Evening star., 1870-01-15
The Methodist Book Troubles.
RESULT or THE INvEsTIG ATIoNs.


Tie Methodist of this week prints the follow
ing I'M relation TO the irregularities in the Meth
odst Book Concern:
"A Subcommittee OF three Of their number,
| appointed by the Book Committee, devoted
nearly month 10 the examination Of the irreg-
ularItes brought to light 10y the assistant agent,
and when the Book Committee met, on Novem
ber 4, made report OF results - Tar as ascer-
tanned This report has never Yet been pub
llshed; but Il summary OF its contents will throw
light ulon the whole subject, and assist the
Church IN ascertaining the truth.
The report dwelt mainly upOn the business
methods of tie Concern. aud was important as
showing that. under such methods. any amount
OF loss was possible. The committee stated:
Il. That the vouchers oi the printing depart
ment were not original bills, but only monthly
statements the original bills were asked for, but
could not be found.
80. That no one was found whose duty IL was
10 examine and check invoices OF goods pur-
chased by the concern, and to certify their COR
rectness before they were paid by the cashier.
his work, Il done at all, was done by the head
oi the department purchasing; bills were found,
enormously cast up, which had been Iaid with
out being examined by anybody.
%. That the wages-bcok of the bintery show
ed that, since the last General Conference
more than 300 had been drawn by the superin-
tendent under the head OF miscellaneous ar
ticles for which no vouchers were rendered anf
concerning which no satisfactory information
could be obtained
4. That the committee could not obtain from
the accounts of the agents any correct idea OF
the compensation of the head of the bindery.
careful inquiry, however, showed the following
facts IL. In January, 1904, his salary WAS
raised from = 600 To - 600, and on this basis
lie was settled with in September last. p An
examination Of the wages book showed that he
had drawn. on three several occasions since the
last General Conference, Sl00. Further inquiry
showed that this had been done for wears, in
pursuance Of an agreement between him and
the agents. by which his compensation was TO be
increased 500 per year, but was not 20 appear
on the books as part OF his salary. 3. Still
further inquiry showed that the gold-sweepings
had been given him for several wears. The
committee estimate the value OF these gold
sweepings for the last six and halt wears at
$1,000, or more than Il, GOO per wear. Ii was
found that other employees were receiving per-
quisltes, but the amounts were not ascertained.
IS. That the committee found nothing IN the
accounts OF the agents 70 show that the quantity
and quality OF goods received correspOnded with
the quantity and quality OF goods boaght. In
fact, say the committee, there is no record 10
show that goods bought were received at ALL
80 That the committee were led. by the dis
coyery OF these defects of method, 10 inquire
whether there has been actual losses on mer-
chandse in the bindery. Their examination
showed, that reckoning from December I, 1851.
there were 400 dozens OF skins not accounted
Tor, which must have cost the Concern not less
than so 600
"Ihe chairman of the subcommittee, the
Rev. James Pike, Of New Hampshire, did not
sign the report OF the Book Committee, and is
understood to dissent from it.o