REPOET OF THE SECRETARY., 25 



To provide a site for tlie erection of a building to be known as the George Wash- 

 ington Memorial Building, to serve as the gathering place and headquarters 

 of patriotic, scientific, medical, and other organizations interested in promot- 

 ing the vi^elfare of the American people. 



Whereas George Washington, on July ninth, seventeen hundred and ninety-nine, 

 said : " It has been my ardent wish to see a plan devised on a liberal scale 

 which would spread systematic ideas through all parts' of this rising Empire," 

 and it was Washington's wish to materially assist in the development of his 

 beloved country through the promotion of science, literature, and art, and 

 with the firm conviction that " Icnowledge is the surest basis of public happi- 

 ness " ; and 



Whereas the changing conditions that time has brought require new methods of 

 accomplishing the results desired by Washington and now a necessity of the 

 American people; and 



Whereas at the present time there is not any suitable building in the city of 

 Washington where large conventions or in which large public functions can 

 be held, or where the permanent headquarters and records of national organi- 

 zations can ,be administered ; and 



Whereas a building should be provided in which there shall be a large audi- 

 torium, halls of different sizes where all societies pertaining to the growth of 

 our best interests can meet, and such as it is deemed desirable may have per- 

 manent headquarters ; and 



Whereas the George Washington Memorial Association is now engaged in ob- 

 taining funds for the erection and endowment of a building suitable for the 

 purposes above set forth, to be known as the George Washington Memorial 

 Building: Therefore * * * 



The law as passed by Congress and approved by the Presi(ient 

 March 4, 1913, was as follows : 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 

 of America in Congress assembled: 



* * * * * * * 



Sec. 10. That a building is hereby authorized to be erected in the District of 

 Columbia, to be known as the George Washington Memorial Building. 



The control and administration of said building, when erected, shall be in the 

 Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. 



The George Washington Memorial Association is authorized to erect said 

 building in accordance with plans to be procured by said association and to be 

 approved by the Commission of Fine Arts, said building to be fireproof, faced 

 with granite, and to cost not less than $2,000,000 ; it shall have an auditorium 

 that will seat not less than six thousand people, and such other smaller halls, 

 reception rooms, oflBce rooms, and so forth, as may be deemed necessary to 

 carry out the purposes for which the building is erected. And the said George 

 Washington Memorial Association shall in addition provide a permanent endow- 

 ment fund of not less than $500,000, to be administered by the Board of Regents 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, the income from which shall, as far as necessary, 

 be used for the maintenance of the said building. 



Permission is granted the George Washington Memorial Association to erect 

 said building in the north end of the reservation known as Armory Square, 

 bounded by Sixth and Seventh Streets west and B Street north and B Street 

 south. The south front of said building is to be on a line with the south front 

 of the new National Museum Building, in the north end of the Smithsonian 

 Park; and the said land is hereby set apart for that purpose: Provided, That 

 the actual construction of said building shall not be undertaken until the sum 



