The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-08
METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE.
The Book Concern Frauds us Again Minority
Reports Presented Another Refusal to
Appoint Special Committee-OL
Spectators in the Book Concern.

devotional exercises The rules of order were then
suspended, to allow the minority OF the Book Com
mittee's report TO be read with It was read also
the report OF Mr.. Gum, the accountant appointed
some time ago by DR.. carlton. This report shows
lOOseness and irregularity in the system Of book
keeping carried out III the Book Concern. Frequent
erasures and alterations occur without explanation.
The books are balanced hut once a year. and in
some particulars, he says, they have not been
balanced for twenty years, and II Is SIMPLY i'm
possible to arrive at a Just result. He is, there
fore, unable to say whether there have been
any fraudulent purchases OF material mis-
appropriation OF the funds Of the Concern TO per-
sOnal interests. He therefore arrives 1T no concln
sion Of fraud but great Irregularities do exist
This gentleman takes Mr.. Kilbreth to account ana
analyses his report with a degree of recklessness
that should make the latter tremblc for his chance
OF heaven
DIR. LANAHAN's REPORT.
AS aOon as this report was read Or. LANAHAN
moved to lay the papers on the table until his own
report should be read. This was done. The Doc
tors report asserts that four years ago Dr. Carlton
opposed the reelection of his then associate, Dr.
Porter on the ground that young Porter had
monopoly of the purchase or paper to the damage OF
the Concern, and yet this person was allowed 10
enjoy this monopoly until Dr. lanahan discovered
the fraud and stopped 1t. lie also questioned Good
enough In regard to the purchase of pancr and TINS
person contradicted himself repeatedly and which
resulted in allowing him TO resign rather
than be discharged Hoffman, the bndcry super
intendent, he found averaged only from two three
hours day in the bindery, ana upon nominal sal
AIRY OF 1000 lived in style Of alIcncc. After cx-
animation OF Ho!imnn's administration he was got
rid or only after threats that If he did not 30 DR.
Lanahan would.
The suit or Goodenongh vs. Lanahan for SANDER
damages $20,000-te latter thinks had its origin
among those whose frauds and corruption he was
exposing, and in every possible way he
noyed and insulted The Doctor sums up his
charges in twenty ..statcments,' giving circum-
stantial or legal proof to sustain each. Nos l. land
relate to tho purchase OF paper for the Concern ny
j. T. Porter and his unttncss for the business No
refers to Goodenough's plea for Porter that he
lGoOdenough) must pe ''reeved or the care mat
was pressing upon him."
OH. COMPANIES IN THE BOOK CONCERN.
This care Or. Lanahan shows, were matters
outside Of his business in the Concern. He was
Company OF New York and Canada'-capia stock
$l50000. 7. Carlton, President, and II. Il. Hoffman,
Vice President, and other employees OF the Concern
were stockholders. The Ridgewood Petroleum
Company, OF Pennsylvania, capital stock S500.00o
with GoOdenough, HOFFMAN, Grant aud DR.. Carlton
as corpOrators. Also the Crescent Petroleum Com
pany, OF New YORK and Canada capital stock
sl2oo, 600, OF which Goodenough was chairman of
the working committee, and in the service OF which
No. shows that in single issue OF the several
church papers published here there was n saving of
and the paper bought directly by the assistant
agent No. charges that in the item OF leather
alone In the binding department the Concern has
been defaudcd OF not less than $4,000 a. 700 dozen
SKINS during the last twenty months of Hofman's
administration. No. relates To 14l dozen Of sheep
skins sent away from rho Concern by Hoffman about
March 81, 1869, ana which remain unacconnted for.
Contradictory stories Were told by Holman in re-
gard to this item. Large quantities. OF morocco ami
other material We're similarly sent away and sold
by Hoffman for his own benefit.
