The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
BY CARL scHOFIELD. Special corre-

By CARL scHOFIELD. Special corre-
spondent.
officers of the George WASHINGTON
Memorial association and others inter
ested in the erection of a memorial
building to the first president Of the
nation are formulating plans for an
extensive campaign in the District of
Columbia.
Memorial to Washington.
The George Washington Memorial
association was Incorporated here in
September, 1898, for the purpose Of
erecting at the national capital a build
ing to be known as the George Wash
ington Memorial building in com
memoration Of the interest taken by
the first president in higher education
in America.
The memorial building which it is
proposed to erect in ~furtherance of
this idea is to be practical in plan and
construction, of a durable character
and an architectural feature of the
capital. It is planned to have it used
as a home and gathering place for ma
tionaL, patriotic, scientific, educational.
literary, art, medical and other similar
organizations that may need such &C.
commodations.
To Contain Big Auditorium.
It has often been pointed out that
the national capital is the appropriate
meeting place for all organizations
that are national in character, and yet
many Of them are deferred from com
ing here owing to the lack of suitable
accommodations for large conventions.
The proposed memorial building will
contain q great hall or auditorium,
probably as spacious as any in the
country, and other rooms for the meet
ing Of congresses or conventions of
smaller size, Office rooms for the head.
quarters of the various organizations
that may be associated with the prof.
ect and students research rooms.
It is proposed by the association to
raise 100000 for the building and
100000 as an endowment for mainte.
nance, so that societies and conven-
tons may use the building without
charge.
The ChiIdren's Tribute.
Every child is asked to wear a
George Washington button, which
costs 10 cents. From this fund it is
hoped to build one wing Of the build
ing, which will be the children's trib-
ute to Washington.
The entrance fee for association
membership is S., which will cover
the dues for the first year, to be re-
mitted to the treasurer. The annual
dues are 50. The fee for life member
ship is 500. A receipt with engraved
contributor, and his name and address
will be entered in the permanent rec
ord of the association.
Guides to Be Licensed.
The senate has approved a measure
providing for the licensing of guides
at Washington. The bill prescribes
that no person shall be licensed as
a guide unless the commissioners of
the District are satisfied he is a per-
son of good moral character and is
qualified to render the service for
which he is to be licensed" and the
commissioners may promulgate regu-
lations for the prevention of fraud
and imposition by such guides upon
the person employing them, for the as
certainment of these qualifications and
may provide penalties for the viola
ton Of the regulations.
Each guide must pay an annual Ii
cense tax of S.. There is also a clause
requiring peddlers to pay an annual
tax Of $25.
Washington Masonic Relics.
Prominent Masons from all over thu
country met the Alexandria Washing
ton lodge at Alexandria,, Va, recent
!, ly to discuss plans for building a Ma
sonic temple in Alexandria 50 tina
r proper provision may be made for tn
, care and preservation Of the famous
washington relics now in the custod!
of that lodge.
: The present temple in which the Wiz
ginia lodge meets is not the building
where Washington, it's first master
presided over it's deliberations. TIL
original building was destroyed ii
t 1871, and the present structure, whicl
. Is a part Of Alexandria's city hall AM
h Is given to the use Of the old Wash
ington lodge for n%inety-nine years, wa
erected ON its site. Fortunately almos
!. all the priceless curios which the oil,
l lodge had accumulated were saved
The chief losses We're the glasswar
used in the time Of Washington
=. which were taken by vandals. Som
9 Of this was returned. The master
chair used by Washington, Of leathe
and inlaid mahogany, Is now kept ur
der a glass case and used only at tn