New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-28
WANT ART TARIFF REPEALED.
PLEA FOR THE FREE ENTRANCE OF
THE WORKS OF OLD WORLD MASTERS
The following has been sent to The Tribune

There are maHy reasons why by the II me
for rD Of the tariff on Works *
art. Probably there has never been general an
has been aroused by the recent purchase of great
masterpieces of the worlds art by several Ameri-
cans Of great wealth and lberalty While the
government of Italy has placed every legal OBJ.
stacle in the way OF the sale and expectation of
the artistic treasures of its citizens realizing that
its works of art of the most valuable
to render the importation of these same works of
art difficult impossible. and with such a meas
owned by American citizens are retained abroad
to be willingly borne At time when the United
States is the richest and of the most powerful
leads us increasingly to desire those things of
beauty which our wealth enables us to command.
tries Of the Old World is placing upon the market
have been purchased at any price why should our
government, alone among those of civilized peo-
pies treat art as luxury the Indulgence in which
It can only be luxury that art is taxed. for
immediate reduction of taxation, the comparative
art could readily be spared; while the repeated
and continuous efforts of the artists of this coun-
try to secure the abolition of that tariff show
better than could anything else the absurdity of
considering that protective tax which its sup
Yet it seems scarcely necessary to argue at this
day against that view which considers as a mere
luxury" one of the greatest Of civilizing forces
and one Of the most permanent forms of wealth.
art bur thai thew remain IN the conrtrV 11,t ~
matey deyolving by gift beqqest or purchase TO
the property of the people they diffuse education
and culture forever.
In common with all other people Of taste and
refinement, the artists Of the United States are
opposed to this tax civilization. Through an
organization formed for that purpose they adyo-
Gated its abolition for years. and secured, first
reduction OF one-half, and then it's entire removal
In the Dingley tariff however, the tax on works
OF art reimposed, and in a worse form than
ever. for the tax made exception OF IAN
tiouities" under which name the works of the
old masters formerly admitted free of DUTY
We believe that American artists ask and need
protection. and would willingly see the
total abolition OF any tax whatever upon the i'm
portation Of works OF art Certainly we not only
masters, but need those works. and heartily
desire bringing into this country as many such
be procured. We see no POSSIBLE in
terest that could be harmed and many that could
be helped by the placing upon the free list OF an
works of art created fifty years before the date OF
Importation, and we hope that at least so much
freedom OF importation may be granted
AS the National Free Art League was dissolved
after apparently accomplishing its purpose the
regular organizations. We therefore purpose TO
bring the matter of the tariff upon works OF art
once more before the various societies of New
York, ana ultimately before the Fine Arts Fed
eration IN the nope mat Congress will be induced
10 aoollsh or modify the present tax.
j. Carroll BeckWith, F. P Vinton
Kenyon Cox. j. Alden Weir
Wnllan NJ Chase, Frederick w. Kost
Edwin H. Bashfeld. C. y Goodman
William A. Coffin. Childe Hassam
Frederick Dielnan, John w Alexan6er
j. .. Brown, Edwin A. Abbey
John La FARCE H Siddons Noubrav
Thomas Eakins,