New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-07
G. A. r. MEN PUZZLED.
COMMITTEES TIED UP IN FINANCIAL
KNOT
TpF.sr.RER MKENNAs ACTION IN REFERENCE
To THE CITY MEMORIAL DAY APPlsoil'Aii
BLOCKS TIE WHEELS AND CAUSES

A LOT OF TALK.
The Memorial and Executive Committee OF the
| Grand Army OF the Republic, with heaulu"
in the CITY Hall IS tied up-horse, foot anu
! dragoons-in a tight financial Knot on tne ''
of spending an annual appropriation OF sSVvV o' -
| city The matter has been brought to an Issue ~
| the action Of James McKenna, treasurer "a ~
! Memorial Committee, who. as treasurer Ic'
received the 5000 appropriation for TINS !e"' W
| who has taken and holds the position that ''e
| money appropriation can be used legally for Meho
rial Dav purposes alone AS the salary OF inc
secretary certain running expenses ana lu"'
for the relief of the widows and orphans oi W., w.
ans have been taken from the $1,000 appropr''.
for some years. this action of MI Mcheh'a no.
resulted In a financial deadlock and some wa'i."
of feeling There bills awaiting payment w.
McKenna says he has no right TO pay t'e'' "
the law. - ,,
The secretary of the committee Is George H. 'a,.
SON His salary Is 81 200 year. and the Pfopo' W
OF it for February paid to Mr. jackson !e'
terday by Mr.. Mc<enna. although the payment wa,
made with the understanding that the SUBJECT -
future payments is not yet settled. The salary vi
the secretary used to be paid by per cap''' n"
sossment of the various posts in the GU! SUNNI
years ago the Legislature empowered the cry "
make the appropriations to which the Mayor 'o"
troller and Auditor haveto consent. Grand Army
man said Yesterday that the 5000 for Memorial Day
purposes was used at first solely for memorial Pu'
poses and he inimated that Junketlng eNpe"'''
carriage hire and various items OF expense COZ"
nected with the celebration Of the day Msed up 'ne
whole appropriation. However. this method was
changed and for some time the salary OF the sec
rotary money paid for relief widows and orphans
with running expenses, were taken from tho sb""
! appropriation without protest from any one liz.
former treasurer of the society J. S. Cavendy died
last year. and succeeded ~ Mr. Nch'h'"
When Mr. McKenna received the $1,000 Appropriation
about a month ago he was warned That ne ""'
l.fte bc as 10
in his charge and take receipts FOR all bills pa'd
1t Is intima ted that this advice came from members
who are not especially friendly to Mr.. Jackson.
Shortly afterward he examined the law. or rather
an amendment OF the statute. authorizing the ci'y
of Brooklyn make yearly provision for the ce.'-
! brat!on of Memorial Day, including 1893. when
! provided that It should be lawful for the Board OF
| Estimate in the City OF Brooklyn and county o.
Kings to make provision in its annual estimate or
| city purposes for appropriation for the celeDra
ton OF Memorial Day. and ''the money raised J"
nnrsuance OF any such appropria ton might, with
the approval OF the Mayor. Controller and Audltor
| of said city. be paid to the treasurer OF the Mem
| orial Committee of the Grand Army OF the hepuo'c
OF said city. be by said committee eXpehu"u 'o'
the purposes aforesaid" Mr.. Mckenna. upon read
ing This carefully came to the conclusion that as
treasurer ne would not be safe In paying any pir'
OF the appropriation for any purpose except NON
| orial Day expenses. He said so. ana ilhe''"'e'
an Interested discussion arose as TO where me
VI
/ come fron
HE WILL OBEY THE LAW
Mr. McKcnna under bonds to the Memoir"
co,or,i,,ee for the strict and equitable perform
ance OF his duty treasurer. lie receives no sa'
| srv When the Grand Army celebration In the
| Academy o, Music on Washngtons br'huAy wa
henc arranged for Mr. McKenns was ASKED 10
dlshurse money FOR expenses connected with H. ne
said then that he Ola not have the power n'"eF '"'
B isy IN DO So Nevertheless. n. ga 'hy money
/ for the rent Of the Academy. because he dii ""'
want to stand In the way Of The success % ne
We're incurrei and the bills tor these Mr 81,
Kenna says he Will not PAY UNI. me co.'s s,,i"I
| of Ia and his liability under IL ar" %'l''''.
| About sgj received IN private cup. pu"''
FOR me esprs1S OF ang nm" WAYS on, o. the din
| cul,v which have been suggested by meuibers o.
The Memorial Committee and others Mr. Nc
! Kenna has indirectly received ad,:ces that Judge
! Cavnor and a well-kno~n lawyer mink ne - fIFnt
anpl,cs Strictly to Memorial Day expenses 1t Is
thought that suit might be brought 10 dr.',in,i "
| fereni as 10 whether money was paid to widows
and orphans out Of the fund or not sun 10 .,Is
| the organization.
A FRIENDLY SUIT POSSIBLE.
1t has been intimated. however. that some mem
| bers OF the Grand Army Of the Republic might
bring a suit TO test the question
Another outlet from the difficulty Is suggested by
those who say that the subject should be carried
the law 50 that the appropriation might be used
| for worthy purposes IN addition 10 those OF Me
mortal Day. 1t is also suggested that the law
might DE technically evaled BY having the Ne
| mortal Committee pay each post sums c9iaI 10
their Memorial Day expenses. and then having
! these posts pay back to the committee the same
| amounts OF money they receive. which could. OF
| course be used for purposes 10 witch the $500
appropriation has been applied hitherto. Objection
| is made o this plan. however. ~ those who be
leve that The posts might not reimburse the com
| miitee promptly.
| In the mean time. between the attitude Of Mr..
| McKenna and the expenses Of the Memorial Com
! mittee, the financial business Of the committee,
with the exception OF receipts from the excise fund.
is in an involved condition. The subject will prob
Kenna, between his desire TO avoid Inconvenience
to the committee; and his nnswerying determine,
says. in delicate position. and has considered the
question Of resgnins lie BELIEVES that the p Sa.
been spent heretofore better than the plan OF
spending all Of the appropriation on Memorial Day
c!ded that the 5000 shall be spent exclusively FOR
Memorial bay purposes, 1t can be spent IN INA,
way with the ease OF the past But the question ion
penses are to be paid from. remains unanswered;
Mr.. jackson was seen at the CITY Hal yestorda,y
side OF the subject He replied that he did not in,
tend TO say anything for publication. When asked
said None whatever" II Mr. McKenna were to
resign and a more biable treasurer put in his
na s Some sd OF he %s%' %
think that the necessary expense or a secretary
salary and undoubtedly the money paid for the re-
lief of widows and orphans might well be paid as
they have been IN ne past They 40 NJ? ,n,nK tmi
by the law and he holds the checkbook. Mr. Jack
son Is a member OF George c. strong Post No. ~
al Gates and Nostrand ayes. which has about ",
members Mr. Mex emma Is "A member OF Thatiori
POST. No g. in Prospective, near FIFTH which
The Memorial Committee Will meet one week from
tonight