The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1912-01-06

In the issue Of December 2srd. The
Menace made mention of the conten-
ton existing between the socalied
Catholic Charities Of New York City
and City Controller PrcndergRHt. II
was stated then that the contention
grew cot OF the fact that the Catholic
Institutions refused 10 submit their
books and records 20 the city con
troller for auditing notwithstanding
the fact that they were the recipients
OF a yearly budget from the city treas.
ury aggregating approximately two
million dollars. or % per cent OF the
full amount expended In this way
among all such institutions In the
city each year.
one reason. az least. Why the black
robcd heads OF the various institu.
tions resisted the controllers new or.
der has now developed In a complete
published statement OF Mr.. Prender.
RAst. In which u is shown that not
only has a careless. reckless and mac.
eurate system Of. bookkeeping been
In vogue. but evidences OF theft and
downright rascality are apparent on
every hand.
OF the sum OF s3.5i6.b35 which has
been appropriated BY the city In the
past four years for six OF the largest
Catholic institutions 10 maintain and
educate children committed 70 their
care. ssi3.s05.29 was not expended
aud never returned to the city. accord.
ing TO Controller Prendergast. who
boldly lnsinuates that the sum OF
money was diverted to private pur'
poses.
a Part Of Controllers Statement
II is evidently the purpose OF at
least one OF the counsel 10 the Roman
Catholic church authorities 70 attempt
70 becloud the issues which have
arisen between tho authorities In TO
gard 70 charitable institutions. On
November "a. 1911. these representa-
tives addressed n letter 10 me In
which they set forth objections 10 the
rules adopted by the board OF esti
mate and apportionment govern
llnE payments 70 charitable institu
tons for the year 1912. To this letter
III made a direct reply. ] answered
fully every question raised by counsel
and endeavored 20 conflne discussion
TO the issues involved. which are:
1. Shall there be city supervision
OF an effective character OF the
finances and business methods oi
these institutions?
2. Shall the character be enforced
which says. Section 661. Moneys PAID
by the City Of New York to any .
institution for the care. support, Sc
cular education or maintenance Of III
Inmates shall not be expended fol
any other purposeI"
.. Shall the board OF estimate and
apportlonment rule governing thes'
Appropriations, In practically the sam'
form. be lived up TO. which says
Moneys received from tho city treas
ury shall be used by such institution
for recurring expenses OF care, sup
port, education and maintenance"
g. Shall these privately owned an'
conducted institutions be permitted 4
use city funds for payment OF mort
cages or for extensions TO building
in violation OF the charter and tn
rules OF the board OF estimate and an
portionment?"
8. Shall the city be a party to IN,
dlsorderly accounting methods whicl
now prevail In many OF these institu
tons?
II would be preferable from my owl
point OF view II ! could say that Their
was nothing 10 condemn and every
thing 10 praise. but as the defender
OF these Charitable institutions are 3
. confident OF their claim that the bus
mess methods OF the institutions ar
beyond reproach, Il would benefit ther
20 know the following instances Q
. many We have found covering the pei
! iod 1906 70 1910, which shall demon
mate as unhuslnesslike.
In 81. Malachys Home the onl
} book OF account is a city cash bool
and the only Information given Is th
) receipts aud disbursements. with IN
Classification shown as a memorar
: dun only. Cf-
! In our Investigation we find that o
: account OF losses by FIRE. in 1909. e,
: tensive additions and repairs TO plar
r we're made at nockaway Park. Tn
: cost OF these additions and repair
amounted 10 approximately $500
and this cost was charged up in th
city cash book. II was learned ths
, the Institution received from FIVE Il
l. surance companies s24.239.OS. Will
!. the cost OF The repairs and addition
{ was charged 10 care, maintenance an
D support OF city wards In the city cas-
5 book the collection OF the insuranC
!. to cover these repairs. etc. was q
3 cluded as private receipts and di
5 not appear on the city cash book q
y income to Offset the corresponds
5 expense Of about $4,000.
I In the Roman Catholic orphan as
5 lum for the years 1906 TO 1910. ther
= are LAOS vouchers missing. aggrega
: ing sso0Q0o- Practically all n
E vouchers for the year 1907 are mis-
J. ing This Il the year 10 which n
Z Potter fund vas started.
; A number Of Journal or cross e
D tries appear on the general ledg'
which 90 rci spPssr uron the icu