New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-26
TIE UNION CLCBS EXPERIMENT.

IT ENGAGES CAPTAIN SMITH AS sUPERINTEN
DENT-LEAKs TO BE STOPPED
The Union Club has engaged Captain Charles Percy
Smith, formerly OF the English Army, as its superin-
tendent. His salary is TO be $4,000 a year ana ne
will have his home In the clubhouse Inc an
nouneement Is discussed with Interest By club men
generally, for 1t marks an experiment OF Important
bearing on the running Of clubs. The Union really
has no superintendent now, the engaging OF captain
Smith means additional expense OF at least $oOVo
q year. the cost Of his board being included Yet
the governors feel confident that he can save the
club more than that He will not begin his work Tor
Q month or two yet.
As Q rule, clubs run with wastefulness that
would not be tolerated In a hotel other private
enterprise What is everybodys business is nobodys,
and too often q club is pundered right and left.
Some superintendents and other employees receive
Q commission supplies purchased, either m cash
or in articles which they can send home to their
families OF course, the butcher or grocer or baker
who makes such a present reimburses himself on
senAins his bin 10 the club. The club employees
Do not regard this dishonest. 1t is custom that
has long nounshed the commission being considered
In the uGht OF "tip."
There are many other ways In which club suffers.
Unless great care Is exercised. the waste in . res
taufant Is terrific. Supplies are bought with bad
judgment end some Of them spoil. Altogether. there
are 4 hundred leaks and the total even In q club
otdoderate sze may amount to thousands OF dollars.
The House Committee Of the Union has hitherto
been In direct charge Of all Its internal affairs.
Naturally. the members could not devote
the time required to oversee every purchase. The
empoye Of highest rank was a kind OF cashier an ex
psrienoed man, but he not clothed with full
thority to the club in all departments Captain
Smith at one time manager Of the Palace Hotel
In San Francisco and therefore Is well fitted for his
new place
Some Of the men In the Union have favored paying
a. hic nla tr ou-ob
By tho Maryland Club. Of Baltimore. which is man
aged BY George May, and by English clubs.
Captain smith, however. will not occupy q similar
position In the Union. There points Of etiquette
involved however. TO the social status Of the new
superintendent which not settled. 1t Is not be-
lieved. however. that members will. for instance in
vite him TO dine with them at the club
1t is not charged that there is any striking general
mismanagement Of the club now. but only mild but
rather numerous instances of 1t. For thing. the
portions served in the restaurant said to be
trey too large good part OF the meat cooked
must be thrown away. for even half portions are
more than an ordinary eat unless his din
ner Is of only two three courses. Again. the
number Of employees Is said TO be unnecessarily large
Is talk mat tine nredra SP IS go
q little more economy Is exercised In the eXpendi-
lures There Is some complaint in ase cup S and at
9 change in the House Committee was desired. The
MIX an o. Optimism ns wSch witt not stand the
tiny. The initiation fees from new members are a
biz revenue, but the amount will diminish when the
clubs limit is reached.
II IS generally understood that the University Club
is tie best managed among the large clubs OF the
city The proposition TO increase the annual dues
from go 10 $75 voted down year ago. and
the excellent administratio lion of the domestic affairs
has made the present income from dues sufficient for
all needs. The restaurant has showed profit Of
several hundred dollars for the twelvem0nth. The
money received for Initiation fees all goes TO build
ing fund. The University now has supcrintend-
ent, having given up the plan OF having the House
Committee do the work.