New-York tribune., 1908-12-04
FREE ART ARGUMENT
League Publishes Brief Submitted 10
Tariff ReUiSiOn Committee.

Tho American Free Art League has Puolisnen
in pamphIet form the brief IT submitted al ''S
session of the House Ways and Means N'''
in Washington last Saturday when the eNe'"''
committee Of the league argued FOR tlE
of the tariff works Of art IN auol'i'
pahnnplet contains short arguments by ABOUT W
hundred college presidents, two hundred ar'lSS' ''
art dealers and zoo officers OF art m-ss'."S'
from about thre" hundred uewspa pefs an" '"7
zines The brief is divided into art argument
educatfonaI arz1Irnent artists argument, museum
argument argument from precedent, fdrlu aI@"-
ment zni public opinion argument
The changes IN the tariff proposed py ."V
v-anId Ieave all mechanical and chemical art PFC
80. d,tioh1e while all works Of art done by
bard and autiautie~ produced prior 70 iSN Woi'd 20
on the free list. ,.-
The art argument maintains that 1t IL the dul
of the government To encourage the me a.
branch of education well as commerce u0uV'
manufactures and agriculture The encouf
Of industries Is more important in ne" natio'',
but when they have been firmly estaoh=hed am
proper protection for them Is assured tneh NJ
government should provide for the ehcou'
Of the fine arts. ,.,..,
Tho T-ntted States is almost the only civilized
.stion which does not af7rmatvely lend its aid 10
the promotion Of the fine arts. Great bri'8'. I7'
r,on,- france Russia. Italy. Holland Fe's'N'"'
I,enr,ark sweden Portugal Norway Greece f'u-
- I,r,r,O,v,eaIth Of Australia. Dominion Of
l-za Newfoundland the South African customs
,rnio, and many smaller countries have long ago
rIacsd works of art on the free list
The highest development OF arr III TINS e'u''I'|'
n is contended, can he attained oAly os
f-aadoro and unhampered exchange Of ideas pe-
taan the artists of this and other countries ana
,b~ough the fullest knowledge of the art OF the
past. + s Aha
rroner regard for the advancement OF th7
,o,,,try in re,puIar education makes 1t necessary
49, tbis tax on knowledge and good taste should
he removed, the brief declares because the ife7
tntroduction of works of art facilitates not only
the teaching and study of art ny the process %
object lessons but also the teaching OF history
d the record of civilization. The educators or
the country are declared to he unit in their
irio, that works Of art should be free of import
duties.
Free art it is held. will he Of unquestoned oefe-
NJ to American artists. because through art educa
tior II will create an appreciation Of art which ~ll
ss,,r+ in an incrsased demand for the products OF
the artists.
citing the number of visitors to the Metropoitah
Museum Of Art since about sixteen millions
the bres states that free art will contribute sreduJ
to the establishments and growth Of museums
The present tariff law admits free only works OF
r+ i,,,norted directly for public museums As only
small part of their accessions are obtained In
this Uay the evident purpose Of Congress TO en-
colra ge the collection OF art for public museums Is
NOT attained The most effective way Of attaining
this end is to permit individuals to import art free.
because the, public museums depend not only for
their growth but Sor thor very existence upon the
gifts, requests and loans Of individuals
The duty on art. 1t is declared, has no place IN
the tariff theories Of any school OF taNat1oh' anu
works of art are not within the theory of protec
ZION THE American artist who II there we're any
nrotection in the duty art. would be the bene-
dciarv repudiates the duty. and is most earnest
pe+itioner for its repeal Art. II IS held. Is not
1rj.bin the theory Of taxing Injuries for revenue.
since art is an educational necessity Thus duty
on art is held to he tax or knowledge and cult