairman Of
the financial committee. disclosed
that rising costs of construction
materials and help have forced the
committee to raise its proposed
guarantee fund estimate from $780,
600 to s150,000 This means that
Washington businessmen will have
to contribute S50000 more to the
inaugural guarantee fund for 1949
than they did in 1941 The money
is used to finance the ceremony and
is repaid to the contributors from
seat, program and medal sales.
Mr.. Fleming's Financial Commit
tee was to meet today to select ar
Executive Committee to help raise
the guarantee fund. Mr.. Fleming
said he already has received pledge:
from the Capital Transit Co. ane
the Potomac Electric Power Co
totahng $1,000
Mr.. Hildreth asked the committe,
chairmen to submit a budget o
their planned expenditures within
the next week or so to give Mr.
Fleming's committee an idea of hov
the $150,000 guarantee fund esti
mate will stand up.
AL functions of the Inaugura
Committee, including ticket sales
will be conducted in the Tariff Com.
mission Building Offices, Mr.. Hill
dreth told his co-workers.
The public may begin filing ticket
applications for seats along Penn
sylvania avenue at / pm, today
Mr. Hildreth said. The tickets have
not yet arrived from Philadelphia
he said, but Ticket Director John
Morrissey aud his stan Ntl be readg
to receive tppiications this after
noon. 4--~~---~------5-~--r. - .-"Tsssss
COMMITTEES officials revealed that
It is not certain whether the planned
inaugural ball will be held Friday
night, January 81. or on the night
of the Inauguration itself. Carter
Barron, chairman of special events,
said he believs January 20 mole
desirable night, inaSmuch as many
persons will journey to Washington
for one day only to see the cele-
bration. Edgar Morris, chairman
of the inaugural ball, said he win
confer with other inaugural OFF,
cials before deciding.
Mr.. Barron pointed out many
Hollywood movie stars and the Ma
tion's leading musicians already are
planning to come to Washington to
participate in Mr.. Trumans S inaugu-
ration.
He also suggested an Inaugural
gala" to be held January 10, the
night before the President takes
his oath, with the Hollywood stars
and the musicians participating.
Mr.. Hildreth disclosed, also, that
the Freedom Train and the French
Friendship Train will be parked
side-by-side on a downtown railroad
siding for inaugural visitors who
wish to see them.
Another feature of the celebra.
ton, Mr.. Barron said, will be float.
from each of the 48 States anc
the territories to lend color to thu
inaugural parade. Mr.. Barron sale
he plans to invite industry tx
participate in the parade.
Fire Chief Clement Murphy
offered the committee the use Of
eight 100-foot aerial ladders tt
form four arches over the Penn
sylvania avenue parade route.
r. Senate Group Meets.
Plans for arrangements on
Capitol Hill were discussed at length
yesterday at meeting of new
Senate members of the Joint Con-
gressional Inauguration Committee
Senator Hayden, Democrat, o1
Arizona, joint committee chairman
announced afterward that details
N1l be acted on later, when the
Senate members can get together
with the House contingent of tn,
committee to be appointed soon BY
House Speaker Martin. The pres
ent delegation from the House con
sists of Republican Majority Leadel
Halleck, Majority Whip Arends ant
Minority Whip Mccormack. Thi
Is to be changed to give the Demo
Gratis a majority.
Attending the session yesterday
besides Chairman Hayden, wer
Senator McGrath, Vice President
eject Barley and Senator Luca.
Democrat. of Illinois, who is il
line to be Democratic leader of tn
Senate.
David Lynn, architect of the Cap
itol, reported to the committee OF
construction Of the inaugural stand
on the east front of the Capito
William T. Reed, deputy sergeant a
arms of the Senate, reporte,
progress in preparation of invita-
tions, tickets and programs.
ChupIoin Will Preach