The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-02
TELFAIR ACADEMY.
REASONS FOR PAYING THE ACAD-
EMY's DEBT.

Found With the Director, But OBJ
jections Raised to Expenses that Can
Be Avoided Until the Debt is Paid.
Some Suggestions for the Considera-
ton of the Members Of the Historical
Society.
Editor Morning Ne,Vs: Reports have
been so industriousIy circulated among the
members Of the Georgia Historical Society
within the past two or three weeks as to the
alleged motives and intentions Of the MEM
bers who advocated the early payment Of
the Telfair debt, that, in view Of those re-
ports. and Of a card published in Sundays
issue from the board Of managers, have
been requested, as the mover Of the debit
paying resolution, to ask you to print a
statement embodying our views In this
statement the public, as well as the men,
bers of the society, have a substantial
interest, arising out of the fact that
Miss Telfair did not bequeath the Telfair
endowment as trust for the benefit of the
society, but for the maintenance of an
Academy of Arts and Sciences" the COL
lections to be administered. under proper
restrictions, for the benefit of the public.
The card Of the board stating that an
effort is being made to abolish the Office OF
| director is SO entirely at variance with the
terms OF the resolution offered to the board,
aud to the officers OF the society. that it is
| essential to know what that resolution was
These are the words:
Resolved, l. That the expenses of the Tel
fair academy be reduced to the amount
necessary for keeping the property in repair,
clean and ready for visitors.
g. That the entire income, less the above
amount, be paid as received upon the debt
of the trustee society.
8. That a proper custodian be employed,
who shall be responsible for the good order,
condition and keeping of the property, aud
who shall receive for his services the use of
the oustodian's residence Free
4. That he shall have the use of a compe-
tent servant at the charge of the trust fund.
This was the whole resolution-no more
and no less. Obviously, II it should be
carried into effect, the salary of director
would cease, just as would any other expense
not provided for by the resolution; but the
aim and whole spirit of the resolution were
the payment of debt, to which aim and spirit
any economy created by them would be
consequence and not a cause. The stoppage
OF the salary being a necessary result, the
distinction between cause and effect would
seem to be unimportant, and SO it probably
would have been, II the resolution,
whether adopted or not. had been received
in the perfect good faith in which
it was intended. But so much stress
has been laid upon alleged hostile inten-
lions OF the debt-payers towards the present
director, that do not think it improper to
| state that whatever may have been the
individual opinions of members of the
| society concerning his usefulness, or bis
| adequate conception OF the needs of this
| community and of the south concerning
| education In the various branches OF art and
| science, no movement would have been
| made involving even his temporary retire.
| ment but for the financial fact Of the exist
ence Of our debt and the grave necessity for
/ its payment.
Now as to that debt. II was undoubtedly
incurred by suggestion Of the president of
she society; and to its creation is due the
annex and its arrangements. More than
that. it was incurred by his generosity
| The society being unable, under the will Of
Miss Telfair, to pledge the corpus, the large
sum OK money needed could not have been
borrowed, except from a friend; and that
friend came forward in the person OF
its president who loaned the money
without security at low rate Of interest,
when interest was high, and in q manner
| that left it impossible for him to obtain
payment In any other way than out of the
income of the trust. The trust Ia greatly
indebted to the president Of the society; not
only In money, but In the circumstances aud
| spirit of the loan. But how can that fact
vary the duty of a trusted society In the
management of trust fund? After eight
years the debt is there still-reduced some
| what in amount, but substantial lily there
Our income is about 5000 per anuum, and
our expense account and expenditures such
that from $24, 0l5 60 on Dec. 80 1887, after
five years the debt is $2l, 900 Tor was at the
1 Ntnx 80
deot-paying resolution had been adopted
four years ego, we would not now
owe dollar, and would not be
facing heavy debt to our own president.
an income in critical state and PROPOSE
tion toincrease the debt of the income fails.
If such a resolution had passed four years
| ago, and we we're reasonably sure of any
income. we would 60 day be In a position
| to say to the present director, or any other
director whom the society may desire,
Come to US now and help us in making
| Savannah the great school of art instruction
| OF the south" But It is constantly said
that the money ought not to be paid, be-
cause the creditor does NOS wish it.
With the fullest sense of the generosity
OF che creditor in making . loan, would
| any other institution except that answer an
a sufficient excuse to itself from paving a
debt drawing interest il il were able to pay
| In part or whole2 l speak Of non-commer-
cial Neutrality-suspicious. institutions not in
business and not in venture where the use
of money is more profitable than freedom
from debt Would not any trust institu-
ton call in its bonds If it could do 80 from
income, and would not this institution do 80
at once If it were not for the cong ication of
the loss OF the director? 1t is, therefore.
clear that the desire, or non-desire, Of the
creditor for payment should play no part in
this question.
We thus come, after all, to the crucial
point in the whole business IL the reteu-
ton Of the directors director-any di-
rector-so important as to overcome and set
aside what all must admit 70 be a plain car
| dinel principle In the management of a
trustf And ID is said by members that the
merits Of the present director are of that
Importance. Speaking for myself, l have
hardly thought ID likely thatis would be
seriously commended that any person DOS.
sible for US would be so classed. So
far from minimizing the work of
Mr.. Brandt ar the TeIfair, I hold It in
the highest estimation. But that was COM
pleted, except In respect OF ornamentation,
i years ago, sincs which time he has been ems
gagged for six months in the year in paint
ing an occasional large picture -four in ALI.
buying pictures for us land we have no
money wherewith TO buy. aud instructing
class five months in the year, twice a
week. He is not the custodian, and for six
months we have no custodian except the
colored lanitor. Surely no harm can come