New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-17
TvPOHTATTONS ~ BOND.

IWPORTATIONS ~ BOND.
The picture dealers who desire that the PnV-
cgc of importing paintings IN BOND Should De
extended 70 them aS well aS to art museums ana
art schools and the picturc-dealcrS VINO hold
tha, the privilege should be restricted to the
museums and schools made their arguments
last week before Secretary WINDOW. We are
not ovcrSangunc, but we venture 10 express
hone that the Secrctarys decision may put an
end to a discussion which has disturbed the
serenity Of the picture galleries for the last four
or five wears If Secretary Window succeeds
in nuicting thi, tempest he will have another
claim upon the gratitude of a much-enduung
nublic Ills decision will hc based upon IN
understanding of the proper construction OF Inc
low which the mere amateur of art VIII nor
dispute Nevertheless it j. safe 10 say that the
nlain fact, i'm thi, contention are matters OF
familiar knowledge The petition addressed
io the Secretary Of thcTTrcasuy by the art
dealers complained that three " associations oil
this city. organized for commercial purposes
were enjoying privilege intended 10 be re-
served for association, like art museums ana
art schools The law provides that " a>>o'a-
lions for the promotion and encouragement OF
ant" nav import paintings in bond ana retain
them i'm This county for six months. u Is
we'll known that the " Bous-od. Naladon y Go.
,..ociatiou" j.. the Ncw-Norl branch of the
PAN. firm Of dealers in paintings and pho'o-
grophic piint,. The American AM AN~oca-
,ion' 4. known a. finn or company organized
,n obtain for the members such profits a there
may lo i'm the management of auction sales.
in exhibitions m which AN admission fec j.
charged. and in the sale of paintings and cN-
.r,,.l.s -. Oriental art The Eden Mu>ce
association" is m exhibition company when
IA, .upplcmcnicd il, collection, with a gallery
Of paintings. We are MOI aware that purely
phlanthropic motive is put forth IN any case.
Tn. onc,tion u.s. whether these firms or com
panic. can Doe property regarded rs aN~ocia-
ton, for the promotion and encouragement 81
ant"
This question was raised few years since
vhcn there was reason iO h"licNc that PICTURES
importcd in this way had been offered for sale.
\ ruling was obtained which made IL necessary
| for associations like those mentioned to pre-
marc slightly different articles Of Incorporation.
| But the privilege of importing paintings IN mona
wa, continued We believe that no sales oil
/ ricturc, imported in bond have been proved
! recently. and we understand that two oi the
.associaiion>' are ready to offer any Suaran-
toes which may be- asked that no pictures shall
he sold or offered for sale But. n II seems To
-, neither this nor the dc>irabiliy OF these
exhibitions is the main issue. 1t Is conceded
that the exhibitions organized by the " AmcrI-
can Ar Association" have been interesting ana
instructive. but this flci has no hearing what
ever upon the construction of the law. A> the
law is commonly understood by laymcn. the
succial provision which it contains was intended
TO apply 70 cases like thc importation OF Mr.
g. T. Wait,'s paintings for exhibition at the
Metropolitan Museum. Our museum Is most
as,nrrdk an institution for the promotion and
announcement of art" II represents no com
mcrciaI purpose whatever Can this be SaId OF
tbc Bors>od. Valadon Co.. the American Art
Association" and the " Eden MuSce ASNoca-
ton? II j, perfectly evident that II they were
not commercial enterprises, conducted with tho
purposc Of moncy-gciting, they would not be
in existence.
When this question was first raised the an
s,vcr ar one dissertation" was that the other
dealers had their remedy in their own hands,
and that they could also form associations
and import pictures in bond. We fear that
this rctort for it is not an argument. VIII hard
IL hear examination. II implies that every
dealer in pictures must be- not only dealer,
but also a manager OF exhibitions, or. in other
words that he must change from a firm to an
"association.r and transform the conduct OF
his business We do not imagine that Sccre-
tary Window has been deeply impressed
by a proposition which seems to be n tacit ac-
acknowledgement that importation IN bond does
confer special advantages. II certainly enables
q firm 10 attract public notice, and to draw
huycrs. If it were not advantageous, these
firms would not be conendng for the priv
icpc. If We are still asked TO suppose that the
motives actuaing these associations aIc
purclv phlanthropic. we invite them to con
slider the following proposition Let all pictures
; imported in bond by and at the expense OF
these associations" be exhibited at the Metro
polan Museum, of course without any lcmun
Grafton. II seems to lis that this would
, really "promotc and encourage art without
exciting any opposition. But, to speak more
seriously there is only one point to be consid
cred as the controversy now stands. and that