Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-12
ARE IN A QUANDARY
PARLIAMENTARIANs OF wo-
MEMS CLUBS PUZZLED.
Effect Of Recent Amendment to Their
Charter-Must Meetings Be Held
Outside Of Washington

Since the printing of the new law amend
Ing the charter of the General Federation
OF Women's Clubs, with headquarters in
this city, serious question has arisen in
the minds of parliamentarians as to the
effects of the clause added to the original
charter act. The original act after naming
the incorporators, provided: "And they are
hereby created a body corporate and pol
ttic, of the District Of Columbia, by the
name. style and title of the General Fedora
ton Of Womens Clubs, and by that name
shall have perpetual succession for educa-
tfonal, industrial. philanthropic, literary,
artistic and scientific culture and to bring
into communication with one another the
various women's clubs throughout the
world"
ing and mortgaging of real estate, provided
for constitution and bylaws, and con-
Guided: Said corporation shall have it's
headquarters at Washington, District of
Columbia
This charter was signed by the President
March 3, 1901. After it had come into pos
session Of the ladies constituting the gov
erning board Of the federation, it was dis
covered that the meetings of the organiza-
ton must all be held in the District of Co
lumbia If their proceedings were to be en-
tirely legal. 1t is the policy of the fedora
ton to meet in different cities, and there
Is usually considerable rivalry between
municipalities desiring the honor of visit
from the representatives of the women's
clubs of this and other countries
The Recent Amendment.
1t was therefore decided that Congress
should be asked to add paragraph to the
original charter, giving the federation au-
thority to hold it's meetings elsewhere
whenever it should so desire. This para
ov,l, 7rof tod ND avanfnailv Y1qSCe0
both the House and Senate. 1t reads:
THAT said corporation be, and it is here
by, authorized to hold its biennial meet
ings at such places outside of Washing
ton, in the District of Columbia, as 1t from
time to time may deem best"
An authorization in an act of Con-
gress has been held to be synonymous with
Requirement" The question has, there
fore, arisen as to whether the new clause
quoted above does not prevent the fedora
ton from ever holding one of its regular
meetings in the District of Columbia. 1t is
claimed that from the extreme of being
compelled, under the general terms of the
charter laws, to hold all meetings in this
city, the federation is now forced to the
other extreme of never holding meeting
here. The language of the additional clause
is explicit In that 1t authorizes the organi-
zation ito hold its biennial meetings at
such places outside of Washington" etc.
II these meetings must be held outside the
city of Washington, 1T is quite evident that
II one were nefQ mere It's proceedings Woulu
have no standing in the law.
Another Interpretation.
There are others who say that the pecu-
liar wording of the new clause might mean
another thing. 1t says the meetings shall
be held outside the city of Washington, in
the District of Columbia This would
probably, under liberal construction. be
held to merely qualify the word Washing
ton but it is not the usual way of word
ing local laws. Those who are inclined to
look at the matter technically says 1t means
that the biennial meetings shall be held
somewhere in the District of Columbia,
Outside the city of Washington.
The ladies forming the federation will
probably have the statute interpreted be-
fore proceeding under its terms, and, If
necessary, they will probably find willing
assistance in the House and Senate to cor
rect any ambiguity that may be present in
the wording of the amendment.