Evening star., 1902-08-20
gress for the use of the rotunda of the Cap

greSS for the use OF the rotunda OF the Cap
itol.
Mrs. Mussey had her arrangements COM
pleted 10 ask Congress for the use of the
rotunda. One of the ladies on the special
committee said this morning that the COM
nit tee had received assurances from Sena-
tor Frye and Speaker Henderson, as well
as from the leaders Of the House and SEN
ate, that when the bill was presented it
should receive immediate consideration.
I'VE had every assurance that the rotun-
da would be voted to us" said the member
of the committee, but We were told, after
our work was practically completed, that
Mr.. Warner had secured Convention Hall
for us, and that he wished us to discontinue
our efforts in that direction, which We did -
Secretary Bulkley's Response.
Replying to Mrs. Mussey's letter, Secre-
tary Bulkley stated that it gave him great
pleasure to be able to inform her Of the
much more satisfactory arrangements that
had been made for the ladies. The parlors
and banquet hall of the Arlington, he as
sured her, will afford sufficient room to
meet all of the requirements of the ladies,
the surroundings will be infinitely more de-
sirable and in every way the change has
been desirable one, and it is understood
that these accommodations can be secured
for any night of the week that Mrs. Mus
sey may prefer.
A member of the woman's executive COM
mittee said this morning that while it
might be possible for Mrs. Grant and Mrs.
Mussey to rush $1,000 people through the
Arlington Hotel parlors in one evening, it
was an undertaking which she would not
sanction, although a member of the recep-
tion committee.
II remember said this lady, that the
Daughters of the American Revolution
were told they could only issue 5000 inyi-
tations to the reception they desired to give
in that hotel. This organization numbers
about 10000 women. The Woman's Relief
y,,hx II.
dies of the G. A r. 10000. They have each
legions of friends, and they will all pay
their respects. 1t should be remembered
that women form by many thousand the
majority OF the national encampment
guests. They spend the money; not all Of
the veterans do.
Il remember the attempt of the national
president of the Woman's Relief Corps to
hold her reception in the parlors Of the
Palmer House, Chicago, in 1901, when
clothes were torn In shreds, women tainted
and the police finally came IN to protest
against the awful crush.
Experience of Last Year.
"I remember the great reception in the
city hall at Cleveland last year. There
were go officers and past officers of the
Relief Corps In line, and from o'clock to
midnight the line Of guests passed unbroken
before those ladies.
Everybody knows that every veteran in
Washington will wish to call upon Mrs.
Grant. + think $1,000 is conservative esti-
mate Of the number who will try to get
into the reception hall. How could those
people be accommodated in any hotel In the
United States?
''These receptions are the great social
features of the encampment. They are
given for the veterans, each reception being
in honor Of the commander-in-chlef and
staff and members of the encampment
Elaborate invitations have already been Is
sued by the various national presidents for
the receptions supposed to be settled upon
for Convention Hall.
''This plan Of changing the reception of
Mrs. Grant to the Arlington and making
absolutely no provision for the other recep-
tions will cause endless confusion, dissatis-
faction and worry. I really feel as though
those who have made these arrangements
cannot know much about national encamp-
ments. Why, Mrs. Logan was nearly de-
capitated in the crush In the rotunda ten
years ago, when she was chairman Of the
reception committee"