The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-07
GOO-GOO LEAGUE.
Some Peculiarlties Of It's Financial
Organization Elucid ted.


The League Of American MunicipalI.
ties, the organization which was start
cd year ago under circumstances
which brought II under suspicion as 1.
movement which the promoters were
manipulating for private gain, put It.
self before the public at It's Detroit
meeting in still more questionable at
titude. Not only did II fail to correct
abuses In the management. but II dis
credited itself and showed degree of
responsibility which could hardly be
expected from any body OF intelligent
men. it
The league assumes TO represent
American municipalities or such OF
them as have been drawn into connec-
tion with the organization. II TIE man.
agement of its affairs Is a fair repres-
cntation OF the method and character
OF administration in the municipalities
belonging to the league the unfortunate
taxpayers who may be subject to such
rule arc much TO be pitied but, IL this
were true, the evil would not assume
the proportions of national calamity,
FOR the total number of citis and towns
represented at the meeting by member
ship In the organization was fifty-two.
About twenty others reported as be-
ing In the league were not present.
AS matter OF fact the membership is
doubtful quality. There was no roll
call until II was demanded on the third
day of the meeting,no committee on
credentials was appointed at any time,
and there was no verficatIvn of inem-
bership In any OF the ways usually fol-
lowed by deliberative bodies. A little
loose procedure OF. this kind. however.
was of small moment in comparison
with other Irregularities. The secre-
tary. B. IT, Gilkison of New York, ad-
mitted in his report, that, since the first
week in January, he had not turned over
To the treasurer money collected by
him. No receipts or vouchers showing
where the money had gone were sub
mitted. The treasurer, Samuel l..
Black. submitted his report In good
business form. showing that lie had re-
ceived $500 how II had been disbursed.
with vouchers therefor, together with
his bank account as treasurer. He re-
fused to assume any responsibility In
connection with the money that had
never been turned over TO him by the
secretary. but. accompanying his re-
port submitted letter from Gilkison Of
fering to give him check for $3.50 IL
ne In turn would hand Gillsison check
for the same amount at the same time
for salary. He had declined TO be "A
party to this proposed transaction. The
treasurer also submitted as exhibits
bills and letters from creditors of the
league In New York complaining be-
cause they were unable to collect the
money due them. The two reports
lected from cities belonging to the lea>
que. the secretary had not turned oyer
to the treasurer any of the funds after
the rfist three months: that out OF the
81. $50 there was only 1886 left on hand.
and that there>were bills that had not
been paid. The provisions In the con-
stitution for the handling of the funds
had been almost wholly ignored. The
treasurer had called tho attention OF
the president. John MacNair OF Des |
Moines. TO the irregularities OF the Sec
retary, but his efforts TO obtain a prop
er accounting had been in vain. Why |
the president failed TO require proper |
handling of the funds, when 1t was his |
duty to do so. as well as TO approve all |
bills before money could be dlsbursed. |
were matters that he did not see fit to /
explain to the league.
On motion of Mayor Gibson of Zanes- |
Vile, o.. an auditing committee was
appointed. This committee consisted OF /
Mayor Gibson, Mayor Johnson OF Far
20, N. D., and r. A. Walker of Trenton, |
Y. J. The committee had been assured |
hat IL would find everything all right
,ut when II called for vouchers and re-
'eipts as evidence of secretary's expen-
litures, they were not forthcoming.
rhe committee reported that 1t could
lot excuse this as technical error, as
laimed by the secretary. and that the
conduct should not be pass
d lightly. The secretary's friends at
empted to defend him by claiming that
n working up the movement year ago |
le had advanced money for expenses
md had reimbursed himself i'm this
way. IL was shown, however, that this
vas not in accordance with the facts.
or during the first three months money
lad been turned over to the treasurer
n accordance with the requirements,
md IL was since the first of the year
hat the secretary had failed to turn
ver the money that came into his
lands. In the face of the disclosures
he league was compelled to adopt the
eport OF the auditing committee cen.
uring the secretary, but, after doing
his. how could II excuse its action In
re-electing as secretary
he man who had been guilty OF these
is inexplicabie. This
owever. was what was done by the
.eague of American Municipalities. AS
n example to American cities OF bust
ess management and straightforward
,ethods II Is not calculated To inspire |
onfidence. 1t is very substantial
ind of encouragement of irregularities
! financial methods. s.-Municipal Engi-
oaripO Maoa1ipa |