Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-24
ACTION TAKEN TODAY
AMERICAN BEAUTY ROSES FOR
PRESIDENT GENERAL.
Report Of Committee on Programs
Negative Vote on Amendment
Affecting Treasurer General.


The morning session Of the Daughters OF
the American Revolution opened exactly
at the hour, 10 O'Clock, with very sparse
attendance in the hall. This was source
of considerable regret to a good many OF
the delegates, who wanted to hear the
minutes read, and got shut out because
they were lazy.
One Of the pretty incidents Of the morn
ing was the presentation to the president
general Mrs. Fairbanks, of a large basket
of American beauty roses and lilies, the
donors being Mrs. Coleman and Mrs. Molott
Of Indianapolis and Mrs. John Middleton
of Louisville. who are the guests Of Mrs.
Fairbanks
The congress was decidedly unruly and
seemed to have not the slightest consider
alton for its presiding officer, who often
strained parliamentary law in her mighty
endeavor to be equitable and fair to all.
After singing led by Mr.. Percy Foster,
assisted by Sergeant Wintermeyer, eornet-
list, and Mrs. Emily Given Dickinson,
pianist, the chaplain general, Mrs.-Sinoot,
pronounced the invocation and the con-
gress was declared open for, business. 1nl-
mediately an annoying buzz Of chit -chat ard
discussion arose from the floor. This be-
came so pronounced that it was almost i'm
possible to hear the official reader. Miss
Janet Richards, present the minutes OF the
previous meeting.
Complaints came from every section Of
the house Of the noise in the hall. The
president general ordered the doors closed
until the reading of the minutes were con-
cluded. She then commanded silence in the
hall. 1t took five minutes to get order, but
the president general stood gavel in hand
and waited till pin could be heard to
drop.
The minutes were accepted as read. Mean
time out In the corridors where society
function might have been in progress so
animated was the scene, a perfect furore
arose when it was found that the delegates
could not get in. They had not wanted to
get in while the doors were open, but they
were frantic to get in when barred out.
They had to stay out, however,
The chairman of the program committee,
Mrs. j. Heron Crossman, presented the re-
port of her committee and the program it
self to the congress. She explained that
there were several intentional omissions
and announced what they were. The report
and program were accepted by the congress
with the corrections stated.
Amendments to Constitution.
The real business Of the congress was
then observation-disclosures to the constitu-
tion-and the first amendment was the now
famous president general tenure of office"
act.
arne R. Wolcott Verpanck, state regent,
New York, provides that the president gen.
eral shall be permitted to hold her Office
two terms, SUCCESSFULLY. This amendment
was regarded. as necessary by the national
board, because the congress has elected
Mrs. Fairbanks president general while she
was vice president general. Having served
a full term in that office, it is now cons.d-
cred bar to her reelection as president
general. Those friends of Mrs. Fairbanks
who desire her reelection have been very
eager to have an amendment adopted that
will make her eligible.
The efforts to amend the amendment came
thick. and fast. The convention was be-
yond control most of the time 1t was
quite apparent that there was a majority
desire to adopt clause such as was pre-
scented, but there seemed to be a haunting
fear that the clause might be construed to
give life tenure of the Office. Finally an
amendment to the amendment was offered
by Mrs. Weed Of Montana, which read as
follows: Except the president general, who
shall be eligible to this office two terms, re-
CARELESS of her previous service on the ma
tional board
There was a shower of amendments to
the last few words, previous service on
the national board" Many thought that
could be elected except one who had served
on the national board There was much
trouble and confusion on taking the vote.
On the final vote, however, the amendment
443 to 49,
Immediately there was hubbub over the
adopted clause Many questions were
asked about the Official board part, and
If 1t did not exclude all those who had not
served on the national board. 1t was stated
over and over again that this would not be
the case, but one perplexed delegate pro-
ceeded to her seat to frame an amendment
to the amendment to the amendment" which
which would clearly state that any member
Of the order was eligible to the Office of
president general If she could get enough
votes to elect her.
Treasurer General.
The next amendment to be taken up was
that on treasurer general. This amend
ment was formed for the purpose of giving
the treasurer general as many terms in
office as the society desired, but this
amendment also held the words No per-
son shall hold Office for more than two
terms except the treasurer general
Mrs. Mary s. Lockwood pointed out that
this clause would nullify the president
general clause just adopted. Consterna-
ton was expressed on every counternance
succession. A vote was called for. In the
midst of taking it and before the negative
had been put Mrs. Weed of Montana moved
to table the motion, which was adopted
with rush.
Mrs. Donald Mclean questioned the legal
ity of this action.
The parliamentarian,, Mrs. Sherman Of
chicago, stated that the rules of order
under which the congress works say that
a motion to table is in order wnen vote
is being taken. if the negative has not
been put, and that the vote to table was
regular.
Immediately there was a storm of pro.
| test that the congress was not informed
as to what 1t was voting upon. The presi-
dent general announced that to be perfectly
fair. She would take the vote again il the
congress desired, but protest of noes"
showed the congress ready to accept the
decision of the parliamentarian, and it
stood.
At l o'clock the congress took a recess
until 2:3O o'clock when the other amend
ments were taken up and will remain The
continuing order until disposed Of
Miss Fairbanks will entertain the daugh-
tiers at a reception at her home tomorrow
afternoon.
The Massachusetts, delegation will hold a
reception at the New Willard from to u
tomorrow.
Sensations Developed.
The afternoon session of the Daughters