The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-01
WILL MEET IN DETROIT
SUPREME LODGE, X. OF r., FORMAL
LY SELECTS THAT CITY.
Final Adjournment To-Day--Omcers'
Salaries Cut-ApprOpriations
Are Also Reduced.

Detroit was selected as the next meeting
place for the Supreme Lodge convention
after long debate yesterday afternoon. A
gallant fight Was made by the Kentucky
representatives. who urged that Louisville
be selected but the delegates favored GO
ing to cooler place. The vote was said to
be unanimous. The next convention will
be held, as heretofore, on the fourth Tues
day in August. There was a proposition
under discussion to hold the convention in
September two years hence but many of
the representatives had in mind that there
Is to be presidential campaign in 1900 and
for this reason they favored holding thu
convention early, in order that a political
campaign might not interfere with it. The
discussion prolonged the afternoon session
until nearly o'clock, when a recess was
taken until O'Clock.
The report of the investigating commit
tee appointed on the opening day to inves-
tlgate charges against supreme officers was
acted on by the convention yesterday. AS
predicted, the report did not find anything
TO substantiate charges against supreme
officers, all Of whom were exonerated. AS
indicated two days ago, however, the re-
port found that large sums had been ex-
pended in what, to some, might seem to be
penditures are the result of direct legisla-
ton on the part of this body and author
lied by it. and that the officers in making
the expenditures were acting simply as the
instruments of this body in carrying out
It's dictates" The report is a complete
vindication of Supreme Keeper of Records
and Seal White the charges made against
MIN being disposed of as follows:
!, AS to the direct charges in the article
I'm the SentlneD rejecting or tending to re-
meet on the supreme keeper OF records and
seal, White, we find from the testimony
submitted that Brother White is not a
stockholder or director in a bank trust
company or other financial institutions; that
ne is not stakeholder in the Brandon
printing Company, nor interested there in
any manner, nor never was; that he is not
nor has not been directly or indirectly in
made by or in the interests of the Supreme
Lodge; that since becoming supreme keep
er OIL records and seal he has not been en-
gagged in any business, devoting his entire
time and energy TO the discharge of the
duties of that office.
I'VE further find from the records of the
supreme Lodge that $500 was appro-
prlated of the moneys of the Supreme
Lodge to defray office rent and incidental
records and seal for two years. We find
that this appropriation was a direct and
SPECIFIC grant OF that sum to the supreme
Keeper of records and seal, differing from
the appropriations for expenses of other
officers in this, that in the other appropria-
lions there was a stated sum appropriated
or so much thereof as necessary, while
IN the case of the supreme keeper of rec
ords and seal it was the stated sum of
From the testimony submitted the COM
mittee finds that the sum of 81, 400 was prac-
tically expended for Office rent, light heat
and incidental expenses.
NOT EVEN EXTRAVAGANZA
There was absolutely nothing adduced at
the inquiry, the report says, to support the
charge of waste and extravaganza the COM
mittee finding that 1.-THE officers and men,
bers of this Supreme Lodge have, in ali
things, conducted the business of the Su-
preme Lodge honestly, fairly and for the
interests of the order universally. and that
all insinuations to the contrary are abso-
lutely false and without foundation. We
further find that there have been large sums
OF money expended in what might seem tc
some a useless manner but we also find
that all such expenditures are the result
of direct legislation on the part of this body
ana authorized by it. and that the officers
In making the expenditures were acting
simply the instruments of this body in
carrying out its dictates
In the opinion OF your committee" the
report continues, 1.-The data before the
finance committee and this Supreme Lodge
should include a detailed statement of all
expenditures for the preceding term, to form
by either the committee or this body in the
matter of appropriations for salaries and
expenses. In this connection, we would sug
geSt that II is impossible for this committee
the fianance committee of the Supreme
Lodge-to make such critical examination
regarding the matters of salaries and ex-
penses as is desirable, because of the abb
sence from the city of all the books, rec
ordS, receipts and other documents which
would disclose all items for which expendi-
lures OF money have been made. We are of
the opinion that it is impracticable to carry
all such books, records, etc, about with the
supreme Lodge, and would, therefore. sug
geSt that the supreme keeper of records and
seal be requested to prepare for each ses-
sion of the Supreme Lodge a detailed state
ment showing the amount of work, as near
ly as may be, performed by each officer
during the preceding two fiscal years. and
the expenses of each officer during the same
time, and what the different items of ex-
pense were, that, in estimating the
amount of appropriation required for salary
and expenses, the committee and this body
may have an opportunity of judging Wheth-
err the salary and expense accounts are too
low, and in what particular"
COULDN'T FIND THE INFORMER.
1t is recited that the committee was UNI
successful in its efforts TO ascertain who
was responsible for giving the charges 10
the morning papers which were printed on
Monday of last week. All the committee
could learn from newspaper men who testi-
fled was that a member of the Supreme
Lodge was the informant. Says the report:
Slnce the appointment of the comtnittee
it has held daily and nightly meetings, and
every person, whether a member of the
body or not, whose name was connected
in any manner with the report, asked
to appear before the committee and testify.
To the best of the committees ability every
rumor was traced to its source. and no stone
left unturned in the efforts to discover the
foundation for the charges and their au-
thor"
The committee recommended that a spe-
cial auditing committee of three be appoint
ed to examine the accounts of supreme OFF,
GERS since 1899. the time when it was charged
acknowledgement and extravaganza began.
This was eliminated from the report and
went to the Supreme Lodge for its own
consideration. Tracy r.. Bangs, chairman;
ID. {. Richardson, James l.. Watson. George
NJ. Hanson and John w. Daniels, the COM
mittee, signed the report. A motion that
the report be accepted was amended to pro-
vide for a yea and nay vote. Every repre-
sentative in the hall voted for its adoption.
THE SALARIES CUT.
1t was nearly o'clock this morning when
the convention of the Supreme Lodge k of
p. adjourned to meet again at o'clock for