National Republican., 1885-01-21
THE conconAN ART GALLERY.


Criticisms ofthe New York " sun"
EDIToR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,; In
the Sun Of New York city Of the date of
Dec. 2s, 1854, there was published an edi-
torial criticism of tho Corcoran gallery of
| art Of this city.
After an allusion by namo to Mr.. w. T.
Walters, of Baltimore, and the late q. w.
Riggs, of Washington city, the article
proceeds as follows:
Both resigned In 1877; Mr. Walters because
| he found It impossible to be of any service to
! the institution, and could not by his presence
/ Oh the board Of trustees give even form of
/ tuCit approval 10 its conduct. Mr.. Riggs re-
| signed the treasurershp because neither he
/ nor any one clsU could find out IRON Mr. Cor.
| cUrau what the amount Of the endowment
| was, the condition of the finances, or the nature
| uGHuy Of the monetary transactions. There was
| n marked discrepancy between its alleged or
! published income and the actual reyenip, and
! tho latter was not In excess OF the former, a
| state Of things which Mr. Riggs, as a prudent
| and independent business man, could not en-
| durc.
Tho trustees Of the Corcoran Gallery Of
| Art have instructed the undersigned,
constituted n committee for that purpose,
TO make Ia presentation Of facts which can
/ be made to appear from an examination
of tho records of the institution.
These records will show that the resiR-
nation Of Mr.. w. r. Walters, which was
dated Jan. 81, l554, wns considered aud
accepted BY the trustees at meeting held
! Juno ., 1854, and the vacancy caused by
| the acceptance of his resignation filled at
that meeting. His name does not appear
| on the art committee after Jan. IA, 1884.
Mr.. q. w. Riggs died Aug. "a, 1881, and
was from the founding of tho institution
| in 1859 until Jan. Z, 1881, its treasurer.
To him, on the 18th Of April, 1872, was
| specially committed the investment of
/ S225, 200 Of Its funds.
| On his motion on the 25th of February,
| 1873, the sum of $4,000 was placed at the
disposal of tho committee on art for pur-
chase of objects of art.
on his motion, or in his presence. at
meetings held Feb. 25, 1873, May IL, 1876,
| Nov. "a, 1877, Jan. 9, 1879, March H. 1879,
April 81, 1879, June o, 1879, Oct H. 1880,
and April IL, 1851, were important
changes made in the investment fund Of
to institution and matters affecting it
discussed.
Purchase having been made in 1876 of
ground for additional buildings to tho
north of the present structure, 1t was, on
motion Of Mr.. Riggs, May IL, 1876, or
dered that purcha,es by the art commit
tee bo suspended that funds might ac-
cumulato Tor the purchase money of this
additional ground. ~
Special authority was from time to
time aitorward given the art rtJcommittee,
purchases being made vt one time to the
extent of $4,000 under such authority.
/ At meetings held Jan. l2, 1874; Jan. IL,
1875; Jan. IL, 1876 Jan. s, 1877; jan. II,
1875; Jan. %. 1879; jan. II, 1850; jan IL,
15sl, ali during the lifetime and treasur-
ership OF Mr.. Riggs, annual statements
wero made in detail of tho receipts aud
| expenditures Of tho institution, which
statements showed the sources of revenue,
and were made up from accounts kept on
the books Riggs " Co, the statements pre-
sonted Jan. IL, 1874, aud Jan. IL, 1881, be-
ing examined by Mr. Riggs and signed
for him by another officer Of the gallery,
the other statements, six in number. be-
ing signed and presented by him. At
meetings held Feb. 25 1873; Jan. IL, 1874;
Jan. IL, 1875; Jan. IL, ISL, statements
were presented for the treasurer, Mr.
Riggs, showing in detail the exact con-
dition of the endowment and Investment
funds.
1t has also been made to appear to the
undersigned that the securities constitut-
ing the endowment and Investment funds
of the institution have since its found
ing been on deposit in the vault of the
banking house of Riggs q Co., the treas
urer during all that time having free &C.
cess thereto, and holding duplicate koy
to the strong box containing the same.
Mr.. Walters when appealed to with
reference to the statements in the article
above quoted as involving his relations
with the gallery suggests that some in
eSactitude even has been always prefer
able to me to newspaper publicity or
controversy" and Mr.. L. Francis Riggs,
the eldest son Of the late G.. w. Riggs,
writes, "No person who knew him (Mr.
q. w. Riggs would believe for "a moment
the absurd statement that he was ign or
ant of the finances of the art gallery oI
which he was the treasurer His reslgna-
tion of the office was simply made neces'
snry through stress Of other duties; 1t was
impossible for him to give due attention
to the affairs of the gallery"
The above letters are on file with the
commi ttee.
CHARLES II, MATTHEW'S,
WALTER s. Cox,
S. L. BAIRD,
Cnmmitten