The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-29
LOCAL AFFAIR S.
The Art Union Investigatisn.

The Art Union Investixatisn.
MEETING OF THE coMMITTEE AT THE Aston HOUSE.
shany'J and A. N. Clapp, iElieJ EDS
ne above gentismen, who have been appointed by the
Legislature Of this State TO make inquiry into the asga
Sons Of the petition presented to that body mputng
haud and corruption to the managers Of the Art Union
asssnbled yesterday, at p NJ, at the Aston House.
he Chairman, Mr. d. Taylor, inquired If i was the
attention Of the petitioners TO appear by counsel2
gentleman replied that they had not as yet consulted
but that i sas snss s tho 70 90 So
After some unimp diicusson the matter was ad-
jeurned until o'clock to morrow, at which time ii
that the petitioners would be prepared TO pro-
ssed with the and the Art Union would have the
Various books and papers in readiness to DC produced
70 THE HON. THE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
The petition Of the undersigned respectfully sheweth-
mat the American Art Union chartered by the
lsgAture Of this State Originally under the title OF the
Apollo Association and Afterwards changed TO its present
htb) for the purpose Of aiding American and resdent
axtsts and the cause Of art generally.
That the undersigned, in conjunction with many patrl
otto citizens induced to lend their aid Tor that pur
nose believing that the of said Art Union would
heaeate taste for the zine arts and accomplish truly
and institutions OF country and the wants, habits,
and tastes OF our people.
That the managers and directors OF said Art Union have
always ted and published that the affairs Of the
we're naged by gentlemen who were annually chosen,
and who received no mpensatsa for their services
That your petitioners have ~ informed, and verify
believe that instead of the sa& managers and directors
beng and having been annually chosen that the said Art
Union has assumed the character OF a close corpora
Ton, wherein the members thereof have had but
limited voice. that persons other than members have
under the cOuntenance Of some of the managers and
directors exercised the right Of franchise in voting for
managers and directors and thereby perpeuatng said
managers and directors in office, contrary to the intent
Of the Legislature at the time of the passage Of the
raj acts in relation to said Art Union and the rights
Of your petitioners ard other members Of said Art Union
That, instead of said managers and directors giving
tAsir services gratutousy as alleged their published
plan scheme that more Of said managers and
directors have drawn from the treasury of said Art Union
sxtravagant salaries far beyond their actual value
That of said managers and directors has ecev ed
the Of two thousand four hundred and fifty dollars
for six months services (equa to salary Of four thou
sand nine hundred dollars per annum) when the
vices Of could have been procured for
. snm less than one sixth OF said amount.
That the of disbursements for expenses and
r purchases OF works OF art have been audited in very
Nose and unsatisfactory manner by parties most mte
rssted therein, and not by di sinterested parties
That by Article Of said Art Unon adopted December
10 lS47 and afterwards ratified by the Legislature it
declared that, any dissolution of the institution,
after paying all its debts the whole remaining property
shAn be distributed among the persons who shall be
Bsmbers at the time of such dissolution &C. that in
1851 the usual annual drawing distribution did not
take place ewing, it then alleged to temporary
Art Union brought before the of law Of this
Sats and that the Court of Appeals in 1852 decided that
the drawing distribution was illegal and contrary to
law that from that period the objects for which said Art
Union chartered having failed il has, 10 great
measure, If not Wholly, discontinued its business and
has sold large amount of its property for which it has
net made any return to its members reported its
affairs tftat the members your petitioners and
others) can form any estimate OF the same
That your etoners have also been informed and ver
~ believe that OF the managers and directors OF
said Art Union secretly placed their and those
81 few of their personal friends in addition about
twenty boad de subscribers their records members
hr 1852, and that they claim TO be the only
bers Of said Art Union, and that they only pos
sessd OF the rights asd effects Of said Art Union to the
exclusion Of the rights Of your petitioners sand others
therein for the year 1851 and previous years and
Titled to drtrbutiye share OF said efets That pub
Nc private notice given 10 your petitioners that
their subscriptions for the year 1852, enable
1t so 10 do.
That petitioners have also been informed verify
believe that for the eectual mode Of carrying out
the design aforesaid, the managers and directors
Of the said Art Union, by private letters invited
meeting OF the persons who claim TO be the only MEM
bers Of said Art Union the oath day of December
1852 for the purpose of organizing for the year
1853 and to continue the said nomina Art Union until
1st May, 1857 when the lease of the building
Diee ey them in Broadway, which is very valuable, viii
expire.
That the Treasurer OF said Art Union presented
and read at said meeting statement Of its Affairs
which your petitioners have of examining,
and have redress through the courts Of law and
thsrefore respectfully pray that the affairs of said
Art Union be inquired into by honorable body
to the end that the faith Of the State by the
acts of the legislature in its passage of the original
and amended charter be vindic ated and the rights
- subscribers TO said Art Union who cannot obtain re-
dress through any ether channel be protected and en-
forced And your petitioners, as 10 duty bound, &c.
New York, April 2. 1855.