The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-27
few men who have taken this way of

a few men who have taken this way of
knitting Pidweli."
Be that as it may the facts remains that
the investigating committee has so far veT-
fled defaIcations to the amount of SILL 80
in the matter of money which went into
PidwelPS hands on account of engagements
OF rooms and with other engagements yet to
be looked into it is believed the amount
will reach nearly 5000. There are ninety
eight engagements at $50 each unaccOunted
for which represent total OF $4,000. The
unprOven accounts, it is thought, will in
crease the shortage to about $4,000 The
regulations commenced as far back as Au-
gust, 1886, Pidwell having become secretary
of the association on its organization five
years previous.
After that date the annual receipts began
to show a gradually diminishing total and
surprise soon gave place to doubt that some
thing was wrong somewhere. Suspicion
pointed to the secretary, and for the year
1891 90 it wa determined to quietly watch
him. He apparently got wind of what was
being done Tor during that wear his defa-
cations were small compared tn past years.
The management of the affairs of the
ASSOCIATION, however. got into such an un-
satisfactory shape that convention inSti-
gated by Magnolia Lodge No. % was held
of delegates from the various lodges and
encampmentS of this city on June 4, 1892,
t. inquire into the matter and to take such
action as they deemed appropriate.
a committee of inquiry was appointed
with instructions 10 report to subse-
quent meeting on June Is. At this meet
ing the committee reported among other
things that 1.-THE general management of
the building seemed to have been careless
ana improvident and susceptible of much
improvement. The expenses have been
extravaeant; money has been squandered
ON sewers. repairs and salaries"
The cnmmiftaa cd N Nav
is, 1898, that very material improve
ment in the conduct of the business of the
association has been inaugurated. The
results attained have tar exceeded our eX-
pectations considering the trying cundi-
tons with which the directors, who have
been Jealous in the interest of the stock
holders, have had to contend"
The report stated that for 1892 the sec
retary's reCOrt showed total expenditure
of S12.372 IS, and that the estimated ex-
penSes for 1898 were $S636 Or, saving of
S3736 73
n paragraph in the report pertinent 10
PidwelPS defacations is as follows: Con
current with the various savings in the
expenditures. a gratifying increase in the
income of the association has taken place.
From the most reli bio figures
at hand we learn that the income for the
past year will indicate an increase of sew
eral thousand dollars over that Of the pre-
ceding year This added to the amount
saved in expenses will show difference IN
favor of the current fiscal year of over
$4,000. 1t should be here noted tina, the
treasury was in worse than empty con-
Gition when the present board as elected,
there being an actual deficit at the end Of
the last fiscal year, as appears from the
secrptary's report of S215 It.
There is also anol her suggestive para
graph. as follows: 1T will be seen from
the foregoing figures that the annual net
income or profits of the association should
be. under ordinary circumstances, about
$4,000. which is equivalent to five divi-
dends. And it is only reasonable to ex-
pet such result when you consider that
President Scott lns lis annual reuOrt of
June, 1887, six years ago, at which time
the income from the stores, public hall and
basement was fully $4,000 per annum less
than at present. assured the stock holders
that the association would soon he able TO
divide $4,000 per annum among the stock
holders without any Increase In the rental
of the business portion of the building
Pidwell was held in such high estimation
by the fraternity that the only bond ever
required of him was one for 500 for
period of twelve months, which has long
since been Outlawed.
One of the directors, in speaking of the
matter yesterday, said that it was impos-
sible to tell how much money the aSs0cia-
ton had lost through the operatiODs of the
old board and Secretary Pldwell. IL the
secretary had been porketing hall rents
for any great length of time his shortage
might be nearer 500. 600 than $1,000.
"Of course" lie continued, 1T would be
impossible 10 trace these amounts. The
new members of the board of directors
last year heve felt all along that there was
a leak somewhere, and it has been found
in the secretary's Office. 1t was suspected
that he had made no accounting for hail
rents and this was verified when the sec
retarIes of a number of societies that had
rented the hall were interview 1t was
found that they had paid the secretary
money, of which there was no record in
his books
The directors think that Pidwell spent
his peculations in high living. As secre-
.ary of Templar Lodge, OF which be is
member, he got salary of $500. and as
secretary Of the Hall Association SIS.
Ha LINN III hiS dannhtnr ol2n H.