New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-22
GERRY SOCIETY BILLS.
LIVELY HEARING IN COMMITTEE ROOMS
AT ALBANY.
TILT BETWEEN THE COMMODORE AND
GENERAL TRACY-STATE BOARD
WELL REPRESENTED.
REPRESENTED.


Appeals and place the New-York Society for the
Prevention Of Cruelty to Children under the IN
specton. visitation and general supervision Of the
state Board OF Charities. The latter repre-
scented by President William r. Stewart Of New
York City; vice-President Enoch W. Stoddard, OF
Rochester: Commissioner Eugene A. Philbin. Of
New-York. and General Benjamin F. Tracy. and
John N. Bowers. OF New-York City, as attorneys.
Mr. Gerry made an extended argument in his
own behalf supported by De Lancey Nicon.
while John l. Cadwalader of the New-York Hos
pitai: Mornay Williams president of the New-fork
Juvenile Asylum: Dr. W. o. Stillman, president or
the Hudson River and Mohawk Humane Society
and c. L Jones' representing the Utica Home Tor
the Aged, opposed the bill.
Professor George c. Garfield and Homer Folks
OF the State Charities Aid Association. approved the
principle OF the BILL but thought the provisions
tc the general supervision Of such societies ought
TO be modified Senator n. II. Persons. Of the
Erie County Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
TO Children said the bill was entirely satisfactory
TO his institution. Benjamin f. Tracy first
heard in brief explanation Of the effect and object
OF the bills He said If the Court of Appeals de-
cison were adhered TO it would result in complete
revolution Of the policy Of the State settled in
1867 reaf1rmed in 1873 and firmly established in the
Constitution OF 1894 Investigation had shown that
If the decision were to stand it would exempt not
only the Gerry Society but 6ss other institutions,
representing 5000 inmates and deprive the State OF
all power to investigate the manner Of the care Of
their wards.
This was based upon the fact that no institution
unless supplied with public money could be classed
a. a charitable institution and subject to the in
spection Of the State Board.
Mr. GERRYs LAST APPEAL.
Mr.. Gerry next delivered an extended argument
prefacing his remarks with the assertion that 1t
was likely TO be his last appeal in behalf of the
societies which he represented from the annoyances
and prosecutions Of the State Board. He said his
society had done effective work for the last twenty
five years without the assistance Of the State
Board Of Charities. and no effort had ever been
made to impair its efficiency stamp ii out Of
existence until year ago. when the State Board
had sought inquire into its privacy and assume
SITS management and control He gave elaborate
statistics TO the work performed by his society
during the period OF its existence During the last
summer the society had been investigated from top
TO bottom by order of the Supreme Court. and
whenever an investigation desirable the Su-
preme Court could conduct it much more salts
factorily than any State Board.
Mr. Gerry severely condemned the methods Of the
State Board. Since the adoption of the Constitution
Of 1894 this Board had attempted to usurp powers
never intended for 1t, and had done far more to
harass and annoy the philanthropic work than all
other agencies combined. 1t was never intended by
that Constitution that during the recess Of the
Boards sessions any individual member should ex-
ercise all the powers of the Board, yet this was
what had been attempted, and the worst Of 1t was
that there appeal or right to review Of
their orders decisions. He protested vigorously
against the power given the Board 10 pry into the
secret records of children under their care and ex-
pose them TO the public through the yellow press.
as had been done in other institutions.
John L. Cadwalader said he wanted merely to
enter a protest against the powers given to the
State Board to investigate private societies formed
Of women engaged in charitable work Such legis-
laiinn forfeit the confidence of the people
which had made charitable work what 1t was to-
day.
REMARKS BY Mr.. NICOLL.
rod hat he
BOARD. through the imposition upon them of form
ulse and blanks containing nonsensical questions
had forced the Gerry societies to an expenditure Oh
thousands of dollars for clerical work The society
had been organized TO enforce the laws for the
suppression crime and the protection OF children
Charity was but incidental to its work he re,
viewed the decision Of the Court OF ApeaIs, l anu
in respect to coordinate branch Of the Govern
pending motion for reargument OF the case;
The owping infamy Of the PT%pGsfS aw wag
OF the State Board for the organization OF any
P Ss,Le IF such legislation were to continue
Charitable men would be discouraged and the
Dr. stillrnan protested against this Legislation
and created something Of a sensation by declaTing
that other societies would be represented if they
OF Of the n9t state ate Board s Of CHARITIES
made ii Obligatory upon the Legislature to provide
means for the Inspection of such institutions In
bills were intended to place the Gerry societies IN
# sn vs. pa 81 Of the $500 annuay appropaed for
them by New-York City were used for charitable
Senator BrGy i1ggestd mat tRs society did
nothing that would have be done by the
s Mr. Bowers Tesd e ten cs from the
reports OF the society 20 show that money eX-
purchase Of food and clothing which he declared
rs IL fact that this bill would permit the n
spection of such institutions as the Masonic
Home .q ?. inquired ga; As ser Green:
ed Sec-
Wen there Is now rejoined senator Mackey.
for have letters from Masons all over the Sta te
including Grand Lodge officers. urging opposition
10 this measure
LIVELY FINISH
General Tracy closed the argument with several
spirited passages between himself and Commodore
Gerry and with Senator Grady He insisted that
the Gerry society not private institution but
public corporation Why should he object to this
BIN If the hundreds Of other private institutions
for whom he had pleaded did not
~ ask Mr. Gerry" said General Tracy, If he
supervision be stricken from the bill and simple
visitation and inspection be provided for
the bin is vicious from beginning to end"
of course ne viii not Ieoined General Tracy.
ghere never was q question about the right of the
In answer to Senator Grady!s suggestion that
INC society performed no work that would not
the society General Tracy declared that the soc,ef
had the power to become guardians OF an infant
They have not" interposed Mr. Gerry.
- 1000 ,neaVeis. RESPONDED General Tracy. "WilI
ne gentiensn say that with copy OF his charter
~. General Tracy then took up the charter. when
child Is on the way TO a police station ''''
QUIZ have 70 try again, Mr. Gerry" was Cen
essl Iracys reply as he began TO read sections of
General Tracy closed his argument with the as
LILLE 70 me terms general supervision as en-