New-York tribune., 1891-02-18
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
prAys FOR A NATIONAL HISTORICAL ASSo'
CATION.
,poposEn NEW DEpARTMENT-HoMDAY AT
THE CAPITAL-DEMoCRATIC MANIFEsToES
SENATOR GORDON.

WASHINGTON Feb l7-Several gentlemen Mt the
,on,tsl interested in the establishment of Ma
tional Historical Association will ask Congress
noxt year to purchase the present Bancroft man
sion az the headquarters for such society. Every
State has f1ourishing historical society 1hcss
societies would cooperate with the National asso-
ciation. moderate endowment from congress
would afford the basis for all that is required
Tie BancF,eS library, which Is going
be sold, shtuld also be in possession OF the uoV-
ernment II contains all of the documents anu
works gathered by Mr. Bancroft during his forty
odd years of historical study. Nearly every
thing in it relates &c American history. MS
library also includes copies of important sta'e
v.ners found by him during mis- service as Mini
lister at Berlin. These papers all bear upon 'ie
early history of the country
II is further planned to establish a new Depart
mcrt in the Government The Bureau OF fou-
cation, which is now one OF the suoordilaVo
bureaus of the Interior Department, has been grow
ing and now occupies separate b'lldihs !"
is thought that it would be good thing for I'e
administration of public affairs If this bure""
could be enlarged and its head made !nenioci
of the Cabinet The enlargement OF the Pah u
the Bureau should then include fine arts anu oie"
lecture and the supervising architect who now has
this new Department. Everything relating 10
the fine arts. to architecture and geheI"
education would then be under the dlrectIon
of one man. THIS would correspond to the DC
partment in France presided over by LIE MlniS'fc
dos Reaux Arts With such Department some
thing like uniformity of excellence could oe at
tanned in the construction of our pubic ouilo-
ings Statues and pictures would be Dought IN
accordance with certain weel-known an" az
cepted principles. Government purchases Vi 'iN'
character have nearly always been Oh morc 'nah
a haphazard character. Nearly every WORK vi
oft IN tho form of a statue at Washington has
beon tho choice of some specially appointed COM
mission The commission appointed for the
Farragut statue is fair illustration NJ the CHAR
acter of these commissions. This commission was
composed of General Sherman, Mrs. faTagut ana
a local artist. General Sherman was appointed
on the COMMISSION because he was friend of
Farragut's Mrs Forragut put on the COM
mission TO be sure that there would be a family
likeness Competition was thrown open to the
artists of the world. There were some really
beautiful designs sent in by American
students in Paris and Rome. Yet the work was
given to Winnie Ream, local artist of par
ticular training or talent. Her design was ac
cepted because first, the likeness could be recog-
nized by Mrs Farragut; then General Sherman
said the details of the uniform were correct; and
the local artist favored home talent against peo-
pie who had gone abroad to live. The result is
needless to describe This statue is considered by
the serious-minded one of the feeble jokes of
the capital.
Department of permanent character would
soon draw TO it work of the highest class. Any
one Of position good enough TO be selected for
the Cabinet would undoubtedly have some require
ments for the position At any rate, he would
have such a sense of responsible Wy from the
prominence of this position and the consequent
importance of his work that he would not dare
to settle questions Of art and architecture upon
political or friendly lines. The designs for a
public building are all prepared at one small
Bureau of the Treasury. In the place Of this it
would be proposed TO throw open TO the architects
of the United States an opportunity to submit
their plans. This would stimulate competition
and the awards would be great encouragement to
the development of art in architecture throughout
the country.
There is a general air of hiarty throughout
the Departments this week, in spite of the half
masted flags and black emblems Of mourning
This is owing to the orders to close the Depart
ments upon the days of the funerals of Admiral
Porter and General Sherman. The death of
former Cabinet officer, Stuart, will also cause the
closing Of the Interior Department for half
day on his account. The funerals of the two vet
Grams give the Government employees two holidays
and the Cabinet officer secures to them a half
holiday. This is great loss TO the transaction
of public business, the days of Congress are
now drawing to an end, and members have good
deal 10 do with the Departments in finishing up
their affairs before going home.
The Democrats who deal in the old-fashionea
style Of argument of proclaiming to the country
that they alone can be trusted with the admins
,ration of affairs are sending out, through their
literary bureaus here, wonderful circular announce
ments. These circulars announce in turgid
phrases that the patriotic Democrats in Congress
have alone been able to thwart the Republicans
in their desperate conspiracy to pass "a force
BILL" as it is called in the language Of these in
teresting documents. One would think TO read
these concoctions that they were prepared for the
delectation of drivelling idiots. The public are
warned that this base attempt upon the liberties
Of the people having failed, the Democratic party
will proceed to go on and protect the bull
warks of the country by some other stupendous
feat of enterprise. The attempt to secure an hon
est election and an equable representation In Con-
gress was simply business proposition. No
amount of dull-booming Democratic thunder will
deceive any one concerning the issue. Those who
believe in common business honesty, who are above
ordinary swndng, surely cannot object to plain
and simple proposition to secure an honest and
equal representation in Congress from all the
States That is all the Election bill ever sought
TO do, and it is all that anybody can show con-
cerning it, Nearly all of the Democratic argu-
ments against it are based upon some fantastic as
sumption of alleged Capitalization OF power and
interference with local affairs. These same Demo
cratic writers are drawing tremendous pictures of
the future humility of Speaker Reed. According
to these Bourbon artists, Mr.. Reed will come into
the next House of Representatives low-voiced and
timid with his arm up over his head lodging in
anticipation expected blows, and only asking to be
let alone These writers ask how Mr.. Reed can
over hone 10 ask for ANYTHING in the name OF the