The morning times., 1897-02-25

property was rot SUBJECT 20 society ueDts
They also presented 10 the congress an
engrossed and framed charter. The thanks
of the congress Were offered to Senators
Burrows and Daniel, Representatives Hill
and Hatcher, Judge j. NJ Wilson, Messrs.
Ross, Perry, and A A. Hoehing, for aid
in securing the charter.
Mrs Donald Mclean. Of New York, re-
ported from the committee on revision
of the constitution. The other members are
Mrs Senator Mitchell. Francis L. Edwards,
Michigan; Helen b Stryker, New Jersey;
Mary A Greene, Rhode Island; Sarah b.
c. Morgan, Georgia, and Virginia h. Mad
doX, California.
In order to inform members not pres
ent in the past two congresses she stated
that she was asked by State regents i'll
/ S95 to offer a resolution calling for re-
vision. The resolution was offered and
passed The committee was to be made
up of all state regents, the president gen
eral ex officio and herself. No quorum Of
the State regents was ever obtained and
no report could be made III 1896 The re-
vision was made, however. The president
general, at that time Mrs John W Foster,
favored a smaller committee, and il was
i
national society State regents and chapter
regents. She did not know till the an
nouncement who would compose the COM
mittee.
She said she did not present new con-
stitution. They had revised. not revolu-
tioniZed the constitution. But the SPLEEN
did constitution which had served SO well
for 500 women needed some changes to
serve a membership OF $4,000 She was
unalterably in favor OF maintaining the ma
tionaI organization, but it must be as
broad as its title. Ii was only upon such
lines that any national organization can
exist. There must be nothing arbitrary,
nothing local, nothing narrow There must
he no North, no South, no East, no West
1t must be 4 national administration, de-
pendent upon the local bodies and contrhut-
ing to their welfare.
First. in the revision they thought there
ought to be a constitution to govern the
societies. not a constitution and bylaws.
The constitution ought to be permanent
body Of rules to govern the society, and
to be changed only by vote OF the society.
Any important and permanent bylaws
should be put in the constitution. The by
laws should be for the government of the
national board, and changed by them.
There she 81 be only one legislative body.
That body should be the congress. There
should not be a second legislative body. as
the national board now is. The national
board. as the executive, should meet not
monthly, as now, but only four times a
year.
There were also other changes. One OF
these was that on alternate years meet
ings might be held outside of Washington.
She offered resolution that the report
be adopted. except for such clauses as the
congress chose to cut out or replace with
substitutes.
Mrs Walworth suggested that this mo-
ton should have come from some other
person.
Mrs Green, OF Cincinnati, moved that
the report be accepted and changes con-
side1ed Mrs Walworth asked to amend
this motion so that they would consider
changes upon the present constitution, not
the revision presented.
Mrs Mclean said the pI DIVISION that any
amendment to the constitution must pass
the national board Of mana cement, with
a quorum Of seven, ought to tie cut cut.
Mrs. Eoynton asked il member could
no. now offer and have passed an amend
ment to the constitution. Mrs Mclean
said she could not. Mrs. Walworth said
she could.
The previous question was ordered and
by vote the report was accepted and the
discussion of the revision by clauses or
dered. Mrs, Walworth moved to substi-
tute the Old constitution as basis upon
ict, tn DC1Tpr
moved that the consideration be in COM
mittee of the whole, but this was defeated.
Mrs. Lockwood said they might do as
they pleased with the constitution, but
they could not change their charter They
might ''buzZsaw their constitution as
much as they choose, but not the United
States Congress.
Miss Pike, of Washington, daughter of
Gen. Albert Pike, said her father had
stated that nothing so much tended to
confusion as changes III the organic law.
She was proceeding TO discuss the matter
when a point of order WAS made against
her The revision had not been read.
Mrs Walworth said under the proper
definition of revision they had the old
constitution be fore them. and it must be
read by sections and voted upon. Mrs.
Mclean said that was what she expected
to do. She would read the constitution;
there was only one in existence
Mrs Walworth said If they changed their
constitution, except as provided in the
constitution itself, they would be in danger
of invalidating their charter.
In further discussion Mrs. Draper said