Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
A National Meeting Place Needed.

WASHINGTON is known throughout the
United States as the convention city OF
this hemisphere. Here are held national
aud International gatherings of every con
ceivable character, considering every sub
ject pertaining to the welfare OF the hui
man race. Each year the number of or
ganizations meeting in this city increases.
Notwithstanding that the capital remains
poorly equipped for the entertainment OF
such assemblages. This fact was brought
painfully into evidence last September,
when the International Tuberculosis Con-
gress met here.
Throughout the first session of the Six
tieth Congress diligent efforts were made
by leading scientific men and by officials
of the government to persuade Congress
to make adequate provision for the enter
tainment of the tuberculosis conference.
Inasmuch as the meetings were to be held
during the recess of the national legis-
lature 1t was proposed that the United
States Capitol might properly be granted
for this purpose. That suggestion was
rejected and 1t was then urged that the
House of Representatives Office building
should be designated as the meeting place
of the Congress. This also was refused,
the Entertainment of the congress and
designated the unfinished National Mu-
scum building as its meeting place.
AS was to have been expected. the Eu-
ropean delegates to this important con-
ference upon their return home ex-
pressed themselves in terms Of sharp
criticism of the American government
for its inadequate. not to say shabby,
90 10 M
Lancet has just published an article
which reflects the sentiment of the visit
ors from foreign countries on this sub
ject. indicating that unless Congress,
either alone or cooperating with public
spirited citizens, hastens to provide a
large permanent convention hall suitable
for such purposes it will be difficult to
persuade an International scientific body
to select Washington as its meeting place
in the future.
The need of a commodious, well ar
ranged building for the entertainment of
important conferences of q public and
semi-public character has been urged
upon Congress for many years. Such a
structure has been a feature of practically
all large plans which have been devised
for the development Of Washington The
government itself has frequently suffered
embarrassment when its own guests, for
mally invited here. have been compelled
to occupy makeshift quarters for their
consultations. withstanding these ex-
periences there Is not yet in Washington
a structure where such meeting can be
held without displaying part OF the gov
ernmental machinery or renting or buying
some private building and remodeling 1t.
Such an item as this counts heavily
abroad It does the United States great
harm for its Capital city to be known
throughout the world as lacking in the
essentials OF hospitality and the require
ments of the transaction of business. The
provision of an adequate convention hall
for the uses of the government would
probably cost about ten million dollars II
IT were constructed on the broadcast scale
now conceived. Probably for half that sum
a site and a building could be provided
suitable for all purposes, but lacking in
the artistic features which in Europe are
of prime consideration In the evolution of
a structure of this character. Surely the
United States is not so poor that 1t can
not afford comparatively Insignificant
sum to enable II to entertain at its CAPT.
tai the world foremost workers when 1t
becomes necessary for them to meet for
the advancement Of humanity.