The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-18
MEET TO DISCUSS
FOUNDATION INQUIRY
Officers OF Rockefeller Philan-
thropy Not Yet Served
With Subppnas.
OTHERS NOT WORRYING

oficers Of the Rockefeller Foundation
we're in consultation yesterday afternoon
following the report that the Federal
Commission on Industrial Relations
would investigate all the larger foun-
dations chartered as phihnthropiea
Nothing was said after the meeting when
might be added to the perfunctory state
,nent issued earlier in the day by Jerome
d. Greene, secretary OF the Rockefeller
Foundation, or which would shed any
light on the steps the foundation VIII
take to meet the investigation whlch II
TO begin here January II.
Al the meeting. besides Mr.. Greene. were
Starr J. Murphy, personal counsel to John
II. Rockefeller. and others closely ASSOC
ciated with the foundation.
Though there had been a previous EFFORT
IN gain information regarding the work
,ngs of the foundation and the uses 10
which 1t put its vast and ever increas-
ing resources. yesterdays announcement
that IL would be under further scrutiny
came suddenly and az a surprise 10 us
officers. None of them had received sub
ppnas, nor had intmatlon been given
TO them that they would be called ac-
cording to information available at the
Offices in the Standard OIL building
The other foundations. the Sage. the
Carnegie, the Cleveland and the Baron
dc Ulrsch. mentioned in the scope of the
Investigation. showed little or no COM
Germ when they learned their operations
and interrelations would be looked INTO
The officers Of these foundations were
taken by surprise also and said they had
not received summonses 10 the hearings
to be conducted in New YORK
There was considerable speculation
among them, however. The list OF men
who will be heard includes many bank
ers educators, economists ana prominent
men OF Affairs. II was suggested that
many OF these men will he summoned
with the intention OF using their names as
a cloak to prevent the appearance OF dis
elimination against any one foundation.
II was the general sentiment among
the officers OF the foundations that no
obstacle would be put in the way OF the
commits sion In getting at the truth. pro-
vded II does not threaten TO discredit
the founders or 10 interfere with their
work.
Henry 6. Pritchett. president OF the
Carnegie -Four 1ation. had this TO say OF
the Investigation:
II don't believe it is aimed at us. We
are virtuous to a degree. All the doings
and actions Of our board of trustees are
thing is in print and open to inspec-
ton"
Cleveland H. Dodge. treasurer OF the
SAGE Found alton and also trustee OF the
Rockefeller Institute. said he did not take
the Investigation seriously; he did not
think IL would ever be held At the
Rockefeller Foundation offices this state
ment was given out:
I'm answer to inquiries regarding the
reported intention of the United states
Commission on Industrial Relations to
investigate philanthroplc foundations in
this country. the officers OF the founda-
ton say they have received no commune
cation from the commission on the SUBJ
1ect A previous request from the COM
mission for answers to series Of ques-
lions about the organization, purposes
and financial control of the foundation
has been compiled with, and the founda-
ton will gladly avail itself OF any proper
occasion to explain the achievements
methods and purposes OF It's philanthropic
work"