Evening star., 1909-01-18
A COUNCIL OF THIRTY
Proposed Supervision of Gov
ernment Art.
APPROVED By PRESIDENT
Suggested by American Institute of
Architects.
SUITABLE LEGISLATION URGED
Adequate Results Not Obtained
From the Large Sums Expended
for Public Memorials.
SUITABLE LEGISLATION URGED

President Roosevelt has taken the first
steps looking to recognition Of the fine
| arts by this government.
| AS the initial move, in response to a
request from the American Institute of
Architects. the President announces that
| he has asked the institute to designate
| the names of thirty men representing all
parts of the country to compose q council
| of the fine arts. The object Of the coun-
ell. which is to consist of architects,
painters. sculptors, landscape architects
and laymen. Of which the supervising
| architect of the Treasury is to be the ex-
ecutive head Is to advise upon the char
acter and design of all public works of
architecture, paintings, sculpture; all
monuments. parks, bridges and other
works of which the art Of design forms
an integral part; and to make suggestions
and recommendations for the conservation
of all historic monuments.
Approved by the President.
Cordial approval is given by President
Roosevelt to the recommendations of the
American Institute of Architects. The
President says he will direct members Of
his cabinet to refer to the proposed coun-
Gil of fine arts for their expert advice all
! matters in their charge embracing archi-
lecture. selection of sites and landscape
| work. sculpture and painting.
Moreover" declares the Pres dent. Il
shall request the council to watch legisla-
ton. and on it's own initiative to make
! recommendations to the executive and to
Congress with regard to proposed changes
i'll existing monuments, or with regard TO
any new project. | earnestly advise your
body to take immediate steps to secure the
enactment of a law giving permanent ef-
feet to what l am directing to be done.
The course you advocate and which ap-
prove. should not he permissive with the
executive; it should be mad mandatory
| upon him by act of Congress"
The President will Immediately call
| upon the council for a report as to the
| character and location of the Lincoln
memorial. After thanking the institute
for it's wise and patriotic action" the
President says it will secure to the
American public what is literally price
less advice from the best men in the sew
eral artistic professions throughout the
country
Bureau of Fine Arts.
The committee also recommends that a
bureau of fine arts should he established
which should have authority TO approve
or disapprOve plans and designs of all
future public works of architecture. etc.
In presenting it's recommendations the
committee calls attention to the many
millions of dollars appropriated for pub
lie buildings. monuments and other works
of art. as lasting monuments to our civ
ilization. and declares that under our sys-
tenn, and in the absence of proper man.
agement, the results do not adequately
and properly represent or express the
state Of enlightenment and cultivation
which our people have attained
The committee presents a striking con-
trast of conditions in the early days Of
the republic, when trained experts In
the arts were sought in the work of build
ing the National capital and the situa-
| tion following the rapid growth of the
country when it is declared this sys-
tematic method of procedure was lost
sight Of.
Bills in Congress.
Bills providing for the Incorporation of
the National Academy of Arts and Let
ters and the National Institute Of Arts
and Letters, the first an organization of
fifty members, incluring President Roose-
welt, and the second of two hundred men,
bers. We're favorably reported to the
Senate today from the committee on
Judiciary. The institutions are already in
existence. and sought federal charter
in order that they might receive donations
from persons interested in subjects for
which they were organized. The bills
make the institutions associations Of the
District of Columbia.