The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-06
THE 8. y. G. A.
Cause Of ifs Troubles Found I'm IFS system
Of Administration

~ Inn Isblloh VIZ lbE plS-FOl| I htg
who talk so confidently OF BUSTING the presl-
dent OF the A. y. p. c. A.. cannot have studied
the situation. Unless he resigns OF his own
accord there Ia no apparent way OF getting rid
OF him except through the Legislature. Ger
tainly he cannot be ousted though the board
OF managers, OF whom all but two or three
have been selected by Mr.. Haines himself,
and. Of course. the Attorney General will not
interfere. II he would IL is doubtful II he
could.
The main fault Is In the plan Of orRaniza-
tion, nor will a change OF president avail
unless there be a change In plan. The So
clety's governing body Is q close corporation.
self-perpetuatlnE. exclusive. irresponsible.
irremovable and autocratlc. Its code OF
bylaws is not well suited to q society intended
for the public benefit. II leaves to the 80
olety at large, with its 1900 paying members.
not a shred OF effective right, participation
or authority.
They can pay their money. they can go to
the annual meetings and possibly talk is not
rudely silenced. At any annual meeting
two members, say the president and secre-
tary. II no more happen TO be present. con-
stitute q quorum. Special meetln gs may be
called. but no notice need be given to any one
except the board OF managers. Nobody can
become a member unless by nomination and
election by the board Of managers, but every
O'c ~ NsN OfApO III w ApVthV lthhb't
cause or notice. arbitrarily. from the society.
at any regular or called meeting OF the board at
which five members are present and voting.
BY the latest amendment to the bylaws
tSection IA, chapter ~, a subcommittee of
the board of managers Is provided for. to be
known as the advisory committee. TO con-
sist Of five members, Of whom the president
and treasurer shall be two" and the remain
ing three TO be appointed by the president.
The members of this advisory committee
so appointed may. at any meeting. constitute
a quorum of the board Of managers. And
to this board OF managers Section O. ohapt8
~ Ia committed the management, invest
ment, control and disposition OF the affairs.
property and funds OF the society"--a prop
erty now amounting to $500 900. saved from
the plous gifts of Henry Bergh and Others.
and which can at any time be used for a "yel-
low dog" fund or squandered In any other
way without effective restraint or remedy
That 1t has not been so used or s~qusndered
speaks for the integrity of the management
but not for the wisdom Of the plan.
AT the last adjourned meeting Of the society
proposed amendments Of the bylaws were
reported and instantly tabled without dis
]S SSSss > v Ihs5e .m smsnd do eotb;ine Il ., d HaP1s'
True. they dispose, Of a baker . dozen Of i'm
mensely respectable. flgureheads called vice.
TO twenty-one, and provide for their election
in classes, always BY the board: but they
would in no essential degree liberalize the
management or give any voice or privilege
TO the members. They leave the society just
where 1t is. under autocratic one man power,
with its executive and governing body ex-
To the society at large or to the public, which
is the chief party In interest. 1t does not matter
mated and elected by the managing board in
one lump or by sevene.
At a previous adjourned meeting Of the
! anpiafy n hamann WINS made nm the hoard for
a nominating committee. to be made up Of
five members from the board Of managers
though a worthless .formality, might at least
have been conceded as a sop to the dlscon-
tented outsiders. But instead the board
shall consist Of i've. persona. Of whom three
shall a be members members % Of tn The so board OF of m "a ssfdS
three shall constitute a quorum" Asking
bread. they are given a stone.
should have the right to know what has been
done with 4 but under the by;laws he has
mana cement is bound TO respect.
Some years ago. by a scandalous statute,
this society, with one other society, also for
the prevention of cruelty. was exempted
from the otherwise uniform right Of visitation
conferred on the Supreme Court and made
applicable to all other societies of a like char;
acter. BY certain laws nconsiderately passed
no other society for the prevention of cruelty
to animals can be formed in this state without
the prior approval OF the American society,
or in case OF its refusal. an order Of a Judge
OF the Supreme Court after troublesome
and costly litigation; and the formation Of
any such society in the counties Of New York,
Kings, Queens, Richmond. Westchester Rens-
seIaer and several others. is absolutely pro-
hibited in any and all cases. Must this so
ciety have an exclusive monopoly. of cruelty?
As well restrict the number Of churches,
Sunday schools or hospitals. There may be
good reasons for a parent society having ex-
ecutive and supervisory. or at least advisory.
authority throughout the State, but the most
~efectual way 10 prevent cruelty to animals
Is by home education and influence. and to
this end societies coming close TO the common
town, school district and neighborhood in
the State.
BY another special piece of legislation this
society IL exempted from the obligation to
TO the State, from which its chief revenue il
derived. | believe that in fact its annual
reports have been sent TO the Legislature.
With nothing to- Conceal put with much to
to invite suspicion by an atmosphere of Sc
crecy and concealment.
From its published reports one might al
most think the s%ociety's greatest achieve;
yearly, Chica go's butchers can do better
than that.
The writer believes. Mr.. Halnes to be a
thoroughly honest as he certainly is an. able,
fight is on. like many other, strong men, not
too much restrained by small things. Partly
for these quail tiles be has been the man for
the place. His work has been offensive,
ana irs of the society as no one else does, and
IL better equipped by experience for his very
difficult office; but it should not be forgotten
that this society was formed. for the pre-
first. last and highest duty. MEMBER
NEW DIRK March 8.