Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-26
MRS. DlN|N|OCK WINS
Gets Favorable Report for
Memorial Building Site.
MAKES PLEA IN PERSON
Persuades House Committee on Pub
lie Buildings and Grounds.
COURTESIES ARE EXCHANGED
Mr. Austin Exclains IAN EmerR-
ency Exists Always When a
Woman Makes Request.

A charming exchange Of courtesies took
place today in the House committee on
public buildings and grounds, when Mrs.
Henry Dimmock Of New York spoke in
favor OF her pet project. the establish
| ment OF a George Washington memorial
building In Washington; and 80 gallant
| were the members of the committee that
they forsook the beaten path OF going
into executive session to order q favorable
report. but took a vote on the subject be-
fore her. Every member of the commit
tee voted "aye.''
The Senate already has passed the bill
authorizing the government to allow the
George Washington memorial to be erect
, ed on the old Pennsylvania railroad sta
tion site. II Mrs. Dimmock could make
q speech 'on the floor of the House with
the same effect that she had upon the
committee today. the way to the estab-
Hshment of the memorial would be royal
yeasy. After outlining what the George
Washington memorial idea is she said:
1T should be a national project, q build
ing of splendid design. with rooms for
meetings and conventions from all over
the United States. When every state Is
holding meetings Of all sorts in this
building, and when scientific and histor-
ical societies are converting here, truly
this memorial to George Washington
would be used for the diffusion Of knowi-
idea when he made his win. Here you
have a plan that outdoes anything else
In the United States you have pan for
the whole country. There Is no politics
in this; 1t Is for the whole country"
Mrs. Dimmock explained that every per-
son who contributes to the two-and-a-
half million-dollar fund being raised to
erect the building would have his name
enrolled permanently.
Has PLEDGES Of Half Million.
Il have pledges Of half million dol
lars. and / have q subscription Of $780,
600 which can get when you allow me
the use OF this site
How much money do you want the
government to APPROPRIATED" asked
member Of the committee.
"None at ALL" replied Mrs. Dimmock,
and from that moment. the members
Of the treasury. Mrs. Dimmock explain
ed with conviction that the memorial
merely needs site. that when the big
marble building is completed It will be
turned over to the United States govern
meut to be controlled by the same board
which governs the Smithsonian Institu-
ton.
Mrs. Dimmock made pronounced
impression upon the members Of the
committee. 1t was evident from the
moment she refused to ask for money.
The first evidence that the plea had
made an impression was when Repre-
sentative Austin arose and bowed to
Mrs. Dimmock, saying:
IT am sure I would be glad to vote
for half . dozen sites II you 20
Perhaps you want to see some Of
butldipg." susgested member with q
NO" responded the Tennessean, II can
never sly No to lady"
site VIII Bring Subscriptions.
Il can't conceive that any state will
hold back with plentiful subscriptions"
said Mrs. Dtmmock In response to q
question, latter you have allowed us the
site. Then we will have something to
show"
A member asked her:
DO you ever expect that suffrage or
this building You propose?'
THE building will BE- for conventions
and at that the committee laughed
And at the end, Mrs. Dtmmock said:
Il assure You that IL I get nothing
from the government except the ac-
quaintance OF so many fine men 1t would
seem to have repaid my efforts"
That was the last straw. Represen-
tative Gudger moved for favorable
report on the bill right of. Every man
shouted And second the motion"
The vote IL not taken" said Repre-
sentative Burnett, acting chairman,
but can announce 1t as unanimous"
However. there was some further DIS
cussfon. Some one wanted to know
how the. committee could support q bill
In the face of the rule Of the demo-
cratic caucus not to support any but
urgent or emergency bills. This bill,
as 1t stands. Is not an appropriation
bill. and needed no explanation, but
Representative Auatin said:
AN emergency exists always when q
woman makes q request
Casts Gloom on Scene.
Representative Burnett threw a little
gloom into the ordinarily bright party by
intimating that the people Of the District
Of Columbia might sit idly by and see q
memorial built BY the states and not do
their own share:
That's the way with them here" he
said. al he peered gloomily into the print
ed page before him: "they seem to want
the government to do everything for
them"
However. Mrs. Dimmock relieved Mr..
Burnett Of any further apprehension ON
this subject She said she expected the
District would do it's share.
Il C. ID. WaiC0tt. SECRETARY of the Smith.