Editorial JVote and Comment , 
The Mall at Washington . 
It should never be too late to record our congratu- 
lations to all through whose prompt action the pro- 
posed beautiful Mall at Washington, D. C., was saved 
from comparative destruction by the peculiar proposi- 
tion of the Department of Agriculture in relation to the 
site for its new building. From the Quarterly Bulletin 
of the American Institute of Architects it appears that 
the President had favorably considered this action of 
the Committee on Agriculture, upon which the coun- 
try was aroused and a bill, introduced by Senator New- 
lands, regulating the width of the Mall in accordance 
with the Commission’s plans, was passed in the Senate 
by unanimous consent; a bill is also before the House 
to the same effect, but it did not get through before 
adjournment. President Roosevelt later decided to 
preserve the Mall from this encroachment, as provided 
in the designs of the Commission. Mr. D. H. Burn- 
ham’s description of the labors of the Commission 
and its results, as given before the Senate committee 
and published at length in the above journal, displays 
more than anything we have yet seen the zeal and 
devotion of the Commission in its work of providing 
the best possible, within its intelligence, for the beauti- 
fication of our Capital city. 
In this- connection it is also gratifying to note, 
that at the meeting of the American Civic Asso- 
ciation at St. Louis, a very strong resolution was passed 
June ii, appointing a standing committee of five to 
assist in promoting the improvement of Washington 
according to the plans of the Commission, and to 
memorialize Congress, if necessary, in behalf of the 
project. 
* * 
The Coming Convention of the A. A. C. S. 
The eighteenth annual convention of the Association 
of American Cemetery Superintendents, to open in 
Chicago, August 24th, suggests a retrospect. At the 
time of its inauguration, less than twenty years ago, 
the ordinary cemetery, even in the larger towns, was 
not usually a “thing of beauty.” It was treated only 
as a necessity, and as such was not deemed worthy of 
particular professional consideration, either as to care 
or layout. A few men thought differently, and from 
that time on a rapid transformation has been under 
way all over the country, moving from the larger to 
the smaller places, until today it is reaching out to the 
village burial plot. The change that has taken place 
on the cemetery question, the contrast between the old 
style and the modern, compels respect for the asso- 
ciation that has been so positively identified with the 
movement and demands that its membership should 
be increased and its efforts publicly acknowledged, so 
that the work, which, notwithstanding its wonderful 
progress, is still in its infancy,, may be extended to 
make all burial places in the country beautiful. A 
proper beginning towards this helpfulness would be 
for every cemetery corporation or committee in the 
land to furnish a new member to its rolls ; this would 
assure a career of renewed vigor which would hasten 
the work of cemetery reformation. Chicago is a great 
and attractive center ; it has some remarkable cemetery 
achievements, and so much could be learned from at- 
tendance and association with the convention delegates 
that membership in the organization should be the duty 
of all cemetery officials not at present on its books. 
* * * 
Important Changes in Leading Associations . 
In our last issue the report of the St. Louis conven- 
tion of the American Park and Outdoor Art Associa- 
tion gave the details of the merger of that body with 
the American League of Civic Improvement, and the 
new name of the merged associations — the American 
Civic Association. The two bodies had in many di- 
rections been working along parallel lines, so that in- 
creased usefulness may be fully expected under the 
new regime ; indeed, the departments of work already 
laid out promise a campaign of improvement endeavor 
under conditions never before so practically defined 
and understood. This union of the forces of the two 
leading outdoor improvement organizations of the 
country is a matter for congratulation to all interested. 
* * * 
Another important change is the renaming and ex- 
pansion of the New England Association of Park 
Superintendents, which will henceforth enlarge the 
field of operations under the title of the American As- 
sociation of Park Superintendents. The multitude of 
associations of one kind and another, displaying as they 
do, however, the progressive spirit of the American 
people, leads one to wish that outdoor improvement in 
all its branches could be cared for in one national as- 
sociation. Such a consummation in the present genera- 
tion appears to be impossible of realization, so that the 
park superintendents have no doubt done very wisely 
in taking a step that will, or should, tend to increase 
the usefulness and improve the opportunities of a body 
of public officials, whose knowledge and ability is so 
important a factor in the refinement and beauty of 
our parks. 
