The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-21
Famous Financier's PROPOSE
ton to Bring His Art Col
lection From Europe to
the Nations Capital.
Principal Condition Temper
ary Repeal of Tariff on
Works of Art-Congres-
slonal Action Necessary.

Washingtonians may we'll feel more
than passing interest in the recent
'cabled advices respecting the present va
cation trip abroad of J. Pierpont Nor
gan, according 10 a well-posted source
OF information regarding the great
hnancier's plans. No previous visit of
Mr.. Morgan TO the Old World has been
SO important, it is asserted, to the coun-
try at large, and especially TO the Capt.
tai of the Nation. According to those
who are in his confidence. he has gone
there ito set his house in order" as
the saying goes. and when he comes back
to this country in the fall it is pre-
dicted he will make an announcement
of this sort
ITO the President and Congress of the
United States:
Il. J. Pierpont Morgan, being possess
ed OF large number of rare works of
art, consisting of portraits and other
paintings. sculpture, bronzes, curios,
and sundry other articles produced by
the greatest masters in the worlds his
tory. which articles are now kept in
my London residence and at certain
places of safe keeping on the Continent
for the one and only reason that their
importation into this country is prac-
tically prohibited by reason OF the
enormous duties laid upon such works
of art by the prevailing tarif regula-
tions-do hereby make the following
offer to the people of the United States:
A Gift to the Nation.
THAT within one year of the COM
pl;ance with the conditions hereto at
tached, Will bring TO this country al
my own expense and transfer absolutely
to the custody of the United States Gov
errment all. or such portions, of these
collections as may hereafter deter
mine, for the purpose of founding at
the Capital of the nation g national
gallery of the fine arts and museum of
antiquities, TO make for the develop
ment of a broader appreciation OF art
by the masses and the encouragement
CT individual effort among American
artists"
existing
provisions of the tariff regulations. SO
far as they operate TO prevent the
carrying out of.this offer, be temporari-
ly set aside. and that future additional
offers be similarly treated
Condition No. 2-That the control OF
such national gallery and museum be
vested in board of regents and other
officials on the lines of the Smithsonian
Institution
Mr.. Morgan is Eow abroad having
sailed from this country ten days ago.
The condition OF secrecy has been thor,
oughly kept to the present moment. and
the news now becomes public only
through the view that the Injunction of
the inancier has been removed by the
following cable message from Berlin
published in The Times yesterday:
j. Pierpont Morgan has instructed
his European agents Immediately TO col
lect all the art works which he pur-
chased in Europe and which have been
loaned TO Continental museums The
works are TO be sent to museum to be
erected in New York. The value of the
works of art thus lost to Europe is
SoOO. .UUO-"
Hidden Meanings in Dispatch.
Only those persons who know Mr..
Morgan's personality appreciate how
fully the above cable message corrobor-
ates this announcement of the finan-
cier's great patriotic plan for a ma
tional gallery in Washington.
Mr.. Morgan's general plan of bring
ing his work Of art to this coun-
try is admitted, and, in the view
Of his friends here. who know OF
hiE hopes for a national institution. il
remains for the Congress of the United
States to arouse itself 10 a full appre-
citation of the unprecedented opportunity
within its grasp and pass the neces-
sary legislation as soon as possible af-
ter the convening OF the Fifty eighth
Congress.