The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-07
Detroit connoIsseur Makes
Public For First Time Terms
Of 81 Present.
RECEIVES A BILL OF SALE
Treasures in His Control Until
He Dies-A Model Form For
BequestS.


weIl-known Detroit connoisseur OF art.
whose notable collection which he has
been thirty years in gathering from
the treasure troves OF the world has
been presented to the Smithsonian In
stitution at Washington for the pleas
ure and benefit OF all the people.
In making this admission Mr.. FreeT
explained to a Sun man, who dropped
into the Plaza Hotel to see him, that
his gift was made by the simple process
of a bill of sale to Uncle Sam for .
nominal consideration by the terms Of
which the art objects will remain IN
his possession during his lifetime, al
though actually the property of the
Government, but will pass automatical-
~ into the custody OF the nation upon
his death, as announced in The Wash
ington Times some time ago.
II is believed that Mr.. Freer's novel
method of giving his treasures to the
people viii be a model for the benefac-
lions of other men who desire. TO pass
along art collections to the nation, the
State or to the municipality without the
possibility that their wishes might not
be carried out in the distribution OF
their estates.
to his fellow countrymen fully 5000 art
objects, the value of which runs up into
the millions (Mr. Freer won't tell how
many, but he 10 now planning to erect
Tor the Government as soon as possible
q building in Washington in which to
house the wonderful collection. Charles
A. Platt is now working on the designs.
Mr.. Freer is not ready az yet to make
public the details Of the plans. 1t is
known. however. that the structure will
cost S1,O000 900, and not 100000 as re-
ported in the papers few days ago.
Giving Not Easy Feat.
In telling the story Of making his gift
TO the nation absolute by means OF a
sole for 81 consideration while he lie
alive. Mr.. F'reer pointed out some of the
difficulties that he experienced when
he made up his mind to give. 1t wasn't
any easy matter at AL to turn over
his collection to the nation, while stu
reserving the right to keep 1t in his
-tinue having the pleasure Of prosecuting
his work of discovering finer things and
wedding out the less important so that
the collection at the final inventory
When Mr.. Freer originally offered In
1906 or 1906 to give his collection. then
containing 1000 objects. TO the Govern
sonian institution laid the tender on the
table. Col Theodore Roosevelt. then
President. called for report OF tho
proceedings. and at once took steps for
the removal of the Instructions. He
brought about a meeting between Mr..
Freer and the late Chief Justice Mel
Vile w. Fuller. then chief OF the Smith
,sonian regents, and after the two men
had got their heads together, way was
Ereedily found for the giving by bill
of sale. that was acceptable 10 all
parties. -
transfer title TO the. collection and stu
leave it in my charge" Mr.. FTeer
said, ga contract had to be entered into
between the Government and myself.
''Tha intent then was to give ZOO9
objects. keep them under my control
While / lived. and add to the plumber
and exchange In every possible M
stance where by so doing ! would oe
able to improve the Sra SSIIeG Sp By which
] gave title to the collection with tine
right to keep possession OF Il during my
lifetime and TO add to or take away Tor
the purpose of obtaining higher quail
!nrhe LAWYERS for both sides agreed
,,non a form of contract ana l onered
the gift to the Government, agreeing to
furnish the means for the erection after
my death of a building TO house and ex-
hibit the collection and for no other pur-
pose The objects once in the oullolng
could never be removed except IN the
case of repairs to the building. After
this was done the Government was to
maintain the collection and special Ia
ciIities were to be given to students.
Objects not on exhibition were always
dents.
Tabled BY the Regents.
IN this form the gift was rendered to
the Government and after they had con-
adhered the gift the matter was placed
on the table by the board Of regents OF
the Smithsonian Institution. In that
c cnn Of affairs President Roosevelt
asked to have the report read to him
and when he found there had been oD'
structions, he took steps at once 10 re,
move them he invited me 10 NEE nee;
time. the head of the board of regentt
Of the institution. President Rooseven
brought us together and after we mad
discussed the matter the Chief Justice
made n plain to me that under the pro-
rosed form OF contract there was liable
10 be many difficulties after my death
and prior TO the erection OF the building
at didn't take us very many minutes
Ia make important changes In the con-
tract. we decided then that 1t would
he advisable to weed out of the collec-
ton at once objects that were moi
really of the finest esthetic quality
The suggestion was made, and / agreed
to IT, to transfer to the Government by
actual sale for 4 nominal consideration
aubiect TO certain conditions which were
mutually agreed upon, the objects which
might survive the rigid inspection OF
experts.
the collection but could never take
away from 1t. The transfer of about
> aoo art objects was then made by
actual sale mot recently as stated a daS
or two ago by a New York newspaper)
. Annually since then other acquisition
have been given to the Government, u
that today the collection embraces oveI
OOO objects This collection and tbs
building which will house It will con
stitute an annex to the National Gallery
Of Art.
posseasion until after the proposed
building Is completed. although II Il
now the property of the Government
and have the right to loan any par
Of II that ] NAV desire. There are nov
about twenty Whistlers and dozeT
Tryons belonging TO the collection a.
the Panama Pacific Exposition at Sar
Francisco. have frequently loaned OBJ
jects belonging to the collection TO mu
seunls. universities, and art association
IN America and Europe.
"Nv plan nOW II to begin - Hoon ~
rosslbie The erection ~ a building Al
washington for the housing Of the col
Iacrine. Charles A Platt. NJ New York
g drI~ning the structure. when thu
tn'idlus h finished the collection vii
~ .aksr there end 4he Government will
? 20 ci,arEe ~ pofpehiity."
SIR Fresr refFsinNd frO!u givinG 4 DE-
trfteA deaerfn(l0 Of the mans but eN