New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-25
FREE ART LAW OBSCURE;
ALL APPEAL TO GRAMMAR
importers Of EtChings, Engrav-
Ings and Wood Cuts at
Sea Over Clause.
WASHINGTON MUST DECIDE
Definitions of Replica" and
Reproduction" Needed to
Untangle Problem That
Vexes Customs Men.

The extent OF the free art clause in
the new tariff law will remain in doubt
| until the Treasury Department passes a
sentence in Paragraph 652 of the free list.
1t Will also be necessary for the Depart
ment to furnish definitions Of replica"
and reproduction" Importers of artists
proof etchings unbound and engravings
and wood cuts unbound are frankly all at
sea over the qualifying clause in the para
graph which says including not more
than two replicas or reproductions OF
the same"
The experts Of the Custom House here
sought to straighten out the tangle, but
after several importers had sent in pro-
tests the matter was referred to the
| Treasury Department
Paragraph 652 of the free list, specifying
what articles shall come in untaxed. says
/ Original paintings in oil. mineral
wafer or other colors, pastes, original
drawings ana sketches in pen and ink or
! pencil and water colors, artists proof
etchings unbound. and engravings and
wood cuts unbound, original sculptures or
replcas or reproductions OF the same; but
the terms sculpture and 'statuary as
used in this paragraph shall be under
stood to include professional productions
of sculptors only. whether in round or In
relief. in bronze, marble. stone. terra
! Gotta ivory. wood or metal. or whether
cut. carved or otherwise wrought By hand
! from the solid block or mass OF marble
stone or alabaster, or from metal, or cast
| in bronze or other metal or substance, or
from wax or plaster, made as the profess
sional productions Of sculptors only; and
the words painting and sculpture and
| statuary' as used in this paragraph shall
/ not be under stood 10 include any articles
OF utility nor such as are made wholly
| or In part by stencilling or any other
mechanical process; and the words 'etch'
! ines,' 'engravings and wood cuts. as
used In this paragraph. shall be under
| stood to include only such as are printed
| by hand from plates or blocks etched OF
| engraved with hand tools. and not such as
are printed from plates or blocks etcneo
or engraved by photochemicsl or other
mechanical processes"
Grammarians and philologists have
! found the paragraph as interesting as
| iigsaw puzzle. First OF all. the comma
after original sculptures or statuary
! has aroused discussion. Some take tins
/ punctuation to limit the mot more thar
| two" simply TO sculpture or statuary
/ Others would have IL modify everything
which precedes il. In behalf Of the latter
! Interpretation Fairholt's definition OF re
| plica-"A copy OF a picture taken o!
the hand OF the same master that exc
cuted the original lis cited.
! Another difficulty is caused by the rae
| that in an earlier clause OF the free lis
| all engravings more than thirty year,
old are admitted free. Importers OF ar
objects are hoping that the mot mor'
| than two" phrase will be decided to retel
! only TO sculptures or statuary, as IN th'
/ event of any other decision the field o
] free art will be curtailed to considerable
| extent.
! All etchings. engravings and htho
graphic plates accompanied by more thar
two reproductions are being held up peno
ing n decision from Secretary McAdoo
II the decision is against the importers
they will be obliged to pay duty OF
| per cent.