A much-admired George Washington sidestepped well-meaning attempts to get him to accept what amounted to a kingship in America’s earliest days of self-government. He had seen what the nation had just been through in battling a “royal effort” and he and other visionaries wanted no such structure here.

Since then, there have been some lavish ceremonies when people moved into office following an election. We have seen too many foolish excesses, such as some of our overdone presidential inaugural marathons and a number of gubernatorial “anointments,” such as one conducted not so long ago in Missouri at a cost of more than $1 million.

The American people do not court royal treatment for people moving into public office and it is quite understandable that many Kansas Citians are displeased, even disgusted, with the recent “inaugural gala” as Mark Funkhouser took office as mayor. Funkhouser ran a campaign on a bare-bones platform and has indicated he will bypass a number of perks of his office. But he still allowed a Union Station affair for more than 2,600 people at a cost of $128,000. He and his people justify a $43-per-person event by saying it was all privately funded and that nobody had to buy any tickets.

Two earlier mayors took office after ceremonies costing about $30,000, one-fourth of the Funkhouser amount. Even though some tax funds were used in the earlier events, some of the cost was covered by $10 admission charges for many.

Why in the world would Funkhouser surrender to a “coronation” when he has preached so long about the need for greater economy and efficiency in Kansas City? Some people who were uncomfortable about the cost of the event declined to attend or made brief appearances and left.

When a mayor, city commissioner or school board member is elected to office, what is the need for a costly ceremony? Swear them in and let them get to work trying to measure up to election promises for the people they purport to represent.

In Kansas, many are regularly upset that there is so much money spent and so much time consumed when a governor takes office. Too often the inauguration events string out over several days. So public funds are not involved because generous donors foot the bill. The image is not flattering, for the Kansas governor any more than the Missouri governor or the Kansas City mayor.

The new Kansas City mayor will get a lot of static about his gala’s cost and he should. The Lawrence policy of electing commissioners one week, putting them into office the next and selecting a mayor with no cost to anyone is far more palatable than some of the spending orgies we see at the state and federal levels, and now nearby Kansas City.