New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-23
THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN.

Some months ago, a great sensation WIS
made in this city by report that serious
mismanagement had been discovered IN some
departments of the Methodist Book Concern
Two Distinct charges were made: First, that
tbe large amount of paper which is used by
the Book Concern, the largest religious publ
cation house in the world, was not as IL oush'
to have been, purchased by the agents directly
but through mddlemen, who thus received
heavy commission which might have been
saved: and secondly, that in the bindery de-
partment frauds had been committed, resulting
in serious losses to the Concern.
During the last two weeks the ueherai Dooh
Committee have been in session in this CITY 10
examine the affairs of the Book EstaDliSh-
ment, inclusive of the charges when hau oech
brought against some of its officers. we pup
lisb this morning the report which has Deen
agreed upon by majority. 1t is very brief'
and must strike every one who recollects the
grave and distinct charges which had been
made as exceedingly cautious. with re-
gard to one of the charges-that against the
bindery department-the Committee declare
themselves satisfied that there has been great
" announcement in this department. and that
q" serious losses have occurred therein 10
ia Int fair to add that tho former
head of the department complains that
no opportunity was afforded HIM to
clear himself from the charges brought
against him, and that he intends, as is reported,
TO yindicate his management by bringing libel
snit against the Junior agent who caused this
investigations With regard to the other charge
the purchase of paper through middlemen-
the report admits its correctness, but adds that
ait does not appear by any facts before the
Committee that the Concern has suffered any
" serious loss by such mode of making pur-
chases.r With all respect for the theological
eminence of the men composing the Committee,
we doubt whether there are many business
men will find such report satisfactory
| The denial that the Concern had suffered any
serious loss will seem to many to imply that
| some loss has been suffered and If so, people
will naturally be anxious to know something
about its extent and the Committees opinion
| "a TO what constitutes serious loss III hau
been distinctly charged that some OF the par
ties from which the mddlemen had purchased
| the paper had expressly testified that they
would have sold the paper directly to the Book
| Concern for the same price which they received
from the middlemen, and that thus the Concern
might have saved the commission. We believe
many will be disappointed by the CommIttee's
entire silence as to this point. The OuSl-
ness habits of the MethOdsts must be
very different from those of other people
if the Church at large will not demand full
and distinct statement as to whether any loss
has been suffered by this brokerage in the
purchase of the paper, and if So how large the
! amount has been.
The public in general have been anxious tC
learn whether the charges of mismanagemen'
against the officers of the great religious Book
Concern were based on any fact or only Oh
false rumors The verdict on the Committees
finding, we fear, will be that it fails to convey
with satisfactory fullness, the desired informa
| tiOD.