New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-19
much Indignation the people over the inform
nate affair Both arc white men.
THE BIBLE SOCIETYS MANAGEMEgr

BUSINESS WHICH Is LOOSE AND MAY b DAN.
GEROUs.
70 the razor OF The Trtbune.
SIR: Thanking you for your courtesy in
admitting Queries for the Bible Society" your ISSUE
of April TO- have again to ask your indulgence Ian
IN possession OF information that your publication q
the Queries" thoroughly appreciated by not lew
OF your subscribers; and that many Of them are en-
deayorng TO get Trustworthy information to IL,
management or the society.
Ihaye before me the annual report presented az Tho
sxty-fourth anniversary OF the society," held AZ N,
Bible House on May 49, There are some changes made
in The manner or III the OF stating the hnanciai
affairs Of the society. am not impressed that there
any special Improvement over that Of the previous year,
Last years financial statements made under nya
different headings. This year there Orly TWO, as
follows:
First Report Of the Of receipts and
disbursements for the year ending March 81 1880.
Second Manufacturing and depository account
The entire amount ackuow as the income Of the
society in 1879, including the balance lef
over from the previous year. was Si7S,227 So
of which amount S1l2.2O5 "a was from
legacies For the year ending last March, the
total income OF the society S725.9l7 81. OF this
S221.72S from legacies. The receipts aside
from egacies from auxiliary and other societies.
the sale OF books interest Investments trust funds
and sale OF securities No statement is given OF the
amount OF the general fund invested and dra wing inter
est the of the several trusts their acgre
gate The interest credited to the trust fund In tie
last report IL 81 ,225. The interest from temporary
loans investments was S23,4t9 81.
TO this enormous accumulation lying unused the soc
ETY. have added as by the report S20993I % They
have also carried to the trust fund account S2t9S -
am no expert but there tt'rs in these reports
that might as well have been rendered IN herogyphict
# plain people are expected TO understand them
think can manage TO understand a plain statement
and what right has the Bible Society To make STATE
ment that is less than exceptionally painf IL NOT.
however simply that what's doneis 50 amDguouS ops
that 50 much s withheld to Justify the belief becom
ING wider and wider that persons In the manage ment
not the management do not wish 20 nave TIE real
financial status Of society understood Surely the
treasurer the salary he receives and the facilities
about HIM. ought to be competent TO make statements
as full and clear as an nnc ouded sun Inc whole
Standing OF the sOcieys afrS. II j. only creature OF
the people. bcgotten and endowed by them AT de-
nominations OF Christians. ana indeed almost an men
women and children have contributed TO us treasury.
n is National association in deeper sense man any
Of all the societies then why should ne eohuue'eu 20
much as # II were clos corporation
orr banks ana insurance companies make sernl-an.
affairs to the Department M Albany, and
through the papers these statements are srrcad
broadcast through the entre community At M VIII
ing before IN THE TRIBUNE Il the statement OF
large number OF the insurance colnpahles me ere
assets liabilities. surplus, premiums income, o's
dividends expenditures etc, are naineu clearly anu
al do
the inrnce committee give thS ni9rhatlon when my
know or ought TO know land which their secretaries
TO know Are not these gentlemen AFRAID, u
they make known the tact o. n noo od me soGe
treasury that contributions will fall OF aud go 10
societies AMI ASSOCIATIONS sore pressed ior mraHs 10
carry on the benelcent work in when they are en-
caged2 i not TINS the reason LOT c0uceaihS OF WIZ
ncidug as they have done and are doing Ihey have
The great company OF which the chairman of the
finance committee Is president makes no sueh repofs
society nut forth to their constituents. 10
Is shame thar IL has been done 50 long, ana
Ly tlr reopc They want TO know. and Will know, how
The AFFAIRS of institutions stand from which they want
rcaf society 70 arrosatc themseye, such authority
rs ~ this case, ignoring inquiries and snuhbng guess
approacLed and kept informed OF the dissatisfaction
th3t exists entirely dlstnct from denOWiuaiOna or
geographical lines. They know that there L. ana ong
bias been Shspieion-tnat mas Growh 10 coh'lot'oh-
that he mana gers are not the real managers.
urer and general agent ex-ui,io and advisory mem
bers # AL the important committees 10 me Board on
MANAGEMENT q the G lmm tfccs-each numbering
slx-are TO six of the executive officers of the
society," and II tie average attendance OF tho
men beers of these committees j. not larger than
me average Of most ether societies. TIE real committees
are a minority in The meetings. Now, rs matter OF
fact do not these executive officers constitute the
managers have before me letter sent 10 me under
cover to The tribune from an Influential clergy man.
fine pastnr of a large Presbyterian church IN western
Ncw.York in which he states that hen before meet
ing Of the Board as nember OF COMMITTEE ron ,he
b he aid: You should nave seen the
surprise of the Board after speech. Why did you
not tell US things before Geneme, lock AT this
paper IN my hand Il contains all these facts. and ms
been I'm Your secetary's hands and should have been
in yours, for two years said then ana often since
that the entire business management OF the society
needed oyerhsuling, ard that tue lime would como
when some competent business patron WOnid demand
IT, The managers or the society, as you suggest. know
ont little OF business details The secretaries arc
The total payments o. the society for it, general bus.
mess are stated at S475,221 So See few items In
connection with salaresclanlt9r aad watchntn.
of secretary, IL 1924 "a cerk 10 SECRETARY SSJJ OO
observation-disclosures and clerks S6663 49, III lnanuiac'
turing department, rJ,3UJ ol clerks IA genera agents
Off e So 749 90 district secretaries aud heir expenses,
s33 G32 25 coporteurs in this country aud their X
other agencies away from this country $1,000 81;
cOlporteurs in other countries, SLIGO For salaries
and travelling EXPENSES there seems 10 n"se .Se pu
more than $4,000 The exact amount cannot be- mas
out the report of the treasurer Look at Items e
rent power and Insurance. Sl2921 n; depository ac-
eountsaares rent, neat ss e' o. s2
tuu the amount chargeable 70 salaries. In
tne manufacturing account SlOO,UoO Is charged
t,' wages The Auditing Committee MAKE
very specific statement in connection with their
articles defining duties and trusts OF the assistant
there Is shown TO ne very large discretion or
NATIONS adopted BY the managers TO prevent
abuse these trusts. AS matter OF fact Is there not
assistant treasurer that II he disposed, they could
be used purposes other than Tor the society II hss
40 and Tho society guaranteed against loss should
they sate As before minated tnere have been
such objections and losses IN connection with
socetir and there desire among the people
fidelity OF trust officers snOuld he guaranteed.
One other matter. Have the several managers
d.dnite knowledge OF what their production costs
Have they looked at the enormous value OF the room
they occupy the working capital interest power insur
aner risk In the integrity OF their employees. labor aud
salaries Have they thoroughly canyassed this
whole matter that they assert inellgently TIA;
their work carried on safely ana economically Are
there not OF competent. responsible and excel
ent men expert publishers who would take the PUBLISH
inc of the society for 30 80 por cen. than
what The society are doing for Let the society call IN
Thoroughly qualified expert. or several. To inyosti
gate the whoe held and present such report Ia the
Society and the community as will show whether there
il or l. not ground for the criticisms and the unr sc
ON the way In which tho society Is being conducted.
The boarding principle which seems 10 nave been
adoned nv the society Is reflection the charac
fer OF their vast constituency What does the society
want funds amounting IA million Of dollars To lay
TEMPTATION thieves break through and steal Are
fhev al rnd 10 depend upOn those who have suppOtel