HorrMAN's rERQulsilEs FROM GOLD swEfrNas,
according to the best estimates which DR.. Lanahan
could procure, amounted to twents-three per
cent of the gold lear purchased, or an average Of
$l,s5o per year. lioliman's dishonesty ~ paying
wages due in the bindery Is also proved. lie drew
sums Of money from the Concern for persons who
were not in the employ Of the honse. His dishonesty
Is also shown by the amount 81 work turned out
compared with the amount Of material furnished
therefor Thus, for instance, IN 1868 Hon
seOosi $50 WORK IN the years $50 and ISL the
present superintendent Of the hndery has nsed
sI25ie - Of stock in turning ont sl70,ls6 ~ Of
work. In the years 1870 and 1871 33g is2 more
books Were bound than In 1865, yet less stock
used in inc two years ihan Holman consumed in
one year. Various items Of false entries in the in
Nentories ami account books are also cited. Thus
TO the sheet stock inventory for January, 1866, il
added $4,000 in lnnh on 100000 for Increased
cost Of printing, whereas the whole amount Of aicct
stock for that year was only SS0o63 ~. a similar
addition is made for 1857, whereas the total
amount Of sheet stock was only $685. 80.
The same amount Is added for 1855 ana
1859. Thus in three years twelve per cent
is added on s5754s a6 worth of sheet stock more
Than the Concern possessed or than was shown by
the Inventories In the bindcry store account
book Of 1897 to 1867 inclusive. the ootngs Of one
year are carried into the fOotings OF the succeeding
year. IN numerous instances. and thus counted
twice. In 1858 the work turned ont xl17,Gsl So
yet this years work Is entered in tc ledger 81 the
Office, $1S5.42l 80, difference OF 81, 1913 03. The
inventory OF the bindery for 1884 shows the amount
Of Sl3s.45s TO- whereas the entry in the ledger is
Sl6l,6tl 0s, upon which Is based pront of
Slg,9oS 50 when IL should correctly made, show
loss OF $l.254 So Similar arbitrary figures
traced for series Of years up to 1868 ana the losses
shown in proof of
FALSE ENTRIES AND FRAUDULENT MisMANAGEMEsT,
rs charged IN the Concern. The discrepancy in the
cash balances OF the Concern and the books Of The
shoe ana Leather Bank, in which the Concern held
It's deposits from 1863 to 1863 II cited proof OF
fraud. Aud detailed statements of these balances
ana Oh the losses ana gains IN Cach year nom 1861
TO 1858, inclusive, are given i'm proof OF false and
fraudulent entries for the purpose Of showing q
gain when an actual loss had occurred. The Doctor
closes his report with corroboratve extracts rom
The reports OF Messrs. kibreth and Gum, and asks
that ts subject be referred TO special committee
Immediately after the reading had ceased Dr.
ALDEN, OF southern Illinois, moved TO refer the
papers to the Committee ON Book Concern.
Dr. ENsLEE amended to refer IL TO special cam-
mittcc Of two from each book committee district.
Judge McALaoNT of Erie further amended that
they be referred to committee OF thirteen, to be
appointed by the bishops, and that the committee he
authorized TO sit apart during the sessions OF Con-
ference until their report is ready TO DC presented
The Judge ably advocated his own motion.
Dr. LASAHAN hoped no attempt would be made TO
sic discussion on this important subject, and that
the press would not have occasion 10 say that this
probe this matter to the bottom. lie had other
matters akin to this which he desired to lay before
the special committee, aud for which he should ask
for another committee II this one IL refused. Judge
McAlmonts amendment was then tabled.
Dr. QuEAL then moved and Dr.. ESSLEE accented
that the delegations from the several book commit
tee districts appoint this special committee Of two
from each district.
DIR. IVES insisted that instead of trying TO save
time as 1t Is urged these motions are designed to-
do, they should the rather seek 10 satisfy the
Church No more important matter will come be-
Conference should be represented in this commit
tee. II this vote prevails half OF them will be I'M
represented but, however constituted this commit
tee may be, some one will charge 1t with being
packed" for they will have
NOTHING BUT FRAUDS ON THIS QUESTION
they want another committee or one from each
Conference, hut are not satisfied with this Book
Concern Committee, in which every Conference is
represented and many OF them are not on any other
committee. They have been nominated by the del
egati0ns. He did not much what committee
shall have charge OF this matter, he wanted all the
devils cast out II all the swine in the Book Concern
are carried into the sea by them. Mpplausc.) His
anxiety was to have the whole truth In this matter