The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-20
HARRISBURG.


ROW IN THE PUBLIC CHARITY BoARD-THE
PRESIDENT PREFERS SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST
AN OFFICER OF THE BoARD-HE ADVISES THE
DISSOLUTION OF THE BoDY--A REPLY Ex-
PECTED-THE REoRGANIzATIoN OF THE TREA-
sURY-THE GERMANTOWN COTTAGE COMPANY
"A NICE LITTLE WILLIAM.
From Our 0iOn Correspondent
HARRISBURG, Jan. 10, 1871.
That all is not peace and harmony in the
Board of Public Charities has been made appa-
rent to-day by the publication of q report ad-
dressed to the Legislature by General Thomas
l.. Kane, President of the board. The appear
ance of this document was totally unexpected,
and ii is deplored by the friends of the
measure establishing the commission. 1t seems
that there have been troubles between the mem
bers of the board and the President, which have
grown to such proper tions that it becomes the
duty of the Governor, or whoever has the
contral of the body, to iuterpose his authority.
Impediments have been thrown in the way
of the board, and they have as yet been unable
to prepare the annual report directed to be
made by the act of Assembly. In addition to
this the harmony usual among gentlemen of
the character of those detailed for this special
duty of visiting correctional Snd charitable
Institutions has been disturbed to such extent
that it will never be restored until the axe mas
been welded and head or two Topped off. The
disturbing element has been either the Presi-
dent or the members of the board. The idio-
syncracies and eccentricities of the former
and the high reputation of the latter are too welt
known by Pennsylvanians to receive any further
consideration at the hands of your correspon-
dent. The accompanying report aud the one
which will be issued by the remaining members
of a committee of which the General is chair
man will serve TO throw some light upon the
matter, and it would certainly prove an interest
ing feature of the latter document, if the trans
actions of the late meetings of the above COM
mttee were divulged, and it might be the
means of accounting for the penning of the
present report of General Kane. Both sides
have their versions of these difficulties and it is
anticipated that the whole affair will, before
long, be given to the public
One who seems to be posted says that it has
been manifest for some time that the President
has been failing in health, and that he has be-
come exceedingly morose and irritable. Although
he attends all meetings of the board and its
committees, yet he has occasioned all sorts of
unpleasant feelings by a too free of the
power conferred upon him as presiding officer.
The following is the report of General Kane
in FULL
PHILADELPHIA, No. 1901 WALNUT ST., !
January 16, 1871.
TO the II nOrdbls the Senate and House of Representa-
tires Of the GenerGI assembly cf Fennsytgan'c
Commissioners of Pubic Charities, under the act of
April a. lsG9, for various reasons attended with
delay. A lull board was first obtained by the ap-
pointment Of the Hon. Hester Clymer, VINO took
his seat at the quarterly meeting OF June s, 1870.
sists Of Hester Clymer, of Reading appointed for
one year. Charles A. Woods of PittsOurg appointed
for two years; George L. Harrison, OF Philadelphia
appointed for three years; George Dawson Coleman
OF Lebanon, appointed for four years. Thomas L.
Thomas L. Kane was elected President of the
board, and Wilmer Worthington was appointed
General Agent and Secretary.
The board found themselves compelled to appoint
an additional Secretary under Section thirteen of
the act For the sum OF $1,000 per annum they
Ourt
have not favorable report to present you OF the
'doiDgs" Of the board during the past year.
The board consists OF five persons, or six, in
cludng OH ,er who is oGcio a member. The
law imposes upon the board dellOeratye well
are the opposite of an element of strength. The
attention of their agent aud secretary, too, not
duty Of collecting the statistics called for by Section
Ia OF the act some members of the board may very
reasonably consider themselves uniformed upon
the necessary facts on which decided opinions
should be based. resulting indrmiCy of purpose
would be naturally expected on the part of such
members when called upon to assume Responsible
ties in speech or action. These allowances desire
to make, In fairness before reporting the board to
your honorable body and his EXceency the Cover
nor OF the Commonwealth for censure
Although an imperfecuy digested compilation
from legislation of other States, containing
necessary repcttOns which in some cases appear to
act Of April "a, 1869, is plain. In the House well
H as in the Senate distinguished members are now
seated who remember the debate upon its passage
LII and the state of public feeling at the tme Giving
a the act the benefit of simple and honest common
kSsense Interpretation, il well enough the chief
5TpuTposes for which 1t Intended It's Obscurity
{kexcuses no derection OF duty on the part of the
Tndividuals who accepted under it the obligations
WAND advanta gts Of office.
~ 1t is my unpleasant duty, then, to communicate to
H you officially my deliberately formed opinion that
4 the Commissioners Of Public Charities have rem
dered service OF respectable Importance or value
to the State and that they have left wholly unper
formed duties which the pubic confidently looked
to them to execute They have relieved the Legls.
lature OF responsibility. In the consideration of
the appropriation bills OF the present session. they
will be found but to have added to its embarrass-
ments. They have resolved to recommend the ap-
plicatons OF certain institutions TO the exclusion of
Others involving the State by their doing f the
Legislature should obey their recommendations in
committals OF which they nave shown themselves
to be without SUFFICIENT discernment to detect the
practical bearing or the important and possibly
very serious resulting consequences
They have not made a thorough investigation,
followed by Outspoken reports, into the condition OF
any single poUr-house, prison. or asylum in which
abuses were alleged to exist calling for their atten
ton.
They are expressly required by section sixth to
ascertain and report 10 the Legislature whether the
charitable and correctional Institutions OF the State
receiving State aid
l. Have economically and judciously expended
the moneys appropriated for their aid
/ 2. Accomplish the objects for which they were
established.
8. Comply fuzzy with the laws in relation to them.
4. Benefit equally all parts Of the State.
The only eCuOn taken 10y the bOsrd under this i'm
porJant section sixth has been 70 refer the subject
OF certain Investigations informally 80 a visiting
committee. The members OF that committees
meeting with closed doors have formally resolved
not TO prepare or 10 communicate any report OF
~ clusions arrived at.
l. therefore, recommend that The act of April a.
: