New-York tribune., 1903-01-07
ART DUTY TWICE ABOLISHED.
William A. Coffin Tells Of Former Efforts to
Have Tariff Repealed.

,.-,o.-, artists consider the present time par
ticuIarlv opportune for renewal of the movement
sor . -eraaI of the tariff works of art Ihey
1o-+ +bat they certainly not only need protec-
ton against the works of the old masters put that
they need those works, and heartily oeslre tie
bringing into this country Of many such as may
be procured. Artists can see no possible interest
that could be harmed, and many that conio De
helped by the placing the free list OF all WORKS
of art created fifty years before the date OF I'M
portation.
in trying bring about the total abolition OF any
| tax whatever on the importation Of works of art
said yesterday TO Tribune reporter;
the present discussion in the press Of the tariff tariff
works of art imported to the United states t from
ments appear TO ignore the efforts that have been
ade od9 0y Of Ie this utv IN It seems 10 be Considered
like new issue whereas the history OF the agita-
least twenty years The fact is that we have been
fbaG once II in Congress and twice obtained the
total abolition of the duty on all foreign works of
As 1 speak from memory. cannot give the years
but know It that have been n N mob 0f three @
address the Committee on Ways and Means and
occasions had hearings when the Mills bill
n on he e list m but s hs Mis- bill b
came law. Another time. when the late Presi-
fsif Means Committee M Carlisle was one Of the
minority members. and my recollection is =, that Mr.
art placed the free list On another occasion
I m he m @ haVnE bn s 5s ensa bin n the 4
to conference the matter compromised The
duty cut in half. making it 15 per cent, and
this rate of duty prevailed for years.
We disbanded organization. known the
National Free Art League, when art finally
placed the free list. This was. I think in the
preparation we had advices from friends in Wash
ington interested in the of free that il
would be quite useless to send a delegation the
capital. because, if obtained hearing
there probability whatever of preventing a
duty being placed art. The duty in the Dingley
BILL the present tariff is 20 per cent paintings
and as I understand, IS per cent on irnportations
from certain European countries under the IA
vored nation clause
! have this duty referred frequently OF
late being 40. 80 25 per cent and other fig
ures equally wide of the mark. The point how
ever is that there is duty works of art i'm
ported frenl abroad, which the artists as a whole
bill introduced in the present Congress by Mr. Low
ering of Massachusetts, is excellent. far it
goes and l trust there may be favorable action on
il. BY the provisions of this bill works Of art,
paintings and sculptures only would be admitted
free of duty. provided they were produced least
fifty years ago earlier This would permit the
American owners OF valuable pictures OF the early
the large amount Of duty their high valuation
to bring them here and exhibit them for the pleas
ure and instruction of ali art lovers and art
students.
Ny experience In this whole matter Is that It
is not much that public opinion is opposed
making art free it is that there is Indifference
on the subject 1t is not generally considered.
cept by comparatively few people, that the subject
is OF great Importance. The campaign of sdu-
cation continuousu carried would to be