Evening star., 1937-03-14
MELLON ART BILL
DECISION WILL Be
ASKED TOMORROW
Chairman ConnaI|y Will Seek
Passage of Measure Au-
thorizing Gallery.
LA TOILETTE EXPECTED
TO REQUEST CHANGES
Library Committee Has Before It
Proposal for Smithsonian
Gallery of Art.
BY ]. A. O'LEARY

A decision on the bill for acceptance
Of the Mellon art gifts, postponed on
two recent occasions, will be sought
In the Senate tomorrow by Chairman
Connally Of the Public Buildings and
Grounds Committee.
Heretofore the measure came up
| under the unanimous consent rule
but was put off to give Senator La
| Toilette, Progressive of Wisconsin,
| time TO study it. The Wisconsin
| Senator has gone over the bill and
Is preparing to offer some amend
ments, but said yesterday he did not
want to discuss the changes ne has in
mind until the bill is taken up.
Senator Connally plans to make a
motion to take up the question shortly
after the Senate convenes, and hopes
Tor nnal action during the day.
Passage of the bill is necessary to
enable the Government to accept the
| offer OF Andrew w. Mellon to give
the Nation his collection of art works,
estimated at a present value of $50
| 100000. He also has agreed to erect
a $lO,000000 art gallery building on
| constitution avenue between Seventh
| ana Fourth streets, TO be known as
the National Gallery Of Art, and not
to bear his name.
$5,000,000 Endowment Fund.
A third feature of the offer is q
$5,000,000 endowment fund. 1t is in
tended that trust funds will be used
to meet the salaries of the principal
officials of the gallery, and for the
acquisition OF other paintings and
sculptures from time to time The
| Government makes available the site
for the building, and agrees to pro-
vide the funds for annual mainte-
nance, care and protection of the
gallery.
The art collection, described by the
Senate Committee as one of the most
representative and valuable in ex-
istence, consists of about 100 paint
lngs and 20 sculptures by great
masters. The board of trustees to
be set up under the bill would have
power to pass on future additions.
The committe points out that the
board would have discretion to permit
temporary loan exhibitions, but art
works to be added to the permanent
collection would have to be of sim
liar high quality In addition to the
art works previously referred to, the
Mellon gift includes 100 American
paintings and portraits.
If the bill passes the Senate tomor-
row 1t will go to the House for action.
Copeland Asked Delay.
The last time the measure was called
up Senator Copeland, Democrat, of
New York, joined in asking for de-
lay. explaining it was not because of
any personal objection, but at the re-
quest of certain New York architects
who wanted to be heard.
Meanwhile, there is pending in the
Senate Library Committee another bill
Just introduced by Senator Walsh.
Democrat, OF Massachusetts,, that will
further enhance Washipgton's posi-
ton as one of the art centers of the
world. 1t calls for the erection by the
government of Smithsonian Gallery
OF Art on the west side of the National
Museum, between Twelfth and Four
tenth streets on Constitution avenue
In addition to providing for portrait
gallery OF famous Americans, this
structure would afford a place for the
exhibition Of variety of art works of
the Smithsonian Institution, not con-
nned 10 paintings and sculptures The
Smithsonian, 1t has been pointed out,
has to store some of these other art
works for lack of space to display
them. No date has been set for be-
ginning committee consideration of the
Walsh bill.