Evening star., 1904-03-17
FILED WITH PROCTOR
Charges Against Red Cross
Management.
METHODS ARRAIGNED
NEGLECT IN BUSINESS ADMINS
TRATIoN Is ALLEGED.
It is Claimed That Reports on Receipts
and Disbursements Are Lacking
-Prnnosed TnveSfi Cation

In following out the program announc-
ed in The Star several days ago there
have been filed with Senator Proctor
charges which reflect seriously upon the
management of the American National Red
Cross. Senator Proctor Is chairman of the
committee appointed by Mr.. Richard Ohiey
to investigate the affairs of the Red Cross
Society. The charges were filed by Leigh
Robinson. attorney for the suspended mem-
bers or claimants as they are to be
officially known.
The Charges.
After averring that the charter and by
laws of the society have been grossly vio-
la ted. it is charged briefly, that:
Contributions made for specific purposes
have been used for purposes other than
those for which they have been contributed,
and that the neglect of business methods
by the society easily enables this to- be
done.
Proper financial reports of the receipts
and expenditures such as other committees
working in the same or similar fields are
able to render, and do render, have not
been made by the American National Red
Cross.
There has been an absolute failure in
twenty-five years to create in THIS country
Red Cross organization wocthy of this
country or comparable to those that exist
in Europe and Japan.
by an unwarranted use of proxies the
powers granted by Congress to the IN
corporators were sought to be withdrawn
from the body of the incorporates.
Twenty Years Covered.
Twenty years of the history of the Red
Cross are covered in the charges made.
The conduct of the organization and of it's
members as far back as the Mississippi
and Ohio floods in 1882, 1888 and 1884 is
cha11apeed hv ha refer.
ring to the work incidental to these disas-
ters, the documents estimate the contribu-
tions of money for relief at $711,OOO, in ad-
ditfon to a vast amount of material. The
charge is then made that no part of the
money thus contributed was ever received
or disbursed by the treasurer of the aSSo-
citation, under the direction Of the executive
board or otherwise, and that what was
true in respect to the relief given in this
instance is true of every other field Of re-
lief, during the entire life Of the associa-
tion under the original articles of incor-
poratfon. The charge of not having made
reports in this specific instance is made
in addition to the general charge before
enumerated.
1t is further charged that w. w. How
ard. Samuel M. Jarvis and Walter z.
Phillips opened offices in New York for the
purpose of raising money for the Calves
ton relief; that they had collection boxes in
New York post offices and Id collect for
the Red Cross Society at least $12 ZOO. but
made any report to the Red Cross So
ciety.
Galveston Disaster Subscriptions,
Another of the charges arraigns the con-
duct of the society with respect to the re-
lief work following the Galveston disaster.
1t is alleged that of more than 81 100000
contributed by the general public for the
relief Of suffering, only s17,341 was intrust-
ed to the Red Cross, and of this sum only
$4,9f4 passed through the hands of the
Hed cross treasurer. The balance was
sent to Miss Barton and committed by her
to financial agent. The treasurer. cashier
OF leading Washington bank refused to
acknowledge the receipt of this money and
objected to the vouchers for clothing for
officers of the Red Cross and to the hotel
expenses of a guest of the second vice
president of the organization. Because of
his objections no vouchers were sent to tie
secretary.
Land in Indiana.
The tract of land in Indiana almost 500
acres, given to Miss Clara Barton immedi-
ately following the new Incorporation Of
the society in 1893. in trust as a home for
| the Red Cross, Is also involved in the
charges 1t is alleged that this property
has never been transferred to the society.
1t is further charged that funds were ot
different times collected but never account
collected s.. 600, mot one cent of which was
received by the Red Cross Society, and the
whole sum so collected being retained by
the person collecting it,
Books and Accounts Wanted.
The claimants call for all books. rec
ors. accounts and minutes of the associa-
ton during and covering the period of
the past twenty years, to prove the truth
of the charges made. The officers of the
Red Cross, or the respondents" will have
until March % to make full answer to the
charges as filed. The committee will then
arrange for the taking of testimony and
| the investigation SO long delayed will
be gotten under way.
The charges We're filed in behalf of the
following claimants suspended mem-
bers: Gen. John M. Wilson, Mabel T.
BOardman, J.. Ellen Foster, Bessie j. Kib-
| bey, Sarah A Spencer. a. c. Kaufman, w
H. Michael, B. H. Warner, Simon Wolf
John w Foster. Hilary A. Herbert Thos
F. Walsh Nero L. Tanner. Henrietta M
Rose. Elizabeth F. Pierce. Mary Bruce
Hague, w. X. Van Reypen, Amy l.. Wolf,
Anna Roosevelt Cowles. Ellen Spencer Mus
sey. Hetty Harrison and Harriet Blaine