New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-19
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
QUERIES FOR THE BIBLE SOCIETY

QUERIES fOh The BIBLE oOOtEAA
TO the Editor Of TIE Tribune.
SIR; Perhaps no other journal has among It's
readers so large of the friends and patrOns OF
the American Bbo Society as THE TRIBUNBi aud ask
the privilege of brief space In it's columns to voice the
thoughts and desires OF Of the many laymen and
clergy who wish the society Well
It cannot be nows to tho managers and especially to
the executive officers, that there has been dlssatslac-
ton with Of their management for long ime but
perhaps they are not aware that tits not decreasing II
It be not rapidly growing Win not the managers see to
Il that their annual report, now being prepared, SHALL
have such statements and explanations as shall IN part
at least aay growing preIudoes against the manage
mentl
Frat give 10 us cash statement so fun and explicit
that plain viii readily perceive and understand the
state Of the treasury and the entire financial AFFAIRS Of
the Society. DO not let 10 be necessary for plain people
call In expert TO know what the resources OF
expenditures and to whom and TO what the resources
are applied / believe most firmly that the managers
would greatly increase the confidence OF tho patrons ana
friends of tho Society by causing to appear In the forth
coming report statement Of all funds Of every descrip
ton held by the Society and rendered in so plain man.
ner that no one would need ask for explanation OF
any item.
There IS desire for a complete list OF oil legaces and
donGtons made for permanent investment with the re-
sriCtOn 10 only the income; and what in amount
was specially Indicated as the Burr Fund for the
preserve untouched the Immense surplus, noticed as
invested in tho cash statements from year to year. ard
should there happen hereafter TO be deficiency III tne
annual receiptB will tho managers, in face Of the very
largo amount In thele hands, issue circular or speca
appeal as they did January 81 1871 If this Is the fixed
policy will the managers help us to understand how
with hundreds OF Thousands of dollars at their command
thoy are justified in issuing appeals as II they were
hard up" while they loanlng an almost fabulous
amount as benevolent society Will the next report
give light in this reRRrdf
In the cash statement for last year 1t does not appear
that the Society paid any interest The statement OF IN
terest received is as follows;
Interest from bank deposits S2s3 ~
Interest from lnyesnenis 20
Interest from r. Hamilton fund ............ $50 90
Interest from O. NJ Hayward fund. ;----.---- 20 W
interest rom william shinn fund........ 100 90
Total received for interest. O26 80
Was not tho property THAT ISL the real estate Of the
Society paid for with moneys received as donations TO
TITO Society," and II so should not the large Income there
from DO acknowledged among the regular receipts OF
the Society Just much as interest on lnVestDenSI
Why Il placed In the building ACCOUNT are not these
rents TO be ust udclousy guarded aud appropriated
as the widows mItesi Whv Is tue large charge OF
S29O5G O. for salaries OF executive ongers togetnsr
with 81 300 40 travelling expenses charged 10 the Dul-
ing uDd accOunt What 90 these executive officers DO
for the building fund account thai should be taxed in
only point or inquiry VALUABLE results
we're anticipated from foreign tons OF secretaries ana
,ghat OF good 10 tho Society really accomplished
and IA there or there not reasonable ground for tue
ccsln that the salary expenses OF tue Society should
he sseppd very by essening the number OF en-
poy6,-requlrng increased service from those rttalned
formed were made known and better undersiood by the
supporters Of the Society p0'sOy II wOuu DC seen Inat
pre IA no proper ground for criticism For he man
agrrs ms body. all knowing them have only the pro-
Sundest respect aud confidence. But IL ia very well
known that many very many. Of the managers or those
v1se names stand as mana OF charitable and be-
ncvolcnt suCees, have amos; as little 70 90 WIN tine
m ,nagemen a tie man IN the moons and the develop
men a of fraud and default during the last Few years
have uuckeupd desire for wider knowledge IN society
attprs II II should DO certainly known that the emil
n.ut merchant 3. bankers and professional men constl-
tntin the managers tamil ar with a the details
of tne business OF this great society ana applied the
sanr scrnuy all Its operations rs they 90 70 lher
own usinpss mnttrrB there would DO very little qurs-
tioiing OF ITS affairs Lot 1t be remembered that to q
vert VIDE extent there IS no Intimate personal khowl-
cdo " the character reputation OF these genuemen
Mainly IL is IN NeW-Yurk That they are known.
brooklyn. April IL, 1880. INQUIRER