The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-24
SPAT At CHARTER HEARING
OVER MONEY GIVEN CATHOLIC
INSTITt TIONS NJ CITY.

Municipal Researchers Revive the Tale
~ ITS Misuse and Eugene Phiibin Re-
plies Indignantly The Mayor Pro.
noupcci Not Nice by one Woman.
A spat between ex Comptroller Edward
NJ Grout and Eugene A Philbin on ono
side and Henry Bruere and DR.. William
Allen of the Bureau Of Municipal Research
on the other enlivened yesterday after
Moons legs lative hearing on the proposed
, new city charter in the City Hall The
foursome had to do with the relations be-
tween the city and private charitable in
stitutions
Mr. Bruere started the discussion by
contending that tho Comptroller ought to
audit the claims of these institutions and
have the power to go through their ac-
counts. since the city now pays private
institutions S5.0OO,0OO a year. One item
in the expenditure. he said, was for the
care of - 600 dependen, children. 81, 900, 600
being paid by the city for children alone.
and % per cent Of these children are
rendered city wards by the desertion of
their families by their fathers. The city
/ of New York. he said might follow the
lead of the United Hebrew Charities and
cut down this number by prosecuting the
ahsconding husbands Mr. Bruare held
tha. since the Com missioner of Charities
makes the contracts with the institutions
| he should not also have the sole power
/ of audit.
Assemblyman Hoey drew fire at this
point by asking Mr.. 3ruere il he thought
an investigation on the part Of the Comp
troller ought to 60 as far as the order
issued by Comptroller Prendergast and
President Mitchell of the Board of Alder
men by which agents went to the house
Of Mgr Mcmahon. chief supervisor Of
Catholic charities. and. according to re-
ports. took papers from a desk. The
Assemblyman read from a paper which
he said was a copy Of the order directing
the agents to make an examination of all
books Of accounts and check books Of this
institution whether relating specifically to
funds paid to such institutions by the city
or not and to report all unexplained or
suspicious items. as, for example, items
for special counsel fees. missionary
masses. conscience funds. &c" Tho order
instructed the agents particularly to re-
port all drafts drawn to Mgr Mooney.
Mgr lavelle. Mgr n. J. Mcmahon and
! D. G.. Potter.
| Mr.. Bruere replied that he thought it
very important for the city to know
| where the funds OF the institutions are
used for illegal and improper purposes, :"
| hut that he should accept missionary
masses and conscience funds" He said
| he doubted whether such an order ever
was issued. and that he couldn't verify
it until the Comptroller returns from
abroad. He then explained the trans
action which caused the investigation
! by one Of the Comptroller's examiners
\ check he said was drawn on funds
received tor charitable purposes and
| when It was brought to the Comptroller
an Endorsement was found upon il that
! il was drawn for special counsel fees
| and 1T was said that his check was drawn
and cashed and understood TO he for the
purpose Of helping certain public Off
clal out Of his financial scrapes. The
| treasurer Of that institution" Mr.. Bruere
| said. testified under oatn that he had
contributed this money for that purpose
and that So far as he knew like contribu-
tons had been made by other institu-
tions, and from another source II was
| learned that like contributions had been
made by other institutions"
/ Ex-Comptroller Grout said that he
appeared a. the representative of the
! Archbishop Of New York. representing
the thirty eight Catholic institutions
and that he wanted to correct the many
itnisstatements which have been made
| 10y the representative Of the Bureau Of
al ,.,, a
that the city did not pay the 5000 600
to aid these institutions in performing
| their charitable work, hut that the re
| lationship between the city and the in
! s,itutions was purely one of contract.
The Board of Estimate" he said
-fXes the rate. the Commissioner of
Charities acting as overseer of the board
makes the commitment. and there you
have the contract The audit of that
bill is simply the multiplication Of the
daily rate by the number of days that
the inmates have been retained IN the
institution the simpIeS' kind of audit p"
The ex- Comptroller said that the ma tier
of the alleged check had been sent by
, the Mavor To the Commissioner of Ac-
| counts and had been Investigated by the
! latter and that the Commissioner had
| reported that tine charge ot bribery or
attempted hribery was not sustained ="
Dr Allen entered tho discussion here
with the venture that should any one
even the committee of the Leg isiature
ask the Mayor for IA copy Of the report
Of the Commissioner of Accounts already
referred To he would be refused He
said that II was true that the Commits
sioner ~ Accounts did not quite find tho
goods" upon city officials. but that that
was about all they did not find"
When Mr.. Philhln was called upon he
said that in spit" of the engagement hv
| the Archhi shop Of the accounting firm of
Paterson, Rea 4 Dennis with instructions
to make a complete investigation and in
spite OF the fact that the Comptroller had
been notified that the findings Of the
accountants were open To inspection
| seven or eight men were sent by the city
| to the homes of the sisters
| You know what thai means" Mr..
| Philhn continued, You know how
sacred the homes of these sisters are
These men were allowed 10 come there
AZ Q o clock in the morning and 10 remain
until O'Clock at night If they wanted
to They were allowed to go over, all
the hooks Of account Of the sisters.
And what was the nature of their
inquiries? They would walk in and say,
in some instances al least. How much
money have you contributed to the