Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-04
STATUES AND SITES
Discussion of the Sherman Model
Selections.
THE CHOICE LAY WITH THE COMMITTEE
Proposition for a Permanent Expert
Board of Artists.
THE DECISION STANDS

Secretary Lamont told Star reporter
today thai he had received no protest from
the National Sculpture S)ciety against the
selection of the design Of Carl Rchl Smith
for the Sherman statue, and that all he
could do in case he received such pro-
test would he to refer ii to Gen. Dodge Of
New York, who was the president Of the
monument commission charged with the
erection of the mondman., as well as the
president of the executive committee of
the Society of the Army Of the Tenncs-
see. under whose auspices subscriptions
had been received fer he movement to
honor the memory OF the Hero OF At
lanta.''
While he did not care to discuss the
question of the propricty of the acceptance
of Mr. Smiths design, Secretary Lamont
made 1t clear that he had only small and
comparatively insignificant responsibility
n the matter. lie said that under the law
providing for the erection of the rlonu-
n'ent neither Gen. Miles nor himself lad
anything to do with the selection of the
statue. That apparently Il question
entirely within the discretion of the com
mittee of the Society of the Army of the
Tennessee, which committee he explained,
had invited Gen. Miles and himself to Join
them in a consideration of the question.
The vote on the selection of a design from
among the four in final competition WIS
taken by ballot.
Secretary Lamont said he did not know
how the other members of the committee
voted, and he politely but firmly declined
to say how lie had voted himself. There is
reason, however, for the prevailing belief
that his vote was not cast in favor of the
successful competitor.
Where the Money Came From.
The fund for the erection of the Sherman
monument amounted 10 $.IG,o,o. OF which
INyt md
$4,000 was raised by the Society of the
Amy of the Tenns OF this fund
$1,000 has been expended in awards to com
petinS artists, etc. leaving $4,000 for the
eXl enseS of the monument.
The act of Congress making the original
appropriation for the statue provides as
follows:
That the sum of fifty thousand dollars
be, and is hereby, appropriated for the
preparation of a site and the erection of
pedesta! for a Statue Of the iata Gen. Nil
liam T. sherman III the city OF Washing
ton; said site to be selected by and SAID
PEDESTAL TO be erected under the supervision
of the president Of the Society of tie Army
the major general commanding the army,
and any part Of the sum hereby appropriate
ed not needed for preparation of ste and
the erection of pedestal m.y be used and
expended III the completion of said Statue
Of the late Gen. William T. Sherman
subsequently Congress appropriated So
eco more Tor the monument, with the PRO
vision that it should not De erected in the
Capitol grounds.
Only to Select the Site.
Secretary Lamont holds that under these
statutes his duties IN the matter were con-
lined to the selection Of the site and the
pedestal, and that he Is not charged with
the selection of the statue
prominent artist said this afternoon
that the present scandal would have been
Impossible II Congress had needed the re-
peated recommendations of Secretary La
mont for the creation of a permanent ART
commission. In his report Tor 1894, Sec
retary Lamont said
Il Deg to suggest that the President he
authorized to appoint a permanent COM
mission, selected from the citizens of the.
country, and composed of those best quali-
ned to pass upon the matters OF art inyoly-
ed, TO whom shall be intruSted the duty
of the selection of designs and sites for
future monuments at the capital The
not always produce the best artistic re-
SUITS
Permanent Commission
He referred to this subject again in his
report for 1893 in the following words: ..I
beg to repeat suggestion in the last re-
port for a change in the method of super-
Vising the erection of such memorials 1t
Is again suggested that the President be
authorized to appoint a permanent COM
mission, selected from the citizens of the
country best qualified to pass on questions
OF art involved, to whom shall be intrrIsted
the selection of designs and sites for the
future monuments of the capital