26 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1914. 



Avill lapse. It is further provided that the work of construction can 

 not be commenced until the sum of $1,000,000 is raised by the associa- 

 tion, and although Mrs. Henry F. Dimock, president of the associa- 

 tion and chairman of the building committee, has secured a part of 

 this sum, much still remains to be raised. 



The cost of the building must be not less than $2,000,000, and there 

 must be provided for its maintenance a permanent fund of not less 

 than $500,000. In the preamble of the original bill (S. 5494) passed 

 by the Senate April 15, 1912, "to provide a site for the erection of 

 a building to be known as the George Washington Memorial Build- 

 ing, to serve as the gathering place and headquarters of patriotic, 

 scientific, medical, and other organizations interested in promoting 

 the welfare of the American people," the purpose of the building is 

 defined as follows: 



Whereas George Washington, on July 9, 1799, 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 

 " knowledge is the surest basis of public happiness " ; 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 

 permanent 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 President 

 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, office rooms, and so forth, as may be deemed necessary to 



