Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-01
ENGLAND TOKEEP
ANC|ENTSOBJECTS'
Bill in Parliament to Preserve
Historical Works From
the Collector.
AMERICAN MILLlONAIRES
WILL NEED TO HURRY
Cannot Tear Down and Garry Away
Old Castles. After Act Be-
comes Effective.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

sessions have been of late years acquired
by American mllionaires. who have trans
ported them to the United States. The
general idea of the ancient monuments
consolidation and amendment bill now
before the house of lords is to safeguard
structures and erections. IT evidently
does not protect earthworks. but 1t is
sufficiently comprehensive to save ruins
generally.
There is at present no working defini-
ton Of what is meant by ancient monu-
ments' I'm the bill. The royal commission
appointed to make an inventory OF the
ancient and historical monuments OF Eng
land and Scotland, respectively. limited
the definition to monuments anterior to
17OO in England and 1907 in Scotland.
while the Welsh commission Is unfettered
by any time limit. time limit which
excludes the products of the eighteenth
century is not regarded as desirable, as
such limit would exclude some OF Eng
lands beautiful Georgian houses.
Other Countries Active.
This question of the preservation of
ancient monuments is one that has occu-
ried the attention of every civilized coun-
try in Europe with such monuments to
preserve and protect: that in setting
about the work in these countries Great
Britain is but following in their footsteps.
and even the proposed measure lags much
behind the statutory regulations IN oIner
continental countries. France and Ger
many have taken up the matter and dealt
with it in their usual thorough style OF
state supervision. Italy has just pro-
jected an elaborate scheme OF legislation.
and the law of 1909 Is most comprehen-
siye. The British bill is modelled largely
on the Italian and French measures.
The Italian law deals with the export
of art treasures, among other Things. ana
applies to movable and immovaole oD-
jects which possess an historical: arcne
illogical paleoethnological or artstlc IN
terest The term paleoethnooglcal, py
the way. was inserted in place of paleon-
tological. which was the term origlna,s
selected. as 1t was considered IL nilsh'
have too extended meaning. This rule.
II applied In this country. for example,
would exclude the Giants causeway ana
Fingals cave The Italian law does not
apply to buildings or artistic 1Giects
or artists, or which have themselves been
in existence for less than fifty years. II
deals with objects which are the prop
erty Of the state ana those OF cor
porate bodies; lay or ~, ecc'e Nn demoition
or alteration can be effected In such prop
erty without official leave.
The only possible dealing with these op-
jects whereby sale or exchange De
with state permission. There Is no cata-
loRue or schedule contemplated or re-
uuired, and the law gives the authorities
power to notify any person that the o.
ject In his possession that is covered by
the terms Of the law is Ofhcially regarded
as Of great interest, and henceforth sucn
owner cannot ALLEVIATE or in any way as
pose OF the object In question without
first giving notice to the authorities.
catalogue Outlines seems dimcuit OF conf
pilation. Considering that there are SOOO
communes in Italy. it IL work or mag
nitude.
menced a generation ago is still proceed
ing In Scotland the royal commission
appointed in 1898. and the welsh com
mission Of the same year had only up 70
1912 published one volume each, ana tho
English royal commission on ancient
monuments also appointed in lvoS, IN
four wears was only able to publish in
yentories OF Hertfordshire and South
Guilty OF compilation. The Italian law
nationalizes as 1t were. any movable or
immovable object of historical: archeo-
logical, or artistic value. and If such De
government has also the right OF pre-,
emption. which right must be exercised
within four months Of the notice of sac
Taken at Lower Price.
Thus as an example of how the act
works in this respect. it may incidental!
be mentioned that an article or sculpture
which an American millionaire was pre-
pared to give s6UO.UO for was pre-empted
by the Italian state at $4,000. The ex-
tent and volume of the transactions IN
antiques in Italy Is incredible. Lord
crewe N. the house Of lords debates ~. IN
191. estimated their value at SlG0.GO,No
a wear The Italian government may ex-
propriate any piece of private property
that comes within the act compuisoriE
purchasing it. If the government incur
expense i'm protecting corporate property
the corporation must bear the cost as far
as ii is considered capable of meeting
it. The power to claim appropriations is
conferred upon the cOmmunes and pro-
vincial bodies. and even on associations
which devote themselves to such objects.
The Italian law, 1t must be remembered.
is the outcome Of a scheme OF legislation
initiated by Cardinal Pacca by his edict
OF 1920. and the states Of the church; or
i'm other words, the Pope deserves the
credit for the idea Of being the first state
to protect by law its ancient monuments.
Until 1907, however. no steps were taken
in Italy generally in that d rectiun. Now,
by the revised law of 1853. effective ef-
forts have been made to legislativeiy pro-
tect the art and antiquarian treasures OF
the country The Italian laws resulate
and deal with excavations In very thor
oush manner In no case, even I'm that OF
an owner eXCaVaIiIlS MS OWN ldIiu SdA
excavat ons be thereon carried without Of
fetal leave and official supervision. The
authorities can conduct excavations OF
any part of the terri tory OF the state. SUD-
ject to an indemnity to the owner. ana
their finds appropriated or their value be-
ins- paid unless the objects are not re-
ou;red for the state collection. when they
VII be handed over to the owner. If
excavations are carried out by corporate
body or by a private owner half the OBJ
,ai x.olt n N hp OF
Large Powers to State.
In case of finds by foreign archaeological
bodies, or foreign cities. all finds must be
handed over. except such part of them
that can be retained IN a way conducive
to public culture in Italy as may be re-
uuired for a museum. The state can ex-
propriate absolutely the land required for
excavations, and in assessing their value
the presumed value of the objects likely
to be found is not to be taken into con-
sideration. The minister OF public in
struction is the state functiOnary In
trusted with the matter of the preserva-
ton Of ancient and historic monuments
in Italy. as in other countries. He acts
under and on the advice OF superior
council of antiquities and fine arts. which
was created by the act OF 1907 and con-
sists Of twenty-one members There are
eighteen district inspectors in Italy, and
off1cials. while other special officials deal
with excavations.
1t fs the completeness and thoroughness
- 49,. JtoIfon fnea atarA thar fhe British