New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-27
SAVING HENRY BERGHs LEGACY.

SAVING HENRY BERGH'S LEGAOl-
In view Of the facts made public at its annual
meeting it is perfectly clear that the Society for
the Prevention OF Cruelty to Animals must take
radical steps to regain public confidence 1t is
also clear that the city will best be served by
popular support OF the reforming element in the
society rather than by any effort to tear down
and supplant an institution which, whatever It's
faults. has done good work in the past and has
q large prestige and q handsome property with
which to he useful in the future In two years
the receipts have fallen off $4,000 and the be
quests have decreased from S91043 10 S167S5
This is the result Of the secretive and dictatora
policy Of Mr. Haines. which. II continued will
bring about the complete ruin of the society The
abuses which his rule and the indifference OF his
dummy directors have fostered can be cured only
by thorOughgoing reorganization 10 put the
affairs Of the society on a business basis, secure
economy Of operation and accountability In man
agement.
The few directors who have for years been
protesting against Mr.. Hainess methods and de-
handing examination OF the books and the pro-
gressive new directors who realize that the days
of the old close corporation are at an end appear
now to have the power in their hands They
should at once seek 10 regain by publicity of
receipts and disbursements and by more eff
lcient performance Of the society's duty 10 ami
mails. the confidence Of its own members and Of
the general public.
Inasmuch as certain public moneys-that Is, the
dog license receipts-are intrusted to the society
every taxpayer has legitimate interest in the
operations Of the corporation, although even the
paying members were not allowed TO know about
its important affairs and sometimes directors
themselves complained that its business was hid
den from them Apparently the only function Of
members for years was to pay dues for Mr.
Haines 10 spend and not ask how he spent them.
They were not invited to meetings If they
went TO meetings they were not allowed to know
much if anything TO have any voice in con-
troll They did not even elect directors to repre-
sent them. The directors perpetuated them
selves without troubling those whose sole func-
ton was TO pay. This might we'll be changed
and the society made more democratic, with its
management responsible. al least in measure, to
its regular supporters. And the bylaws should
certainly he revised To make impossible any such
administration without check that which has
so seriously injured the society and depleted its
income.
Now that the first serious steps for reform
have been taken. the directors should at least
have opportunity to complete their work from
within and should not he discouraged by attacks
from without The injudicious proposal is made
that the dog license fees be taken from the So
ciety and that Its charter he modified Such
measures would complete the ruin begun by
Colonel Haines. in the guise Of checking it.
There is no reason yet for anything SO drastic.
The Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty 10
Animals is probably well fitted TO use public
money TO advantage as any other organization
of similar aims could be. The corporation should
not be deprived Of IT'S funds but forced to show
how wisely II uses them; not restricted in its OPP
erations. but helped 10 operate more effectively
Probably the best way 10 restore confidence and
ger back TO the efficient work Of Henry Bergh's
time would be to elect in place Of Mr. Haines
some man by temperament more capable than he
of cooperating with the progressive directors to
carry TO success plans which Mr.. Haines has bit
terlv onnnsed