Putnam patriot., 1919-05-16
City Officials Laud Gift, But Say Fund Too Small For Purpose.
Large Fortune Left to Charity


 fret to his home city, Philadelphia The bequest is in the form of trust fund to be used in improving condi- tions in the Quaker city.
 The will. which was offered for probate, makes bequests of several hundred thousands of dollars to char itable institutions in that city, to rel atives. friends and former employees, most of which are in the form of marketable stocks.
 While the document specifies amounts of upwards of $200,00o" in personality and S100,00o in realty. ii is estimated that the estate is worth more than S1,000,000. It GOV CTS % typewritten pages and is dated Feb. 19 of this year After the be quests named in the document are made, it instructs W. Frederick Shy der, John Hampton Barnes, James F. Hagen. the testator's friends, and the Northern Trust Company. who are named as trustees, to create "board of city trusts" from the remaining funds. the object of which shall be;
 .To secure and obtain the impp- tial enforcement of all contracts made by the city of Philadelphia; to obtain prosecution and punishment of all persons guilty of violation of contracts with the city or of speeula- tion of it's funds, either directly or indirectly; to investigate municipal affairs; to aid the city by advice; to aid in the inauguration of municipal ! reform and to assist in any special in- vestigation to further the immediate adoption by the city of wise, clear and accurate system of bookkeeping and accounting, including as feat I ure thereof the frequent publication of lucid statements as to it's financial condition.
 "It is my will" the document adds, .'that the funds shall never be used to further the interests of any politi- cal party or to secure the election of any officer of the government. The fund, which at present IS in- determinate, will be administered by a board of city trusts appointed by the trustees, one member from each of the board of trustees of the fol lowing: The Franklin Institute, Law Association, College of Physicians City Club, Board of Trade, Board ot City Trusts and the University o1 Pennsylvania. The board thus ere ated is to provide its own method ant regulations and is given the power t' handle the money as if it were 1t: own, but can spend no money without the sanction of majority of it. members.
 Although highly lauding the spiri of municipal welfare displayed in thu will Frederick P Gutenberg, direct or of the Bureau of Municipal Re search. declared that this sum in it self would not be sufficient to cove the ground which the donor evidentl! had hoped to.
 The will of General Harrison, wh' was formerly Consul General t' Egypt, specifics that the trust fund Il to be used for the purpose of city re form. such as betterment of stree cleaning conditions and honest an' impartial enforcement of all contract made with the city.
 John Hampton Barnes, who wit W. Frederick Snyder, president O the Northern Trust Company, an' James F. Hagen, is an executor of th' will. said it was too early for him t discuss the manner in which the fun' would be used
 'As General Harrison provided 10 the appointment of board of trus tees to handle the money, the plan for it's use will be a matter decided upon by them," he said. The wil states that the board will be compos
 
 ed of seven Philadelphia clergymen to be selected by the Franklin lnsti ute. Law Association, College O Physicians, City Club of Philadelphia Board of Trade and the University o. Pennsylvania. In speaking of th' fund. Mr. Gutenberg said:
 q am glad to see that men of al fairs are beginning to take the inter est of the city to heart. The beques of the late general is an encouragln' sign and shows the interest of a pub lie spirited citizen in work such as | at present done by the Bureau O Municipal Research. The reforms and investigations for which the fun' is to be used are the same as those Il which the bureau is engaged.
 Tt is my opinion, however, that t' cover the wide field specified thu trust fund would have to be at leas from three to four times as large al it is. If it is to be used to establish separate bureau to conduct this wors < it will be insufficient On the othel hand, should such bureau be estap lished, the Bureau of Municipal Re