The Washington herald., 1914-04-23

printers of the magazine ana the former
about the contract and was without an
answer to this day.
Mrs. Story asked Mrs Swormstedt II she
was dissatisfied that the mismanagement
Of the magazine had come to an end. Mrs.
Story also Informed Mrs. Swormstedt that
an outgoing committee cannot control
the action of the new committee. Ap-
plause greeted this statement and in
the enthusiasm that followed Mrs.
swormstedt silently left the platform for
-her seat -
MismanaEement Is Established.
|. The report of Miss Finch seemed to
establish the fact that the management
Of the affairs- connected with the maga-
zine Of the society by her predecessors
in Office was not exactly as 1t should
have been. When II seemed advisable in
certain matters connected with the
magazine Miss Finch consulted with her
attorneys in order to be on the right
side and to get at the bottom of the
confusion she engaged the American
Audit Company to go over the books
of the magazine business. The investi-
cations that followed established the
fact that certain members of the society
had made loans on per cent interest
bearing notes amounting to over s. 200 to
F. w. Wilson, former business manager
of the magazine. which be claimed had
been used to swell the subscription list
but which ii is claimed. he had no right
to do.
The report of the audit company"
said Miss Finch, contains some remark
able statements showing the assets OF
the magazine department to be at that
time N.O09 with over $1,000 liabilities"
The report charged Check kiting opera
TONS" "a yearly loss OF about S.Oo0,
''extravagsnce of managers methods"
failed to make good work to which
he was not suited
Miss Finch said Mr.. Wilson had re-
ceived the money or checks for num-
erous magazine subscriptions without en-
tering them on the subscription lists and
that complaints were being received even
now from these members because they
do not receive their magazines. Miss Finch
stated that a printing concern had given
notice of suit to be entered against
the society for $500 for the printing of
the February and March numbers of
last year. She said she informed them
that the debt had been contracted by
Mr.. Wilson and should oe paid by him.
Four-fifths of the subscribers are still
sending their money to the old printing
firm or to Mr.. Wilson, according to Miss
Finch, who, amid applause. stated that
the receipts during the last ten months
of the magazine department. amounted
to over $3.50.
"It Would Re u joke
1t would be a joke" concluded Miss
Finch, If we had 5000 subscribers which
would mean that We would earn $4,000
a year in advertisements. This money
h. 70 the dahf the
hall. and ! have hopes that this will
soon come"
Mrs Charles w. Bassett, the historian
general, began to read her voluminous
annual rey0rt in an impressive tremulo
voice. which at times seemed TO give
way under the stress of emotions. She
was suddenly interrupted by Mrs. Draper,
of the District, who insisted that Mrs.
Bassett confine herself to reading only
that part of her report which treated OF
her national Office. Mrs. Bassett ex-
planned that she was reading a compila-
ton Of the historians OF the chapters
the country, but Mrs. Story
sustained Mrs. Draper. I'd ruled that
only reports concernirS national So
ciety should be yea. IS. Bassett.
visibly embarrass r..1~-aw. A big
bunch of white ro>.a 90 -rr by some
sympathiZing soul, ar".-eu er much
comfort and consol.-'.GE
Mrs Edward Orto. :. ass.s'snt his
tOrian general. was NJ .tr' nss.' II. She
confined herself striC ~. r-..S and
figures. and her report W. r.a- about
80 per cent of the chapte 10 ;.6 con ntry
failed to respond to her ~.sTt send
to the general historian .-':-f5 ed
absolutely necessary in --'1r IN
the compilation of the hist .n. So
ciety. The District OF Colun ,..dpters,
according TO the report, were IS negligent
as the rest, and out Of forty-six chapters
only twenty-four sent in their replies.
In the future when money is sent to
this office" said Mrs. Orton. please do
not say il is for the mountain whites OF
the South, or 'mountaineers,' many of
whom are highly educated. The Smith
sonian Institution. which prints our re-
ports, objects to it"
Mrs. George n. Sternberg. librarian
general in her report said the library
contained nearly 1900 volumes. including
records and manuscripts. and reported
the gift by Mrs. o. Roome, of this city.
of a number of books of her father. Gen.
Pike. She recommended the appropria-
ton of 800 to secure copies of Revolu-
records.
Mrs. William T. Block, attired in a
gorgeous white brocade silk gown with
straw hat trimmed with lace and tipped
with white plumes. read her report on