New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-12
TO REFORM S. P. c. A.
MOVEMENT ON FOOT.
Nystery Surrounds Secret Meeting
of Board of Managers.


Prevention OF Cruelty to Animals reached
crisis yesterday when the officers and board Of
managers. at their annual meeting passed a
resolution asking that in future ell expenses be
itenlized and given to the public Heretofore
no specific accounting has been rendered.
John H Iselin and Gordon Knox Bell, as an
auditing committee, will supervise all accounts.
Following the managers meeting there was
members meeting, the first in fifteen years, at
which a memorial was presented asking for an
answer to the public charges Of delinquency
made against John P. Hatnes president of the
society.
These two steps were the most important ac-
tions yet taken by the reform element in the
society in their fight against Mr.. Hanes, and
signalized the first great victory for the
formers
Both meetings, held on the second floor of the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ami
mails Building at Madison-ave. and 26th-st,
were Star Chamber affairs, and every precau-
ton vas taken against invasion by. reporters,
There had been no notices sent to the mem
bers informing them of the meeting, and only
about twenty Of the fifteen hundred membership
attended Most of these We're women, among
whom we're Mrs Cadwalader Jones. Mrs. Her
bert L. Satterlee and Mrs. William Pierson
Hamilton daughter of J. Pierpont Morgan. They
session from to 3. 80 ?. m.
During this time the members, whose fees
help support the society, we're compelled to wait
on the lower floor. The stairway leading to the
upper floors was barred by a high iron door
which was Iocked-in violation of the law-and
the elevator operator, who was in charge OF
the only other means Of reaching the meeting
room said he had Imperative orders MOTTO take
any one up.
When the women, some of whom are known
in every drawing room of New-York society
tired of sitting on bags of sand piled up in the
dark. cold han they were permitted to occupy
seats in an adjoining office equally uncomforta-
Bile on the door of which were the words
Dog Licenses Lost and Found Cats and
Dogs.
In this dog license room the women members
waited for an hour and half But their time
nos NOT wasted They organized themselves
into an indignation meeting. and roundly criu-
cised Mr. Haines and his administration
Finally. at 30 o'clock Gordon Knox Bell.
one Of the vice presidents of the society, came
down from the chamber of secrets and invited
the members up.
II understand he said. that there are some
reporters here. They cant be present az the
meeting, by order of the board of managers
Then. addressing the members he said:
10 members can now CONE ukot = -
must either present their visiting cards or be
,.o,cbad for. And" added Mr.. Bell mo one can
come into the meeting until we check the names
ofg md see if YOU have all paid your dues for the
last year.
probab1v no man, except a streetcar con-
ductor. ever had such giances shot at him as
those that greeted this Inst part Of Mr. BEL :
cordial invitation
" q yelling said he would vouch for the
women.
After the meeting efforts to see Mr. Haines
were without result Mr.. Hatnes, i was ex-
planned, was i'll and had been under the care
Of a physician
RI answer ia repeated messages sent TO Mr.
t4a,nas and John Mason Knox. after some de-
lay Mr. Knox sent out the following state
nent of the meeting
The society held its annual meeting and the
renort of the treasurer. in the hands or
the auditing committee, will be presented at a
subsequent meeting Mr.. Bell. chairman of the
aUdItinp committee read a statement that he
found the finances of the institution absolutely
sound and In good shape. The rest OF the @ tlIlle
IF ,he meeting was devoted TO a miscellaneous
discussion of things in general and no speciai
business was transacted
Frederick Galatin. member of the board Of
managers gave as a reason that no members.
,7eeting had been held IN fifteen years the fol
lowing:
In the first years of the society, when Henry
I3areh was at the head, hired a hall for the
meetings After few years the members ceased
attending the meetings and have not been
able to get them together so We didn't call any
| more
The reform faction of the Society for the Pre-
| yention Of cruelty to Animals has distributed
| netition blanks with a view to obtaining five
! hundred signers asking for an examination OF
The books records and finances of the society,
! Ar7ong those who have already signed are the
Rev Dr Minot J. Savage and DIR. Stillman'
president of the National Humane Society.
| The reforrners ask for three separate and in
| dependent investigations-one by the managers
! committee another by a members committee
| and a third by an alien dlsinterested COM
! mittee
They call attention to the fact that the So
| ciet, for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals
| is excepted by statute from making reports
| and the S1O00GO of public money contributed
| 10 II is never accounted for
The fight against the Hanes management,
/ which had its inception several years ago is
| now an the sizzling point, ana some interesting
| developments are promised for the members
| meeting TO be held two weeks hence, when the
! reformerg will again line up for battle.
by the New York I en1ra Lines 81 trains day 70
! Prffaio and Niagara FaS. i TO Chicago, 10 d.
| Louis to Cincinnaii-AdNl