Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-26
URGE ECONOMY
REFORMS in Y. W.
Investigating Comm i tt e e
Would Reduce Managers,
Give Members Vote
REFERS TO MRS. HUDSON
Says Central Branch President
Has Received $500 as IRE.
ligious Instructor"
REFERS TO MRS. HUDSON

recognition OF the voting rights OF
those holding active membership cards.
reduction of the number of managers
not to exceed twenty. and adoption of
= systematic plan for financing the cor
piedging or mortgaging of its property
are recommended as reform measures
BY q committee which recently complet-
- an Investigation OF the books of the
Young women's Christian Association.
4. The committee members were Mrs.
George Vaux, Jr.. Mrs. Cyrus d. Foss
and Mrs. Frank T. Griswold.
Present managers of the organization.
the committees report says. contend
that only managers are entitled to vote,
which would change the lust and dem
ocrAtic system prescribed in the consti-
Z Nstion into seif-perpetuating autoc-
&>qys" which necessitates the recogni-
. - Of the active members rights re-
6rm.
managers. numbering now about 200,
3 10 fifteen or twenty would make for
better efficiency. according to the re-
port.
Report OF Investigators
The Investigators report declares
Mrs. Joseph II. Hudson, president of
the Central Branch. has been drawing
= salary of $500 year as a religious
Instructor" The report, in part, fol-
1ews
The constitution of the Y. w. C. A.
provides that every woman who is a
member in good standing Of an evan
9elical church and who pays one dollar
Q year may become an active member
entitled to vote.
q dollar by a member Of an evangelical
church she has been given card desig
nating her as an active member. The
present managers, on the contrary, claim
that in addition to their election at the
annual meeting they have been formally
elected to membership in the association
and in this way ground has been laid fol-
the claim that those holding cards GER
\ tfytng that they are active members
have no privileges as such unless they
are also managers.
"seIf-Perpetusting Autocracy"
The active members who paid theil
dues and received their cards were never
z Informed of the present claim. and its eff
y feet would be virtually to change tht
tust and democratic system prescribed
BY the constitution into a self-perpetuat
: ing autocracy. in which the manager,
above could exercise the privileges o.
active members, and could elect and re
eject themselves wholly independent o.
those to whom they have given the card
which constituted the certificates o
active membership.
THE board of managers under tn
present system is SO large as to lose ef
Y heiency as a working body. II Consist
~ more than 200 members. and may b.
larger. II should be reduced TO a small
board SIMILAR to those usual in othe
1nstitutions.
..The association has been allowed t
drift, using up its principal and pledg
ing its available securities until now
owes over $50. 900 for current debts an
- making efforts TO mortgage its res
estate for that purpose.
The association Is not insolvent:
Has real estate. the equity in which cos
ever 100000.
Reforms Suggested
The dissensions in the associatio
and the criticisms OF the existing cor
ditons existed when the members {
your committee became managers. The
sndesvored to find the cause:
They now present these facts In tn
Z hope that the disclosure will lead to
united effort toward reform, Such r,
form should include the following:
The recognition of the right of thos
holding active membership cards to vot
e ~ meetings of the association and
the election of managers.
The reduction of the number of mar
II o4egB to not exceeding fifteen or twent.
% Is TO make that body an efficier
n working body similar to boards OF
rsctors or trustees of other institution
and the classification of the members 6
that they will not all be elected at one
or serve for the same terms.
1.-The adoption of a systematic pla
for financing the needs of the corpors
K ton and preventing the further piedt
Ii 1ng or mortgasing of its property.
"Full disclosure and publicity at III
moetings of the association Of It's AFFAIR
1 "A respectful consideration OF a
2 11aplaints or suggestions and full OF
8 rtunity at meetings for discussion.
&n1ance sheet.
Incorporation with other similar II
Il I<Itutions In the National Y. w. G. A