The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-07
METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Report Of tho Book Committee Kilbreths 1nves-
legations and tn Resulh-William n.
Tweed's Library Furnished from
the Book Concern.

Conference met yesterday, Bishop Ames presd-
ing. After the devotional and preliminary exer-
cses the reception Of faternal delegates was made
the order Of the day for Wednesday at ten A. M
The Book Committees quadrennial report was
then presented and read by the secretary. II sets
out with statement that Notwithstanding re-
verses the Concern has made substantial progress.
1t bears witness to the efficiency of the editors and
agents, and declares that the changes made by
them are all improvements needed to keep up
with the progress Of the age. New wants are, how
ever, coming up, which the General Conference are
called upon to supply. The fire in Chicago caused
loss to the publishing interests Of 100000, but no
serious interruption to business resulted there
from. But greater calamity befell the Concern In
New York. but the losses in this case cannot be es-
timated in dollars and cents Reference Is then
made to the first publication OF fraud and corrup-
ton in the daily press which allegations were In
vestigated by subcommittee OF the Book Com
mttee, called together by DR.. Lanahan without the
knowledge Of DR.. Carlton. The report Of the COM
mittee after this investigation has been
generally condemned. The seriousness OF
these charges will be evident when 1t is
considered that the New York Concern is the
LARGEST PUBLISHING HOUSE IN THE WORLD
OF it's kind. With It's fall, therefore, all other In
terests Of the Church must suffer also. Dr. Cartoons
endeavor to make public denial of those allega-
tiOns and DR.. Lanahan's refusal are next noticed.
The action Of the committee was construed by DR..
Lanahan as conspiracy against himself, and the
committee for asking for specific charges were &C
cused of being engaged in this conspiracy. To
doubt his conclusions he considered was to doubt
his veracity. and this feature Of the case greatly
embarrassed the committee in its investigation,
which had been intended to have been as thor
ough and impartial as could be made. These in
vestgations have not changed the judgment Of the
committee in any material particular.
The several measures OF compromise, investiga-
tons, reports renewed charges, &C, are next re-
cited and the futile efforts to quiet them are pain
fully apparent. At the investigation in January,
1870, fifty witnesses we're examined The attend
ance of witnesses and their testimony were volqn-
tary, and yet only one refused to answer. Eff
forts had been made by the committee to procure
evidence from the editor of the Methodist and the
editor Of the New York Times, which from their
editorials and reports it was presumed they were
possessed of, but they failed. Three questions were
raised In the several Investigations, around which
all the testimony might be grouped, namely:-Have
there been fraud and corruption in the manage
ment of the Book Concern Has there been any
agement OF the printing departments And a similar
question In regard to the blndery department. inc
committee were compelled after their inyestiga-
When they came to consider
THE QUESTION OF LOSSES
they found that such losses charged could not
have existed without fraud and COLLISION being
proved also. Hence negative answer was given
to this charge also. Nevertheless, the needless and
wicked agitation of this matter has been kept be-
fore the Church.
An inquiry into the personal relations Of the
would prevail until the meeting OF the General
Conference. But an in1ammatOry iy-sheet was
sent out broadcast ana the secular ana religious
INSCRIPTIONS in their demonstrations in regard to
it, that fears were entertained for the safety ofthe
Concern. Hence originated the trial OF DR.. Lana
han, with which the public are familiar. Referring
to the late investigation by Mr. J. p Kilbreth, OF
in connection With the BOOK Committee report,
the committee say that the Church owes Mr.. Kill
breth debt of gratitude, since now, after his
thorough and careful investigation he absolutely
refuses compensation. The Conference heartily ap-
piauded this generous act. Mr.. Kibreth sets forth
ness and routine OF the Concern. He sat beside
agents, cashier and boOkkeeper, saw the letters
opened, read them, saw them filed by the different
departments and followed them to their final and
legitimate conclusion. When he had thus made
himself familiar with the workings OF the Concern
he called upon DR.. Lanahan for specific charges OF
mismanagement and fraud, which he would specially
investigate. This DIR. Lanahan refused to do unless
he was allowed to appoint an assistant. Mr.. Kill
breth could not consent to have any ones favorite
appointed assistant as condition precedent,
but he agreed to do this as courtesy whenever he
documents examined Mr.. Kilbreth declares, would
make q book as large as the Holy Bible. He denied
that the business OF the concern is III u confused
state, as alleged, but Is in an understandable
shape, and 1t Is easy to ascertain the business OF
the house from the books From ten to thirty years
back
THERE ARE INACCURACIES AND CONFUSION
in the keeping of books but no frauds can be
found. But within the last five years there occur
no more errors than can be found in any extensive
business house. The financial management OF the
Concern he considered above reproach. F,1nld
fcie evidence OF irregularity appears in the books
and reports OF 1867, which upon investigation
proved not to be errors at ALL and might have been
explained in few minutes BY the book as T,
ten years. The reports OF Mr.. Congo and Mr..
Appel, DR.. Lanahans special accountants, are
erroneous. For instance they state that,
according to the exhibit to the An
oS % 1sS n9os Of the nn@s
$56,2A a. whereas the ledger shows them to be but
s53,446 40. They, therefore, claim fraud discoy-
crepancy Is accounted for In the discounts. The
difference between $s2,27a 81 discounted nom the
debts due the Concern in the exhibit of 1867, and
$794S1 81 in 1865 accounts exactly for the difference
between $56,244 "a and $53, 446 A.
HOW EXPERTS DISAGREE
Again, those experts say that the inventory OF
merchandise hand for 1868 on the inventory book
is s16 403 80, and by deduction of fifteen per cent
il is reduced to $40 73s o. and on the ledger 1t Is en-
tered $140 1896 81 and hence another fraudulent en-
try is made out. Mr.. Kilbreth however, thinks this
the most unaccountable blunder into which Mr..
Congo could fall, since the merchandise inventory
of 1868 contains six items which foot up $l40 500 81
and this footing Is plainly made on the inventory
ana Ill the leuRer. OtneT ana sInlldT vi
Congo and Appel are presented so clearly by Mr.
Kilbreth that they can have no force whatever as
against his findings and conclusions.
An analysis of the balancing entries from Dccem-
Der 81, 1860 to November go 1866, shows an aggre-
gate loss for the six years OF $276o9 6s leaving out
OF view the sum OF Sl16,S41 co. paid out during that
period by order Of the General Conference for
bishops salaries and other disbursements Count
ing these, the aggregate profit IN said SIX years
would appear to have been SS9,232 D. This small
show OF profits results from over reduction OF
values
During the above interval there was taken off the
valuation Of real estate $685. O3 So, and of the valu
alton Of stock the sum OF $123 756 81.
Mr.. Kilbreth, In discussing the question OF pur
chases OF paper, shows cOnclusively that Campbell,
Hall Co. were the first to seek the services OF j.
+. Porter to sell their paper to the Concern, and
that they, and not the Book Concern, paid Porter's
commissions, and this accounts for their subsequent
anxiety to have him displaced when his commits
siOns became too large. 1t, nevertheless, ap-
tee that while they were selling the same kind or
paper In like quantities to Harpers for 10 40 cents
an poo Cpn.