1744 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
January 16, 1897—House. 
Mr. Exrzan_ A. Morsr, from Committee on Public Buildings and 
Grounds, submitted report (H. 2534) to accompany bill (H. 10023). 
The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to whom was 
referred the bill (H. 9491) entitled ‘‘A bill to create a commission 
to select a suitable reservation or plat of ground in the city of Wash- 
ington, in the District of Columbia, for memorial purposes, under the 
auspices of the National Society of the Daughters of the American 
Revolution,” have carefully considered the same and respectfully 
report as a substitute therefor the accompanying bill. 
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution 
was originally founded in the city of Washington on October 11, 1890, 
and the next year was incorporated in the District of Columbia under 
the general law. A national charter was subsequently granted to the 
society by special act of Congress, approved February 20, 1896. By 
the terms of that law it is declared that the corporation is created— 
for patriotic, historical, and educational purposes, to perpetuate the memory and 
spirit of the men and women who achieved American independence, by the acquisi- 
tion and protection of historical spots and the erection of monuments; by the 
encouragement of historical research in relation to the Revolution, and the publica- 
tion of its results; by the preservation of documents and relics and of the records of 
the individual services of Revolutionary soldiers and patriots, and by the promotion 
of celebrations of all patriotic anniversaries; to carry out the injunction of Washing- 
ton in his farewell address to the American people ‘‘to promote, as an object of 
primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge,’ thus 
developing an enlightened public opinion and affording to young and old such 
advantages as shall develop in them the largest capacity for performing the duties of 
American citizens, to cherish, maintain, and extend the institutions of American 
freedom; to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing. to 
mankind the blessings of liberty. 
The headquarters of the society are fixed in the District of Columbia 
by this law, and it is required ‘‘ to report annually to the Secretary of 
the Smithsonian Institution concerning its proceedings, and said Sec- 
retary shall communicate to Congress such portion thereof as he may 
deem of national interest and importance.” 
The ladies forming this national society are all direct. descendants 
of the men who founded the nation and achieved its independence. 
They number upward of 16,000 members, organized into over 300 
subordinate chapters, and extending into every State in the Union and 
every Territory except Alaska. They have a complete and efficient 
business organization on a permanent basis. 
In carrying out the purposes of their organization they have deter- 
mined to erect in the city of Washington a memorial continental hall 
‘‘in honor of the statesmen, soldiers, and patriots, men and women, 
of the American Revolution, and for the preservation of relics of war 
peace, domestic life, and industry associated with the period of the 
conflict for American independence,” and have set systematically 
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