New-York tribune., 1922-12-17
Pledge Broken
By Volunteers,
Declares Coler
VIII Publish Results of In.
quiry ''Inlo Socieiy's Az
fairs" After Holidays Are
Over, He Announces
Thinks Court Not Posted
Insists Controversy Has Not
Been Properly Placed Be
fore the Newspapers

gSnser she terms Of q court decision
conmissioner Bird S. Coler. of the
perar,ment Of Charities. fnds himself
obliged 20 allcw the Volunteers Of
America 10 solicit Christmas funds on
the.streets. After the holidays, how
even he said yesterday, he proposes 20
make public the results Of 40 investi-
CATION conducted bY bis Office into
the affairs Of the Volunteer TINS
investigation vas begun, be said, When
General Ballington Booths organization
violated a verbal agreement With him
to itek funds only =; stated seasons.
X IL regrettable," said ihe eomniis-
sioser. shat tie controversy between
the.Depafin ehf o. pubuc Welfare and
th. Volunteer Of Amouca has not
been properly placed before either the
courts or the newspapcfs. q yea ego
Al this time / was Of the same opinion
as Justice Muiiar that ihe Noluni ~
Of America was obviously a reputable
orgsnizstion and did good wors
- p agreement was entered into By
thit department With the haraiion
Army and the Volunteers of Amcfict.
through officers of equal rank IN each
that they have their usual tine Tor
Christmas collections, which was tWo
weeks prior % Caristmes.
Each 70 Have Ccneral Drive
aEaeh was 20 have q general drive
for two or three weeks IN the m2rin
Of May o. the new year. Between these
periods they we're not % solicit 30 the
street Ia any manner aTd were % ap-
near only FOR their religious exercises.
II is very unfortunate that me rule
To-. this type Of organization was not
made i'm writing. We believed tneir
standing 90 be such as 20 make tht
unnecessary and that thc rule would
be conpl ed by both Organization hav-
inr such high-class leaders.
"Very shortly after the first ~
January. 1922. the Volunteers OF
America broke this agreement. An
other person, not connected a. q mcm-
Der OF the Volunteers OF America. but
claiming % be their financial mar
ager. said that no such agreement had
bcen entered into and demanded that
they be given the right 20 collect upon
the strcet8 during the entire year, thus
seeking privileges that had not been
granted TO nor asked for by the Saliva
ton Army. The person clliming 90 be
the'fnancial manager made statements
70 me on several occasions that we're
not true and appealed 70 the Mayor
Declined % Meet Manager
believing that he vas not trust
worthy or worthy Of belief, | declined
70 met him at the Office Of the Acting
Mayor. Mr. Hubert, 'but / did consent
70 and did meet General Booth al Mr..
Hdlbert's Office This brought ont the
fact 20 The Acting Mayors satisiac-
tion that the Volunteers Of America
had been granted the same privileges
as the Salvation Army. and no request
wat made 20 me 70 reverse my de-
eision.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
acting Mayor had decided at the con-
ference that the Volunteers Of Amer
iea were TO have the same privileges
as had been granted 20 others, the Vol
untcers OF America went on the Streets
and several members Of their orgapi l.
Eation were arrested. The matter. was
brought into court, and, through con
tinued delays, a temporary decision
waA not rendered until a few days ago.
The wofding Of this decision. ssyinE
that they we're an obviously good or
ganization leads me 20 infer that. rs
stated before, the case was not prop
erly presented.
"When We found that the personal
agreement had been violated, We began
20 look into the affairs. Of the Yolun-
teors. The. result Of this investigation
will be given to the pablo after the
Christmas season.