The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-13
BAD FOR ST. JOHNS GUILD.
SKULKING BEHIND A TECHNfCfLITY TO
EsCiPE INVESTIGATION.
The Attorney-Generars Doubts. and the state
Boards misunderstanding Hospital Truss
tees Indignant-Wiswan and the Guild.

st. Johns Guild has secured O rcprieve.
The ground taken by the Guild was that. not
being a State institution. the state Board had
no authority to Investigate its affairs; at the
same time 1t was willing to waive its privilege
Of refusing TO appear, If allowed the assistance
OF counsel, and the right Of cross-oxamining
witnesses. These demands Mr.. Roosevelt. on
behalf Of the committee appointed by the state
Board refused to comply with and the Guild
then formally announced its determine
ton not to pay any attention TO the sum
mons issued by the board. This action
was by no means unanimously taken. The
trustees Of the St. Johns Floating Hospital,
charity which has met with more hearty public
approval. probably. than has ever been accorded
to similar undertaking, were all in favor Of
allowing the State Roard to make IA searching
an investigation MS it saw IT. arguing, logically,
that any attempt to cvadc such an inquiry would
only result in Withdrawal of public confidence
and n consequent falling off of those subscrip-
tions upon which both the Guild and the Hospi-
tai depend for their existence.
This Difference Of sentiment between the off,
Gers of the Floating Hospital Committee and the
trustees Of tho Guild may very readily be ac-
counted for Tho work Of the Guild proper
that Of supplying the poor with food. clothing
No.. during the winter. IL almost over for tho
present and II will not be- compelled TO 20 be-
fore the public To solicit subscriptions for
i is hoped. may be sufficient to allow
the present difficulty to be forgotten
But with the Floating Hospital IL IL altogether
different. That branch Of the Guild. which mny
be called the summer department Of the insti-
tuition, does is great work-the taking of sick
children md their mothers from the fllthy
slums and alleys Of the city into the liie-giving
brcezes Of the bay-altogethcr during the sum
nor season. In very short time 1t will bo
Obliged to ask the community for the aid that
nus always been extended 70 It, Hence its
anxiety 70 clear away every doubt compromising
But the trustees OF the Floating Hospital were
9verrulcd, ana when the committed OF the Stnte
repre-ontativ" Of 81. Johns Guild inattendance.
Nor was II requisite. 50 far rs the legul aspect Of
the cH-I was concerned. The committee had
tics. IN session in Albany last Wednesday aud
r. question OF ts authority ,wEas referred 70 the
welt read the decision OF tho COM
nitteee The Morney-Gcnera doubts
were Intended to be included by the law dciln.
ing our powers As the officers OF st. Johns
Guile refuse to testify. giving this a reason
we have decided to postpone this Investigation
This. Of course WAS n virtual abandonment
Of the Flontng Hospital had asked Mr. Roose-
Welt 10 rgidly investigate their branch Of the
institution. but their request. Us will be seen.
=. 1t Is not only among those attached to the
floating HosIilal th9t the action Of The Guild is
deprecated. Mpny of the trustees ~ the nstitu-
ton dcp1re the course pursued Mr.. II. X
Thurlsr sny- the question of the right Of the
state Bonrd e. mako an Investigation should
not hnVc been considered for "A moment. II
was sufficient Tor the Guild To- know that
damaging charges had been made against
them II should have been glad b. 20 before
the public and clear itself. He thought its
course Ind been very weak, but he did not be-
lrve that II md anything Ia conceal. The men
vino managed It's p"cuninry affairs were far too
honorable t. dc anything wrong themselves.
anl much too sagaclous TO be hoodwinked 10y
ANYBODY else.