New-York tribune., 1909-01-18
4 FINE .4RTS COUNCIL TO
REPORT ON 1T.
President Takes fiction Suggested
by american Institute of 4rchi-
tectS-TO Designate Members.
From The Tribune Bureau.I

all parts of the country. including architects
artists. sculptors ana others. and to direct his
Cabinet officers to refer to this council for ex-
pert advice -an matters in their charge embrace
ing architecture. selection OF sites and land
scape work. sculpture and painting" He also
urges the institute TO take steps to obtain the
enactment of law giving permanent effect tn
his action.
This step was taken pursuant to a letter ad-
dressed to the President Monday, January
IL, following the exclusive announcement in Ths
Tribune that the leaders OF both houses OF Con-
gress at the instance Of Speaker Cannon. had
determined to enact measure appropriatins
approximately 81. 100000 for the purchase Of a
site and the erection Of a great Lincoln Memo
rial This measure provides that the memorial
park and arch other design shall be located
on Capitol Hill. between the Capitol and the
new Union station, which site has recently been
severely condemned by the institute. II is sig
nifcant that in his reply to the institute tbs
President says:
IT shall request the council Immediately tn
report and give their opinion the character
and location of the Lincoln Memorial. as sug-
gested in resolutions passed by the board Of di-
rectors Of the American Institute Of Archt-
tects.'-
This statement by the President is regarded
as indicating that he may so far oppose tina
Cannon plan for the Lincoln Memorial as tn
veto the bill which the leaders Of Congress ex-
pect to pass as the view of the institute regard
ing the site selected by Mr. Cannon IS WeA
known.
The correspondence between the FEeslueHs
and the institute is as follows:
AMERICAN INSTITUTE LETTER
Washington D c. January H. 1909.
To the President of the United States
Sir: In the rapid advancement which oue
country has made in all other phases OF civliiza-
mental consideration which is so universally ac<
corded by other nations
This is not due TO lack of appreciation on the
part of the people. can it be said that the
government has withheld financial support tor
since the formation of the government over
$JO0OOOOO0 has been expended for public
buildings. monuments and other works or art
About go per cent OF this amount has been spent
during the last quarter century, Wnlle present
appropriations contemplate the expenditure or
over $40 100000 more.
The Expenditure of these vast sums signifies
that we are establishing, at q rate never before
exceeded. lasting monuments 70 our CIVILIZATION
Under our lack Of system, and IN the absence OF
proper management. the results do not ade-
quately and properly represent or express the
state Of enlightenment and cultivation Whlch our
people have attained
The works OF art Of a nation are the docu-
ments by which IL is Judged. and their perma-
nence is sufficient reason for extraordinary care
IN their design and execution When such
works undertaken by a government high
standard of excellence becomes a national ObiI-
cation.
reclamation Of land, the improvement OF rivers
or harbOrs, the Panama Canal or any great
engineering work, il is taken as a matter OF
course that the plans must receive the fullest
measure of expert advice and criticism from
men Of eminence in the profession concerned
but such is not the case IN works which relate
to the arts.
The only department which has achieved any
success in this direction is the Treasury De-
partnent through the supervising architects
office since the passage OF the Tarsney act
In the early days OF the Republic President
Voc IN y+O Immediate SUCCESSORS
sought trained experts in the arts and called to
the service Of the cOuHtry those of the highest
skill, and employed them in consistent effort
toward the building OF the nations capital
Even in that formative period Of the nation.
with the continent undevelOped and the finances
at low ebb. the government saw 20 it that these
matters were handled with nO less intelligence
and farsightedness than the other projects
which engaged it's attention. and, as a result tns
the capital but elsewhere. rank among the great
architectural triurnphs of their period The sev-
eraI states and their growing cities were infu-
enced accordingly
With the rapid growth Of the country. this
systematic method Of procedure was lost sight
of LEnfants beautiful plan of Washington
suffered through the power of each department.
to choose the site for its own nulldIng arg 20 Lno
fact that such plan existed was almost ~ % nos
entirely forgotten. The White House nSelIs
within recent years. has been threatened WIN
mutilation through the efforts OF misguided en-
thusiasm for supposed Improvement Wise ac-
ton by the present Executive alone saved this
monument. but there Is no assurance Tor rs
Existing public buildings are largely subject
10 modification due to the caprice or supposed
convenience of temporary officials New Duiiu-
ings are located without proper regard lot thelr
convenience or dignity. and without a view 70
the inevitable requirement for increasing dlrlleh-
sions resulting in additional expense Frs
duentIy they found inadequate even berors
they are completed. Our statues. paintings ana
other works of art are treated with Ike indlIer-
to the dictates OF common sense, Ss
coinage and our engraved notes have been
equally neglected
COUNCIL OF THE FINE ARTS
The revival of L'Enfants plan of the city ot
Washington through the efforts OF the American
Institute of Architects has awakened the pup
lie to- a consciousness OF it's Importance. and
makes possible the realization Of its essential
features but the necessity of some adequate
safeguard for the future is made evident by the
fact that ever since the plan was revived there
have been serious attempts 10 encroach upon
it We believe that permanent and dennlIS
authority should be established 10 Wnlch shalA
be referred for approval or disapprOval the plans
and designs of ali future public works OF archi-
tecture paintings sculpture. parks bridges
other works OF which the art OF design forms
an integral part; that to its care should be m
trusted the conservation OF historic monuments:
and that this authority should be vested IN a
bureau of fine arts as a part OF DIVISION or
public instruction. which could itself be under
the Secretary of the Interior. andseould jnclude
bureaus OF education. science ana the me arts
Under present conditions suggest that. az
an initiatOry step. the President designate a
council Of the sne arts, when could exercise
advisory functions when called upon and could
also make recommendations upon its own nitia-
tive. We suggest
/ That the council should consist of archi-
tects painters. sculptors, lanscape architects
and laymen appointed by the President from
nominations made by the directors Of the Amer
lean Institute of Architects.
2 That the Supervising Architect Of tbs
Treasury should be the executive.
8 That the objects should be to have tbs
OF all public works OF architecture. painting.
sculpture. ali monuments. parks. bridges and