Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05
COLLECTION \
Nee ting of the Board o
Regents Today.
NC DEFINITE ACTION
PORTIONS OF PROPOSED DONA-
lion TO BE EXHIBITED.
No Question Of Declining the Gift Has
Been Raised-Other Business
Transacted

1t was decided at the meeting of the
Smithsonian regents today that the valuable
Freer art collection shall, in part be
brought to Washington this winter and
placed on exhibition temporarily in the
Smithsonian building, pending the ultimate
decision or Mr. Freer and the regents as to
Its disposition and the building which is to
be erected In Washington for it's reception
This was the most important business be-
fore the regents today and one in which
the art lovers of Washington have been
greatly interested
Mr.. Charles l.. Freer was one of the art
executors of the late James Mcneil Whist
Ter. and the collection which he intends to
bequeath to the keeping of the Smithsonian
is valued at about s60O,Gno
1t consists of nearly six hundred of the
famous artists etchings, 15o lithograph::, 4.
work in oil, including some OF mis- most
celebrated pictures: 80 of his water coors
" pastels and drawings. Beside the pic
lures there is a collection of bronzts and
oriental art objects that is said 20 he the
finest in the country outside the Boston
Museum OF Fine Arts, and there are num-
Der Of pictures, not by WHISTLE, but by
other American artists of note.
The offer that has been ma de by Mr
Freer is considered very generous and in
addition to the collection itseIe ne is will
ing to spend 100000 more on a building in
which to house ii. There has been some
talk since the offer was first made that the
offer might be declined by the Smithsonian
on the grounds of cost of upke=p and other
reasons, also that Mr. Freer was disDleased
with the attitude that had been assumed
toward mis- gift and that the offer might be
withdrawn.
No Question Of Declining the Gift.
1t was said at the Smithsonian today that
there has been no question of declining the
gift, and none so far as the officials know
of the withdrawal of the offer. 1t Is
large question, and it is stated that II is
to be handled slowly and judiciously The
Smithsonian appreciates the courtesy that
has been done 1t in the offer and has no
wish to slight or offend its prospective
benefactor. 1t was pointed out however,
that the offer Is not of a donation at AL,
but 1t is a proposal to make a bequest to
the institution which is a rather different
matter. MIR. Frcer intends to draw his will
in a certain way If the Smithsonian is will
ing to assume the responsibility for carry
Ing out the provisions One of the provis-
ions is that the collection shall be kept in
tact and nothing added to or taken from it
after the death of the testator.
Official Action.
The Official statement of the regents
action was made as follows:
The board took up the consideration of
the proposed bequest of Mr. Charles l..
Breer of his art collection to the instttu-
ton. consideration Of which had>been con-
tinued from the last meeting
In view of the fact that Mr. F'reer had
expressed his willingness to bring such
portions of his collection as might fairly
represent the whole to Washington during
the present session of Congress, it was re-
solved that the secretary be requested to
provide suitable place in the building of
the Smithsonian Institution the United
L fnr- tl,ae
such collections as Mr.. Freer may desire
to bring to Washington, and that he COM
munfcate with Mr.. Freer to ascertain what
time would be most convenient for the ex-
hibit of a representative selection as
agreed upon between Mr.. Freer and the
committee of the board of regents
The secretary was also reques. ed TO eX-
press to Mr.. Freer the high appreciation of
the generosity exhibited by him.
Other Business Transacted.
The meeting, aside from the discussion of
the proposed Freer bequest, did not deal
particularly with matters of outside inter-
est. Those present were: The Chancellor
Chief Justice of the United States Melville
w. Fuller, presiding; R. R. Hit, Robert
Adams, jr., Hugh A. Dinsmore Dr. An
drew D. White. Judge George Gray and
John B. Henderson.
Following the reading of the minutes of
the previous meeting the chancellor an
iouhSeu INC oedtIi VI Inc idle Seilator of-
Vile H. Platt, and appropriate resolutions
were adopted.
A statement was presented concerning
the defalcaton of w. w. Karr, whlca was
referred to the executive committee with
the request that they examine the entire
subject and present report upon it at the
annual meeting of the board in January.
The meeting concluded with statement
concerning the progress on the new build
Ing for the National Museum.
THE SHIPPING BTTI