Evening star., 1898-04-07
THE HUBBARD COLLECTION
Proposed Appropriation Of Room in the
Congressional Library.
ORposftfon I'm the Senafe and Recon-
Quorum Was Lacking.

Tho Senate consumed some time before
adjourniIrg at 5 O'Clock last evening in dis
c,rssfng the propriety of setting aside for
all time portions Of the new Congressional
Library building for collections donated to
the library. and for thu display of the busts
of such donors in the building.
This subject was brought Before the Sem
ate by Mr.. wetmore. who brought up the
joint resolution authorizing the librarian of
Congress to accept the collection of etch-
ings and engravings proposed to be do
nated by Mrs. Gertrude NJ. Hubbard. said
collection to be kept in a portion of the
new library building, to be known as the
Gardiner Greene Hubbard gallery
Mr.. Hoar said it was impossible to fix the
absolute value of this collection of engrav-
ings
"He was a man of very large wealth."
continued Mr.. Hoar," and 1t Is one of the
finest collections in the world I suppose a
great many thousand dollars might easily
be obtained for it If it were offered for
sale. Mr.. Hubbard for many years col
lected rare and costly engravings, in some
Instances the only copies in existence, ali
over the continent of Europe. An expert
came on from the city of Boston the other
day, one Of the most eminent experts in
this country on that subject, and he made
a comparison of II with the Gray and Ran
dali collection, which is the property of
Harvard College. Those two collections
have now become one, and are the property
of Harvard College, and they are kept for
the public advantage in the Art Museum in
Boston. They constitute undoubtedly the
most valuable collection in this country,
and one Of the few principal collections in
the world. This gentleman reports that
this collection compares very fayorahly
with that, and that in some departments it
is much richer.
6
is the value of famous picture. No
money estimate could be put on it. But
have no doubt 1T Is worth a good many
thousand dollars-a hundred thousand dol
lars or hundred and seventy-five thou
sand dollars. but cannot say exactly
Bestowfng Great Honor.
Mr.. Mills said he had no objection to ac-
cepting this donation by Mrs. Hubbard.
But it seems" he said. I'VE are to pay a
price that Is Of some value. A gallery is to
be set apart and known by his name, which
is about equivalent to building monument
to him for all time to come or as long as
the library lasts. That is a very distfn-
gufshed honor to be conferred on an indi-
v1dual when we come to think that some
of the most illustrious names written on
the pages Of cur history are not mentioned
In the library, and that there are no busts
and no monuments to represent them. 1t
seems to me We ought first to commence to
build monuments to the great mon of this
country, the men who have been conspcu
Gus in building UP the library. l should
like to see there bust of Thomas Jeffer-
son."
Mr.. Hoar: IT understand the apartment
to be devoted to this purpose is already
used for engravings. 1t Is not a new ap-
preparation of a gallery, and hope and be-
lieve that this will be a very great event
in the history of the national library and
will be an example and stimulant to other
benefactors"
M Poor,p. s.srbo s,o1octiop of tho COMO
tor from Massachusetts gives the reason
why I am not willing that the joint reso
luton shall be passed. I do not think
the Congressional Library ought to be con-
verted into establishment for commem-
Grating the munificence or generosity of
those who may desire to pernetuate their
names in this way
''The joint resolution provides not merely
that We shall accept this donation, but
tt at particular part of the building shah
be set apart and be known by the name of
the donor, or, rather, that Of the person
whom she represents. If it is accepted, of
number of such things. There Is the most
magnificent building in the world, and
there Is no place pyobably in this whole
country where men of WEALTH would more
by seeking to have Congress follow in their
cases the precedent which we are asked to
set here today. This grand public building
should not be converted into series of
n cans to make costly donations to the gov
ernmsnt.
'Mr President, do not think the library
Is intended for the perpetuation OF the
memory Of any particular man unless 1t is
somebody connected with the library,
either with its Inauguration or in the work
Of its construction, or in it's organization,
or in its superintendent, certainly of per-
sons connected with the government, and
1t should not be used for the purpose of
gratifying the wish of private individuals
who, through their opportunity and ability
to make donations of this kind, may have
their names linked with this great enter
prise and this great public work.
This is a country in which there is
great deal of wealth. It is country in
which there Is going to be more of wealth
than there Is now. 1t Is most laudabie on
the part Of those who possess wealth that
they should make benefactions of this kind; /;
but desire that they shall do it in way
not to convert this public Institution into
what would be very different establish
ment from what 1t was originally designed
to be. We have IN this city most notable
monument to the generosity Of a most lib
eral benefactor in the case of the Corcoran
Art Gallery. I should be more than de-
lighted to see that precedent followed, but
hope that We will not, by the passage of
the pending joint resolution, inaugIrate
that which will be followed in innumerabIs
instances in perpetuating in the Congress
sionaI Library the memory of private citi-
zens. or else we will have to make a dis
tinction and say we will allow it in one
case and not in another.
Now. If this collection or any other col
lection IS sought to be donated to the gov
ernment, am in favor of accepting it: but
am not in favor of accepting it upon the
conditions prescribed in the Joint resoIu-
tfon. that 1t shall not only be placed in the
public library, but that a part of the puh-
iic library shall be set apart and known hv
the name OF the party whose donation and
personality are thus sought to be made
perpetual and famous through all time"
Would Cali 1t Hubbard Collection.
Mr.. Hawley-"Mr. President, If this col
lection should be taken to the national gal
iery it would be inevitably called ana
known everywhere as the Hubbard coIIec
tion. II is very wonderful collection of
costly etchings and they are of the very
highest merit. 1 have had the honor to
look over the collection to some extent
did not endeavor to examine all of its
treasures It ought to be in the national
gallery, and II 1t goes there 1t will have a
name People will instinetiyely call r. tha
Hubbard collection. They will want 10
know where 1t is. SO that they can 20 and
examine those etchings. some OF which
are OF great historical interest. / do not
care about calling 1t the Hubbard gallery
or anything of that sort, but I would he