The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-08
SENATE ENJOYS
LECTURE ON ART
Decides That Houdon's Wash
ington May BE Copied With
out Detrimcnt to Statue.
TO COLLECT $500 ROYALTY
No Reproductions to Be Per-
mitted Without Consent OF
the Governor.

Tho Senate broke away yesterday
from tho usual discussion that attends
the enactment OF legislation for the
ordinary purposes of State. and delved
Tor thirty minutes into an examination
OF tho principles Of high art and the
danger of It's commercialization The
question arose IN the consideration OF
Senator Fcatherston's bill permitting
the Gorham manufacturing Compa ny.
OF providence. r. T.. to mako further
reproduction OF the Houdon statue
OF Washington from molds now in tho
possession Of TINT company
Senator Smith asked the Senate to
withhold action or the bill until a
further examination into Its merits
could DO made The bin was on the
calendar on It's third reading. and he
moved that It BIO passed by. The mo-
ton was opposed By Senator Fcath err
ston and Senator Cannon. and when
put to vote was lost The bin was
then put on Its passage and carried
by vote OF 2i to 3. Senator'S Mapp.
Smith and Tavenncr voting against It,
Fcnrn II Would Cheaper Stntuc.
Il know little about art myself"
said Senator Smith. speaking to his
motion TO pass by. but have been
Informed by persons who know. that
the Houdon statue In the rotunda 10
the mpst valuable piece of etatuary In
America.
1T is regarded as Vtrsinia's greatest
art treasure, and as such think It
should be protected from commercial
exploitation. To permit the work to
be reproduced and sold broadcast
through the land. would In my opinion.
cheaper 1t and detract from its vnluc,
Senator Fcatncrston replied with n
short lecture on the principles Of art.
No great work he said. is cheapencd
by reproduction. Or the contrary, he
said, work OF art gains In fame and
prestige by being extensively copied
Travellers In Europe. he reminded tho
Senate. Invariably find their greatest
pleasure In viewing In tho various
museums and art galleries the very
sculptures and paintings which they
have numberless times before seen ms
copies and reproductions.
we are all familiar with the case
OF Mona Lisa" said Senator Feathers
ton. ut is among the most valunnie
and highly praised small paintings in
the world. and yet there Is hardly n
village in the world which does not
possess from one to any number OF
copies. VIII anybody believe for n
moment that the value of tho Venus
of Milo or the Winged Victory has
been impaired by the numberless copies
of them that are to be seen every
where in the civilized world?"
Cnunon Would Encourage Art
Senator Cannon was for permittinc
! tho reproductions to he made, on the
principle that no work of art should
| be selishly locked up from the rest
OF the world. George Washington, he
reminded the Senate belonged not
alone TO Virginia hut to the American
nation, and the noble statue Of him In
Nirglnia's Capitol should be known
from one end OF the country to an
other Copies OF the Houdon statue
he believed, would only stimulate the
desire to come to Richmond and sec
the original serving In the end both
as good advertisement and an edu-
cation In art.
| The bill rs amended In committed
requires 4 royalty OF $500 for each re
| production made by the Gorham Com
| pany, the money to be paid into the
| State Library fund No reproductions
are to be made without the consent OF
! the Governor Of Virginia. The molds
II Is provided. shall continue to re-
main the property of the State.
Print Governors Message.
Private Secretary Forward brought
| Governor Stuarts first official message
! to the General Assembly. and the Sen
ate suspended business TO give careful
! attention TO full reading Of II BY
the clerk. Upon the motion of Sena-
| tor Echois. II was ordered that soc
copies OF the message be printed foI
the general uses OF the Senate.
| The following bills were passed:
TO make an appropriation to provide
| for the relief Of needy Confederate
veterans who are not eligible to be-
como inmates OF tho Soldiers Home
because of suffering with cancerous
affection or contagious disease. Pa
tron. Senator Massie.
| Providing for the control and super
vision of telephone companies by the
State Corporation Commission in the
same manner that that body super
vises railroad and other corporations
Patron. Senator West
| Increasing the salary OF State Bank
Examiner c. c. Rarksdale from $4,000
| to $4,000 n year
Amending the law governing sani-
tary construction. house draining and
plumbing In cities OF the Commons
wealth having population OF 5000
inhabitants. Patrons. Senators Monta-