The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-27
ART IS TO BE FREE.

It seems from reports that all art
works, whether painting or sculpture,
are to be put upon the free list. II
appears further that no distinction is
to be made between imports for pri-
vate qualification or profit and imports
to be used for public exhibit, as in art
galleries and museums. The conclusion
reached between the two Houses Of
| Congress on this appears to be In
obedience TO the clamor raised in the
! East, and to avoid the taunt that to
| tax art is barbarous.
But there s'is vast difference be-
tween art which is to be used III pub
fit of the people at large, and art that
is imported merely for private graft
fcation or for speculative purposes. The
law as it stands allows the importation
Of art works wherever these works are
TO be for the public benefit, accessible
iu art galleries and museums. But art
works imported for the qualification Of
private tastes, or display for private
pride or for the purposes of private
speculation, are obliged to pay duty,
lust as art works in such case ought
to do. There is no reason why any
one who makes a speculative business
out Of the importation of art works
should be allowed TO import these
works free of duty. There is no rea-
son why any one who imports for his
own use and qualification rare paint
ings or sculpture should not pay a good
round duty upon the same, precisely as
upon other articles Of taste and luxury.
To admit free Of duty rare paintings
or sculpture that is to be devoted to
public exhibition. is worthy, and to be
commended. To extend the privilege
Of free import to persons who will lock
the art treasures up in, their own
houses, is Of no advantage whatever to
the public, and the owner Of such art
treasures should be required to pay duty
precisely as he is required to pay duty
upon any other article of luxury, ele-
gance. or rarity.
The man who imports rare art pic
holding them for speculation is no
more entitled to the privilege Of i'm
porting these objects free Of duty than
is the merchant who brings in rare
laces. embroideries, or other fabrics Of
luxury, elegance, and exquisite taste,
entitled to have these come in free of
tariff charge.
The distinction is one perfectly easy
to keep in mind and to enforce. The
tax on art and on rare books should
be abated in all cases where the pub
lie is to get the advantage in educa
tion and culture by access to these rare
objects; but where the public gets no
advantage whatever, when the art OBJ
iects are locked up IN some man IS prl-
vate collection, or are stored in some
ones warehouse and held for specula-
tive advance ip price, there is not one
bit Of propricty in exempting such art
objects from customs duty To do so
is TO pander to the rich and to aid art
spectators.
1t is a mistaken sentiment altogether
which clamors for special privileges to
the rich, or to the speculator, in objects
of art and taste, and we do not believe
that Congress can justify itself before
the people Of this country in making
this art discrimination in favor of the
rich; for it is the rich or the spccula-
live alone who will be excused from
paving the proper customs duty under
a law which exempts their art imports
from fair and legitimate tariff duties.