Chap. 336.—An ACT to make an appropriation for a replica of the Houdoun
statue of George Washington, and to provide for the appointment of a
commission to present the same to the republic of France.

Approved March 17, 1910.

Whereas, the State of Virginia is the owner of moulds made from the
Houdon statue of George Washington in the rotunda of the State Capitol,
which were made for the purpose of reproducing said statue so that a
replica might be placed in the national statuary hall in the Capitol of the
United States at Washington, which has been accordingly done; and

Whereas, said moulds can be used only by the authority of the gen-
eral assembly of Virginia, and are now in the custody of the manufac-
turers thereof, subject to the control of the general assembly; and

Whereas, it is desirable that further reproductions be made from said
moulds, to the end that the greatest benefit may be derived from the
same; and

Whereas, on account of the historic friendship between the people of
Virginia and the people of France, and the association of the name of
Washington with that of Lafayette, the great Frenchman, who rendered
such signal and timely service to the colony of Virginia in the war for
independence, some appropriate recognition thereof should be made; and

Whereas, said statue is itself the masterpiece of one of the greatest
of French sculptors; and

Whereas, there is no replica of this great work of art in the native
iand of him whose genius created it, and it is believed that such a repilca
would be acceptable to, and appreciated by, the descendants of the great
people whose timely aid to Virginia in her struggle for freedom has
never been recognized by the gift of any such token of Virginia’s grati-
tude and continued friendship; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the sum
of four thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be,
and the same is hereby, appropriated, to be paid out of the revenues for
the year nineteen hundred and eleven, which said appropriation shall not
be available until the fifteenth day of December, nineteen hundred and
eleven, for the purpose of procuring a replica of said statue from said
moulds, te be presented to the republic of France as an expression of
Virginia’s cordial admiration and loving regard.

2. That a commission of three suitable persons, to be appointed by
the governor, be, and the same is hereby, constituted, with power and
authority to have made from said moulds, and pay for out of said appro-
priation, a replica in bronze of said Houdon statue of George Washing-
ton, and to present the same, on behalf of Virginia, to the republic of
France.

3. The said commission shall be allowed and paid the actual neces-
sary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties here-
under, to be audited by the auditor of Virginia and paid out of said
appropriation. °