New-York tribune., 1919-05-14
Thomas Shelton Harrison's
Trust Fund Is Declared
Inadequate to Effect
g r cforms Contemplated
Officials Ready to Help
Request Hailed as Typical
of an Awakening Public
Spirit of Business Men
Special Correspondent

Speca0 Correspondence
PHILADELPHIA, May 13.-Althougl
highly lauding the spirit of municipal
welfare displayed in the will of the
late Thomas Shelton Harrison, which
set aside trust fund of approximately
100000 for reform work, Frederick P
Gutenberg, director of the Bureau of
Municipal Research, declared to-day
that this sum in itself would not be
sufficient to cover the ground which
the donor evidently had hoped to.
The will of General Harrison, who
was formerly Consul General to Egypt
specifies that the trust fund is to be
used for the purpose of city reform,
such as betterment of street cleaning
conditions and honest and impartial en-
forcement of all contracts made with
the city.
John Hampton Barnes. who with W.
Frederick Snyder, president of the
Nor Trust Company, and James
F., is an executor of the will,
said as too early for him to dis
cuss the manner in which the fund
would be used
GAS General Harrison provided for
the appointment of board of trustees
TO handle the money, the plans for Its
use will be a matter decided upon by
them he said. The will states that
the board with be composed of seven
Philadelphia clergymen, to be selected
by the Franklin Institute, Law Associa-
ton, College of Physicians, City Club
of Philadelphia, Board of Trade and
the University of Pennsylvania. In
said:
Il am glad to see that men of af
fairs are beginning to take the interest
of the city to heart. The beouest of
the late general is an encouraging sign
and shows the interest of public
spirited citizen in work such as is at
present done by the Bureau of Munich
pal Research. The reforms and in
vestigations for wrich the fund is to
be used are the same as those in which
the bureau is engaged.
1T Is my opinion, however, that to
cover the wide field specified the trust
-N'iN ffNuiN nave W De AT least from
three to four times as large as it is.
lfat Is to be used to establish a sepa-
rate bureau 20 conduct this work it will
DC insufficient. On the other hand,
should such bureau be established.
the Bureau of Municipal Research, if
called upon, Will do all in it's power to
cooperate with it and assist in every
way possible"
Mayor Smith said that although he
had not had time to read the details
Of the will be approved of any fund of
this kind that would help to improve
conditions in Philadelphia.
at lookr TO me-" said Director
Datesman, of the Department of Pub
lie Works, "as if we will make an earn
est. effort to improve the methods of
carrying on city business after due
investigations and research. The last
clause IN reference to the fund which
forbids its use for any form of par
tisan politics emphasizes the helpful
intent of the testator"
According TO Mr.. Snyder, General
Harrison had in mind the establish
ment of such a fund for a number of
Years. He had frequently discussed
the matter with his friends, and a will
containing such a provision was drawn
for him by Judge John NJ. Gest long
before the latter went to the Orphans
Court bench. 1t is Mr.. Snyder's belief
hat the trust fund will become opera
i've IN about year.