The New York herald., 1877-02-15
A MODEL CHARITY.

THE INVESTIGATION OF THE JUVENILE GUAR
DIAN SOCIETY TY-FIFTY PER CENT FOR COL
LECTION AND FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
"cAsHEs" PAID WITHOUT voUcHERs--THE
STATE BOARD REFUSES TO BE BULL-DoZED.
Tho examination OF the affairs of the New York
Juvenile Guardian Society will be continued to-mor.
row by the State Board OF Charities. The interval Of
time between the former examination and that OF to.
morrow has been takoa up by the principal parties in
charging each other with all kinds OF dsrcputabo
things, and the feeling has grown bitter that
nothing short of thorough ventilation OF
the concern Will satisfy the public.
Tho Board Of Directors of tho Guardian Society
have threatened to obtain nn injunction restraining
tho State Board OF Charities from proceeding with the
examination. This has not been done yet and 1t IS
not likely IL will be- The directors OF the society
protest that the examination is not iary conducted,
inasmuch as they he society arc not permitted TO
cross.cxamno witnesses. To this charge the State
Board rcJoins that they are conducting this cxamina
ton as they have always done with others, and will
not allow either side 10 be NOtwithstand
ing the protest oil tho society the state Board WILL n
all probability, CONTINUE their Investigation IN the
usual
SERIOUS CHARGES
Among the documents brought forward In tho inves-
tgaion the report of Professor Theodore W. Dwight
us acting president Of the State Board IN 1872, Is inter-
esting, bearing IT does upon tho affairs OF the
society at that tmc
The report first gives an account OF tho origin and
management OF the society anu states that upon the
result Of the examination oil the socicys officers ana
directors the Board recommends that tho annual ap
preparations be withheld The recommendation IS
based n number OF grounds the more important OF
which are First the statement OF the society s
affairs made in published report exhibits want Of
and righteousness not to to say absolute mis-
re representation 1t states among other things In us
report published in 1869 strong reason Tor nm APP
preparation that in former years II has taught and
cared lor 746s children The testimony exhibits an
.fto nj nhn
ber Is much larger than that found in
any visit made by members of this Board.
Second, "rhc institution under investigation appears
TO us to unnecessary and the expenditure extrava
CANT for the work accomplished large portion oi
schools II should bc stated that tho buildings in
which the schools are kept arc badly arranged imper-
fcc.ly ventilated and lighted. poorly furnished and with
| but lew proper appliances for teaching" Tho paper
goes say that the State Board Is OF the opinion
that the general plan Of the society Is faulty and
vicious" Its tendency IS 10 entico children away
from the public schools py holding out to them extra.
ordinary Inducements TO come to tho schools OF tho
society.
The management Is criticised severely. The grounds
given are:--'l Tho power OF tho superintendent Is
guards 3 The cost Of collections and agents is great
and disproporionate to the amount collected 3 The
expenditure great for the results achieved" Speak
inc of tho superintendent the report says that the
substantial management of the society Is In the hands
OF the Rev Mr. Robertson. 1--WE object to the amount
OF confidence reposed in him. says tho report. 'Wt
affirm susceptible OF the greatest abuse Nearly
| all the expenditures arc made by HIM In person. The
bills arc made out almost every TO him In per
SON No one knows whether the money Is really pait
to the persons by whom tho bills purport 70 be drawn
| Everything is left to Mr.. Robertson"
FEATURE.
ssBut the worst feature of the management remains
to bc disclosed. Daring the last year MI Robertson
expended about So 000 substantially without vouchers
He presents periodically an account oil small items cx
pended by himself III cash and clothing and food
| amounting Ia the aggregate 10 tho sum ALREADY
named. Tho entries in these accounts assume thi
form :--s'Cashcs, $40; sickness, S2 Two boys, So,
&C BY tho term "cashes," which appears over an
over again In his accounts he means gilt OF mono.
| 10 tho poor There Is no evidence anywhere supplied
that he pays out this money. The oitcers OF IN
society simply pay the money to him and take hi
word for It,"
Tho report TO state that the charges for col
lection and agency very great amounting 10 near
1lty per cent oil the amount collected.