Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-03
GREAT WORTH OF THE GIFT
And the Desirability Of Accepting It
for the Public
ONLY ONE LEGAL OBJECTION
But This May Be Overcome without
Much Dificulty-Views Of Other
Members Of the Board.

Some misrepresentation seems to have ex-
listed In the mind OF the public as to the at
tftude OF the regents Of the Smithsonian
toward the proposed beQuest of Mr.. Charles
Freer Of Detroit. who some time ago Of
fered to leave his large art collection to
the American people on condition, among
other things. that it should be perpetually
supported by the United States government
or by the Smithsonian Institution.
An interview with Prof. Alexander Ora
ham Bell. one Of the regents of the Smith
sonian. tended to convey the impression
that the Smithsonian was Indifferent to-
ward the proposed bequest, and that It was
likely to go by default. In speaking to
Star reporter of the matter. Mr.. Bell today
said:
"Of course, 1 only one member of the
BOARD OF regents and have no authority TO
speak for the others. Ordinarily 1 would
be very loath to discuss the matter at all
until 1t was settled. But the thing has
been discussed in print. the letter Of Presl-
Cent Roosevelt has been published AMI
the question Is more or less a public one,
so l would like to make my attitude IN
the matter perfectly clear.
A Legal Objection Which May Be
Overcome
There Is no question in my mind as to
the great intrinsic worth Of the gift, the
generosity Of the proposition and the de-
STABILITY of accepting it for the public if
1t can be done. There is Just one legal
objection in the way. In his letter to the
President Mr. Freer makes the provision
In article four that the collection shall be
perpetually cared for by the Smithsonian
or by the government Of the United States.
Now. have seen the collection and we
have talked over the maintenance part Of 1t
with him. There were various estimates as
to the cost OF upkeep. Some were as high
as $4,000. and l do not think any were
lower than $4,000. OF course. 1t would be
impossible for the board of regents Of the
Smithsonian to pledge themselves to spend
this amount of money in caring for the
collection. The funds Of the institution
ask Congress for an appropriation. and
there is no doubt that the request would be
granted.
But we cannot accept the gift and bind
Congress by a promise to care for 1t. Con-
gress itself cannot bind its successors as
to what they shall appropriate. Thus I
say that from my point of view there Is an
insuperable objection to pledging ourselves
as the case Is presented in Mr.. Freer's let
ter to the President
There are several ways in which this
objection might be gotten over The SIM
plest to my mind would be to cut out that
article altogether. There Is no ques-
ton If the beauest came to the American
people that they would see to its upkeep
from year to year. But we cannot bind
future Congresses to do this, and therefore
out that provision and let it be understood
that the gift would be cared for without
our pledging ourselves to something that
We have no right to pledge.
There are other ways the objection could
be met, If Mr.. Freer allows US to use part
of the 100000 he proposes to settle with
the collection as a help toward its MAIN
tainence, that would be perfectly easy Pos
n ha tha dc he. Cy,,iy y,
sonian might be large enough to allow us
to appropriate the money for the maintain
ence. The bequest bequest may not
come to US for twenty-five years In fact,
hope it will not, for Mr.. Freer Is a fine
man and young man, and there is every
reason to expect that ne will live twen-
ty-five years longer. AS I say, hope he
will, and no one knows what the Smith
sonian fund may be by that time.
"One thing I certainly do want made
clear, that there Is no effort being made to
belittle the offer. 1t is generous and one
that personally / should like to see accent
ed There Is merely the legal objection that
have pointed out. and 1 hope personally
that this may be gotten over
Other Members Views.
Mr. John B. Henderson, also a member
Of the board of regents, was asked concern
ing the status of the Freer offer He said:
Il am only one member Of the board and
cannot say what the rest of the board
thinks. The original offer of Mr. Freer was
made to us In confidence, and that l. of
course. cannot discuss. 1 have not seen
the terms Of his Offer as stated In his let
ter TO the President, SO I cannot discuss
that either. The matter will come I'D for
discussion at the next meeting of the board
or regents on January "a, and 1t may be
settled then or 1t may go over to future
meeting
One of the other members of the board,
who did not wish to be quoted, said that,
IN his individual opinion, some way would
be found Of ultimately accepting the gift
He did not believe that such an orer
would be allowed to pass. lie added also,
that he fully agreed with Prof Bell in his
estimate of the beauty and value of the
collection. and he did not want 1t felt In
any quarter that whatever hestaney the
board had displayed in accepting the gift
had been due to any lack of appreciation.
This" he said, would be most unfor-
tunate impression to get abroad It would
naturally hurt Mr. Freers feelings and
would look as though we did not appre-
ciate his generosity. The objection up to
date is purely legal one, and hope and
believe that it will be eliminated. / should
say that the estimate of $4,000 annually
for the maintenance Of the collection is a
generous estimate, especially If the new