Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-08-02
BusTs OF VICE PRESIDENTS.
Marble Presentments which Are Being
Placed In Senate Chamber inches.

Marble Presentments which Are Being
Placed In Senate Chamber inches.
On Edward Clark, architect of the
capitol, rests mainly the responsible
ity of furnishing to the capitol the
works Of art provided for by con-
gress. 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
sculptors displayed there. Mr.. Clark,
like the pianist in the wild and wool
ly mining town, is doing his best,
and, according to the New York
Times, will be gratified 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-
peypetuated in marblJ is one of the
few compensations Of the vice presi-
dent Once he takes the oath of
Office he becomes eligible to niche
in the senate cham Der. in which his
counterfeit presentment may rest for
more or less indefinite period. In
1886 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 res.
Inf h 'nnt IN hA Al -
the senate committee on library.
This committee decided that $500
ought to purchase good vice presi-
Dental bust, and Mr.. Clark received
instructions to secure first the busts
OF living eX-vice presidents and
afterward take up the list chrome
logically. 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 fur
nished the vice presidents. Mr..
Clark has followed his instructions
to the letter. No sculptor has re-
ceived more than $500 for single
bust of vice president His selec-
tions 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 replica Nj.
st. Gaudens proceeded with the
work. and two marble photographs
of Mr.. Arthur instead of one came
from his model.
Thus far eight busts have been
placed in the inches in the senate
galleries. They represent John
Adams, the first vice president;
Thomas Jefferson. who succeeded
him; Daniel Tompkins, who served
from 1917 to 1925; Hannibal Hamlin,
the associate of Lincoln in lS61-5;
William A. Wheeler, vice president
from 1877 to 1881 ;Chester A, Arthur,
vice president and president. 1881 to
1885; Thomas A. Hendricks, Mr.
Cieveland's first presidential run
ming mate, and Levi Z. Morton, who
lately gave way to Adlai f. Steven.
son. The latter, by the way, has al
ready arranged to sit to Il sculptor.
There are fifteen vice presidents yet
to be provided for, and with only
twelve vacant inches remaining, the
architect of the capitol will one DAY
be confronted with serious mathe.
NAUTICAL problem.