St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-23

Some OF the people who daily pass the
Peace monument, which stands at the
western entrance TO the capitol grounds,
are curious to know when it will be
removed, to furnish site for more
pretentiOuS work of art. These people
have in mind the effort which was
made year or two ago to have
statue of Columbus placed there.
This movement contemplated the
removal of the Peace monument to
point in the northwestern portion of the
city. \ bill was introduced in congress
calling for the erection of a colossal
statue OF Columbus and appropriating
$4,000 for the purpose. The senate
passed it. but the house committee on
the library 'pigeOnhOled'' il, and no
subsequent effort has been made TO re-
vive it.
Word now comes that. notwithstand-
ing this apparent Indifference OF con-
greSs, q. Turin, an Italian sculptor,
has leased premises at GaretSon;s, 5. l.,
and is engaged IN the modelling of a
statue of Columbus: that the artists de-
sign has been accepted by ''the commit
tee," and that Turin is proceeding with
his work Tin the expectation that the
house of representatives will agree to
the appropriation"
Edward Clark, the architect of the
capitol, said to a correspondent of the
New York Times that Mr.. Turin. if ell
gagged in producing a model, was un-
dOubtedlv proceeding on faith alone.
There IS no appropriation available"
Mr.. Clark added, land action by both
branches of congress will be necessary
before we can begin negotiations with
any artist concerning the proposed
statue" The prospect is that some
+ir,,., H4-ill nlaTsn h..
ument ceases to tell its story to capitol
visitors.
On Architect Clark rests mainly the
responsibility OF furnishing to the cap
itol the works of art provided for by the
congress. The task is naturally full OF
difficulties. No two visitors to the great
structure on Capitol hill agree as to the
merits Of the pictures and sculptures
| displayed there. Its a hoTTid daub,'
says one whose attention has been at
! tracted to particular work by another
! whose admiration has been excited by
it. And so it goes. Mr.. Clark, like the
! pianist in the Wild and woo!ly mining
| town, is doing his best, and will be graf
| flied if the public will please not shoot.
Just now he is giving considerable
! thought to the task of providing marble
! bustS of men who have been vice presi-
dents of the United States. To be per-
| petuated in marble is one of the few
compensauons of the vice president.
! Once he takes the oath OF Office he be-
| comes eligible to niche in the senate
chamber, in which his counterfeit pre-
sentiment may rest for more or less
| indefinite period. In 1856 the senate
adopted resolution to the effect that
marble buSts of those who have been
| vice presidents of the United States
| should be placed in the vacant inches
| in the senate chamber from time to
time.
Architect Clark was directed to carry
out the provisions of this resolution.
subject 10 the approval of the senate
committee on library. This committee
decided that $500 ought to purchase a
good vice presidential bust, and Mr..
! Clark received instructions to secure
first the busts of living eX-vice presi-
| dents and afterWard take I'D list cbro-
nologically. Five busts were deemed
| by the committee sufficient for one
order. 1t was also thought proper that
| the work should be given to sculptors
! from the states which furnished the
vice presidents.
Mr.. Clark has followed his instruc-
| tons to the letter. No sculptor has re-
| ceived more than $500 for a single bust
of vice president. His selections have
been made from sample" plaster casts.
The privilege Of naming the sculptor
has been given to each subject when
| possible. In the case of Chester a.
Arthur there was some embarrassment
owing to his selection of the sculptor st.
Gaudens. st. Gaudens does not turn out
busts for $500, and he would not make
an exception, even to please the then
president of the United States. Finally
an arrangement was effected by which
friends of Mr.. Arthur agreed to take a
replica. NJ. st. Gaudens proceeded
with the work. and t7yo marble photo