New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-04
THE FREER COLLECTION.
Smithsonian Regents Likely to Take
action Soon.
From The Tribune Bureau.

Washington Jan S-The Presidents open letter
to the regents of the Smithsonian Institution IN
regard to the Freer art collection appears to have
produced the desired effect, and action by the in
s,.tltion now seems likely to follow in some form
Meanwhile certain regents have taken occasion TO
defend the institution against the charge OF in
difference to the opportunity TO secure valuable
art collection for the government Professor Alex
ander Graham Bell, one OF the regents. said to-
day: -
OF course am only one member Of the board
Of regents. anG have authority TO speak for the
9 oGgsr the narsr It an Td at vas settled but the
thing has been discussed in print the letter OF
question Is more or less a public one. I would
ike 10 make my attitude in ths matter perfectly
There is no question in my mind as to the great
proposition and the desfrahlIty Of accepting It for
the public. if it be done There is just one legal
Nj Freer makes the provision in Article " that the
Smithsonian or by the government of the United
States. Now, have seen the Gollection ana We
him There were various estimates as to the cost
Of keeping it up. Some were high $4,000, and
course, it would be impossbIe for the Board of Re
gents Of the smithsenian to pledge thesives d to
lection. The funds of the institution would rot
request would be granted, But we cannot accept
it Congress itself bind its successors as to
What they shall apProRSTae Thus SAY Il. f mar
lection to pledgtng ourselves as the case IS pre-
There are i several ways in which this objection
might be overcome, The simplest: IN my mllno,
is no nuestfon that if the bequest came 10 the
American people they would see to its keeping from
es to do this and therefore say that it would be
much better to cut out that 2r6Iion ana let Il 09
our piedgfng ourselves TO something that We have
there are other ways the objection could be met.
If Mr. Freer allows US to use RaIt OF me s" bi
toward us maintenance I4aT tba fIds Of the
appropriate the money for maintenance Inc pc
quest as bequest. may not come 10 US for tvTenty
Ave years In fact. I hope it will not. for Mr.
Freer is young man, and there Is every reason
AS I say I hope he will. and no one knows what
the Smithsonian fund may be BY that tine so,
there is no effort being made to belittle the of9r
1t is generous and one that pers9naIy s6lo me
ton that I have pointed out. and hope personally
that this may be overcome
John B Henderson also regent of the Institu-
ton said:
I am only one member Of the board, and can
not say what the rest Of the board think; The
fdence and that Of COURSE cannot discuss II
haze . seen tf re t5s 81 ms cannot scsa
either The matter vii come up F F9T on lam
a S4' and II NAV be settled then it may go
over TO future meeting
One Of the other members OF the board. who did |
not wish his name used. said that IN his opinion
some ay would be found of ultimately accepting
the gift he did not believe that such offer would
be allowed to pass. He added also that he fulIy
agreed with Professor Bell in his opinion OF the |
beauty and value of the collection and he dd not
II felt in any quarter that whatever heStaIlon
the board had displayed in accepting the gift had
been due to any lack OF appreciation -. |
impression to get abroad. 1t would naturally hurt
Nj FreerJs feelings and would look as though we |
did not appreciate his generosity. The objection |
I'D to date Is purely legal and hope and pc
1--we that II Will be eliminated I should say that
the estimate of 10000 annually for the maintenance
oF +ha collection is generous estimate. especially
~ the new heat and power plant Is installed to heat
and light the buildings in the Mail