The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-28
HAINES REPLIES TO ERHARDT
DENIES THAT ACCOUNTANTS
REPORT WAS SUPPRESSED,
And Ascrtbes Col. Erhardt's Criticism to
Failure OF the 9. p. G. A. to Employ
Col. Erharits Public Accountants
Corporal Il on to Examine the Accounts.

President John P. Haines Of the Ameri-
ran Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
to Animals made public yesterday reply
10 Col. Joel B. Erhardt, who, as was printed
IN THE SUN last Monday, charged President
uaines and his friends in the management
with suppressing a report OF accountants
IN the condition OF the society's finances
and refusing to give him, one Of the So
cietvs vice-presidents. copy OF It.
MFR. Haines gave it as his opinion that
Col. Frhardt made the charges because
If his failure to get the board OF managers
10 employ the Public Accountants Corpora
ZION. of which COL Erhardt is president,
70 audit the finances regularly In place OF
the auditor whom the society had en-
nloyed for years. Mr. Haines also said
that certain friends Of his had informed
him that Col Erhardt was working to sup
nlant him as president OF the society and
for that reason raised the question OF the
nresidents salary, which for years MIR.
Haines has refused, he said, to accept.
Mr.. Haines said that Col Erhardt, in
representing that he had made unsuccessful
efforts to obtain the report Of the societys
finances, evid emily had forgotten that on
Dec. l5 1893. on his own motion he had
been made chairman OF an auditing COM
nittee with full powers to employ experts
and make a thorough investigation OF the
societys affairs. the other members OF the
committee being Benjamin d. Hicks and
William Fahnestock. The accountants
we're employed by Mr.. Erhardt, MIR.
Haines said, and went over the accounts
for the previous year.
.On April 10, 1899, said President Hainee,
Col. Erhardt reported TO the board tnat
the work was completed, and sent In bills
for the work amounting TO S1oo, requesting
rrompt payment, but from that day to this
Col, Erhardt has neither signed nor pre-
sented to the board report Of his COM
col. Erhardt was then president Of
security company, but aiter pai e a 70
ants Corporation and became it's presi::
dent Shortly after this, as president, l
received the following letter. The letter
bore the heading Of Col. Erhardt's COM
pany and was dated Feb. s, 1904. 1t said:
MY DEAR Mr., HAINEs: I enclose one Of
the work for you once year. or every 'hree
/ think It would be good thing to haye
yours .'A'' JOEL B. ERHARDr, President.
President Haines produced copies OF
certain correspondence that followed THIS
letter, In q ltltST udlcb ECp. y tAA
in replying to Col Erhardt's first letter,
stated that the present auditor was salts
factory, but asked for Col. Erhardt's terms.
On Feb. % Col. Erhardt wrote saying that
the corporation would be very glad TO
outline some plan that will result in a ben
eft to the society" and In another letter,
dated March /, 1904. said that he thought
the work of the society for the past four
years should be examined, in order to re-
gain, with all the public, that confidence
L.. Hxyr nf
the attacks upon us for extravaganza:
Mr. Haines said that Col. Erhardt sent
his chief accountant up and that all the
books and accounts were shown to this
accountant, in order that an estimate Of the
cost could be made. Mr.. Haines said that
he was surprised after this to get letter
from Col. Erhardt, dated March !, reading:
The examination on the lines you sug-
eest would not be thorough or exhaustive,
and for that reason the company l repre-,
In letter dated March President Hainee.
replying to this, told Col Erhardt he did
not understand what he meant and was
not aware Of having suggested any lines
OF examination. He said that enemies
we're only too ready to charge the society
with extravagance for paying the sum
that Col. Erhardts former examination
had cost. He also wrote;
IL any arrangement should be made
with the Public Accountants Corporation.
dent, and the fact should become public.
! think You will agree with the board that
any report from such source. under the
circumstances, would not have the weight
with the public that it should
President Haines said that after this
letter Col. Erhardt had appeared before
the board and sought to have the company
appointed. and failing in this asked that
the Eastern Audit Company. Boston
concern. be appointed -, w. ,,
ito state what his interest, direct or in
direct, in the Eastern Audit Company is.
Col. Erhardt failed in this motion, too,
hut TO meet these suggestions and in
situations Of his moved that committee
be appointed to make the fullest exarlina-
modore F. G. Bourne, William Fahnestock
and W. NJ. X. Ocott we're named. Owing
to the absence OF some Of them in Europe,
the work was little delayed. They en-
made the most thorough examination,
extending over a period OF three years,
and on MAY II the complete report was
read in Col. Erhardt's presence, and not
merely summary, as he has charged.
The accountants said they could suggest
no change in methods and had found no
errors anywhere. The bill for this work
was $500 against the 500 disbursement
of Col Erhardt for an examination covering
or " one year.
IleSNltuu stlu tIldJ Ill OppOT-
tunity was given Col, Erhardt to see the
report, but the opportunity to let any one
come in and copy it was denied to him.
This said Mr. Haines, was on the
ground. openly stated, that the board was
tired Of having information gained by
Col Erhardt at executive sessions i'm
mediately conveyed to the enemies OF the
society and of the cause Of animal pro-
lection. To have made public the report
would have been to give enemies OF the
society chance to twist and turn small
Items into material for an unwarranted
attack"
Mr., Haines explained why he signed
the releases for his salary, which has
aroused some talk. Col. Erharlt, he said,
had said at one meeting that he thought
the salary should appear in the annual
report whereupon Mr. Haines told him
that the president had never drawn his
salary Col. Erhardt Mr.. Haines says,
insisted that this was debt Of the society
then and it was then that Mr.. Hanes asked
the treasurer to draw up a full release Of
all salaries, which release he signed. Mr..
Haines said his reason for this was that
he did not think it proper for the presi-
dent Of an organization such az his to 60
around asking for funds. part Of which
was to pay his salary.
uaipao Jop;ad hal INV 81 tho rnnx,,-