The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-03-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
cneckered Career of the San Domingo
Treafy-Congress of Mothers in SEES
sion-Mammoth Convention
Hall Projected.

sion-Mammoth Convention
Hall Projected.
There is no doubt that a San Dom
fnean treaty will be confirmed by the
senate, but it will be SO little like the
original treaty first submitted as to be
unrecognizable by its authors. The
history of this treaty is somewh at curl
Gus. The secretary of state. who has
during his eight years management
of the department achieved such a big
reputation as diplomatist, was i'll
and away from the department during
the San DOMINICAN negotiations. An
assistant secretary-or shall we say a
iourneyman in diplomacy?-bungled
the job. The president, who thinks
more of results than Of verbiage and
whose time was much occupied with
other matters, permitted the paper TO
GO to the senate as presented and it is
probable that he is as grateful as he
should be for the careful scrutiny and
amendment that it has received from
that body Of lawyers and strict con-
structionists.
The death after three days illness of
the venerable Senator Bate, of Ten
nessee, IS 50 far the most conspicuous
fatality OF inauguration day expos
ure. There are many other less notable
victims. It is impossible under usual
fourth of March weather conditionst
there shall not be many deaths from
grippe, pneumonia and other diseases
resulting from exposure. When one
remembers that simple vote of con-
gress might change the day of inaugu-
ration from chilly and boisterous
M arch the fourth to sunny April the
thirtieth, the day on which the first
president was sworn in, it is impos-
sible to regard congress as other than
guilty of manslaughter through laches.
On every fourth of March at the in
augur alton ceremonies hundreds of
of people unaccustomed to
exposure are in the weather from five
to ten hours, often without food, and
it cannot be otherwise than tha at many
of them must succumb.
There is much interest in w ashing-
ton and there will be more Or less in
terest in the country at large in the
enterprise of building a great conven-
ton hall IN the national capital. There
is no city in the country more eligible
or desirable for great conventions
than Washington. The capitol, the
national library, the national museum,
the great department buildings, the
white house, Mount Vernon, Arlington
and the Washington monument are
some of the many attractions of inter-
est to patriotic Americans, but there
is no great meeting house. Congress
at the session which has just closed
voted to present to the city Of Wash
Ington the United States exhibit build
ing which now stands in the ST. Louis
sair grounds. The frame work is OF
ron and it is calculated that it can be
to Washington at an ex-
oense of not more than 20,OO0, and
completely rebuilt at an estim ated ex-
1ense Of less than half a million dol
airs. 1t will make an admirable place
or inaugural balls and other great
assemblies.
It is expected that Washington will
1t no distant day have another art
gallery, the gift of Mr.. Freer, multi
and an art connoisseur
ike W. W. Corcoran, to whose bene-
ieence in art and charity the ma
lcnal government is so much in
lebted. II, as is said, the financial
entire of the world is shifting from
london to New York, why may we not
xpect in time that the art centre will |
hift from Paris to Washington? Sen |
tor Clark, of Montana, has now on
Exhibition in the Corcoran art gallery |
,ver two hundred and fifty of the chef
I'oeuvres of modern painters, aud |
wing to the great and increasing
wealth of the United States there are
10 doubt millions Of dollars in paint
ngs and sculpture that will gravitate
r shift from private galleries to the
reat public galleries, where their re-
ning,and ennobling influence will be
elt by the largest number.
The national Congress of Mothers is
oW In session in Washington and del
z ates from twenty states in the union
ave been registered. The greatly in
reased number of Mothers Clubs rep
esented indicates the growing strength
the organization, which has for its
bject education and welfare of chill
rem of all classes. The congress will /
in session ten days and will be ad-
ressed by some of the best known
dncators in the country. Professor
tanley Hall, the author of aAdoles-
snce,' will speak, and Monday eve
ing President Roosevelt will deliver
a address on his favorite subject Of
Race Suicide" The delegates will
> received BY Mrs. Roosevelt and will
$50 be given reception b. Mrs.
anderson, wife Of ex-senator John
I HENDERSON. There will be model
kindergarten and nursery, the latter |
resided over BY Mrs. Dubois, wife {