Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-05-14
HUSSER HIT In
BUREAU TIFF
Kansas City Organization
Threatened With Loss
OF Affiliation
Especial to The Herald.l

HARLINGEN, May IA While
members OF the organization COM
mittee proceeded today with efforts
to organize a Better Business Bu-
reau for the Valley, 1t was disclosed
that the Kansas City bureau Of
that organization Is having trouble
with the national organization
George M Husser. manager of the
Kansas City bureau is in the midst
OF a fight with Kenneth Barnard,
chief OF the affiliated bureaus. The
story OF their troubles and the
headlines under which 1t was print
ed in the Kansas City Star Of May
8 follows:
"HUSSER MUST co"
National organization to cast
Kansas City bureau adrift
IF he Is retained.
MORE THAN ONE REASON
w. III. Young contribution OF $3.50
Brings investigation that re-
suits In other complaints
Board Plants Hot Reply
There IS not intention now to comply
with ultimatum following
Barnard visit here.
Either the Kansas City Better
Business Bureau will dispense with
the services of George Husser, its
manager, or it will be cast adrift
by the Affiliated Better Business
Bureaus OF the United States and
Canada.
Tltimatum'
That ultimatum Las been deliv-
cred TO John Henry Smith. chair
man of the Board Of Directors, by
Kenneth Barnard, president OF the
affiliated bureaus BY letter from
Detroit.
The crisis in the affairs OF the
Kansas City bureau developed after
the visit OF Barnard TO Kansas City
last week his Investigation into the
affairs Of the bureau and his final
exclusion from executive meetings
OF the board Of directors, to which
Husser was admitted.
The acceptance by Husser for
the Kansas City Bureau Of the $3.50
contribution from w. H. Young
Brothers & Co.. defunct st. Louis
concern, was only one angle Of the
general complaint lodged against
Husser's management by Barnard.
1t was the incident that brought on
the Investigation. but Barnard cited
other reasons for a change In the
management II the bureau was to
retain its affiliation with the in
ternationaI organization.
When the board Of directors met
last week to hear Barnard's ON
plants Husser was invited into the
session. 10 developed into a personal
quarrel between Husser and Bar
nard with the directors apparently
taking sides with HuSser.
Finally the board went into ex-
ecutive session and Barnard was
asked 10 leave. Husser remained a
few minutes and Barnard got the
impression Husser attended al suc-
ceeding sessions from which Bar
nard was excluded.
The letter from affiliated head
quarters indicates the board Of the
Kansas City Bureau does not feel
snswerable TO the affiliated bureaus,
that It has failed TO inform the
latter OF its action OF its intended
action in the matters complained
pf by Barnard.
Integrity Questioned
The affiliated bureaus take the
position that the integrity Of the
management OF the Kansas City
bureau has been brought into ques-
ton and that It's usefulness is end
ed until readjustments have been
made.
It was cited by Barnard that the
methods OF handling affairs in the
Kansas City bureau are az variance
with those employed elsewhere. It
was charged IL keeps no intelliPible
books at bureau headquarters; that
such records as would disclose the
bureaus activities are kept IN the
private living quarters Of Husser.
1t was pointed out the annual
report contained no financial state
rnent, that IL was merely a histor-
ical record OF the activities OF the
bureau and mentioned the gross
amount needed for the succeeding
year, with no detailed account of
the expenditures Of the prior year.
Warm Answer
Mr.. Smith admitted today re-
ceiving a letter from Barnard or
from affiliated headquarters but
he declined to disclose its contents
or discuss 1t. He admitted the let
ter had been answered but declined
TO discuss that also. When It was
pointed out Barnard might have
talked freely. Mr.. Smith retorted:
IF he wants to break into print
all right. I'll publish both letters
And III have a hot reply in a day
or two"
The board Of directors and Hus-
ser have been closing all avenues
OF information on the progress OF
the investigation since Barnard
was IN Kansas City.
The board also has indicated an
attitude OF defiance OF the national
organization.