The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-02
OUR NOBLE CHARITIES.
Are Any Of the Contribu-
tons Squandered p
Charitable Beople Who Claim That the Money
Donated for the Poor Would Board
Them at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
The Howard Mission and
Children's Aid Society.

the WORK OF Tue various cnarltaDe INSTITUTIONS Vi
the city in relieving the present widespread desti-
tuition OF the poor have attracted more than q
passing notice from the thousands OF generous
hearted donors who look to the pressor informa-
ton showing what institutions are best able to
dispense the offerings made by them and the ap-
preparations made by the city, which form grand
total OF
OVER FOUR AND HALF MILLION DOLLARS PER
YEAR
These articles have also suggested the inquiry how
It is that, with SO many dispensers OF these Offer
lngs, amounting to more than 81 so per in
habitant, several well verified cases OF starvation
have occurred this winter, and some have been
led to the conclusion that the officers OF the asso
ciatOns who act as the distributing agents Of the
charitable citizens. have not exercised due dill
giving them the necessary relief. Indeed, it has
even been limited that q very large percentage OF
the money passing through the hands OF some Of
these Institutions has been
DIVERTED FROM THE POOR,
for whom it was intended, and absorbed in large
salaries to the officials. Some have gone so lar as
to make the sweeping assertion that careful ex-
animation OF the books and records of some insti-
tutOns will show that sevelty-fve per cent OF the
amount received Is eaten up In salaries and need
less expenditures and waste, and hints have been
thrown out t1al even thOse popular institutions,
the
CHILDRENs AID SOCIETY
and the Howard Mission, were not run as ecOnom-
cally as they might be.
For two days reporter Of the HERALD has been
pushing his Investigations in search OF facts that
would justify such startling statements or nforma-
tion as would expose the faisity OF such sweep
ing charges, and 1t must be confessed that he was
unable to discover anything specially
IRREGULAR OR VERY SUSPICIOUS
in the management Of the two associations named.
gentleman celebrated for his familiarity with
charitable operations in the city, and who is at the
head OF OF the best institutions, called atten
ton to the fact that the last report of the Chill
dren's Aid Society records the expenditure Of
$73,5 71 &c for p day and Is evening schools, en-
ploying / superintendent and 81 teachers and s
visitors for the education of SAT- children; and he
had grave doubts as to the proprety OF such
schools, arguing that the work should be done by
THE STATE RATHER THAN BY PRIVATE CHARITY;
or in other words that the public schools, whose
grade Of teachers is superior to those OF the society,"
could do this work to better advantage. He also
complained that there was too much spent In sal
aries; that the financial exhibit was not sufficiently
explicit to be understood-and, in short, he feared
that the Society, which he admitted had accom-
plished a vast amount OF good, was laying out
more work than 1t can safely transact, ana need
lessly expendng money IN founding schools that
are not equal to those of the Board of Education.
This gentleman stated that he had made investi.
cations Of
THE HOWARD MISSION
and he failed to find it what it is represented
to be-"A Home for Little Wanderers" That it
was a ragged school Tor the pOors0hidren who col
lected there in daytime and were instructed and
fed he admitted but he could not discover that the
children were housed aud cared for during the
night. This official admitted that much good was
done by the Mission, but he had doubts as to the
economy practised and the particular manner in
which they dispensed their charity. He gave it as
his opinion that IN many OF the institutions
FULLY FIFTY Oh SIXTY PER CENT
OF public contributions were consumed In salaries
and needless expenditures.
Another gentleman, minister, who has retired
from the pulpit to devote his entire time 10 the
work OIL charity was vlslte at mis- residence and
requested to give his opinion as to the working Of
the institutions generally He stated in substance
that Investigations made by him covering many
years convinced nlm that about twO-thirds OF all
the money collected for charity is consumed IN
running expenses and salaries to dlsburse the
other. third. The great body of the outdoor
poor" upon whom the commissioners Of CHARITIES
and Correction spend SO much, he considered
PROFESSIONAL PAUPERS WHO SHOULD BE CRIMINALS.
These Investigations showed the great majority OF
them to be frauds, VINO alternate between the Poor
house, the WOrknouse and the PenltentIary. They
know all the institutions in the city, and make
living by going around from one to another. They
should be committed TO the WorkhOuse and kept
there, instead Of consuming the money intended
Tor the really worthy why, sir" SAID he "my
years OF investigation OF the charitable institu-
tons oil the city satisfy me that with the money
given the officers OF our private institutions Tor
charity and their income from reserve funds
could board all the poor persons they support
AT THE FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL
the year roundl There Is not charity to-day in
this city, except Bellevue Hospital. where you can
get dependent person admitted unless you pay
,or It, THIS is sweeping charge, but 1t Is true
them for the especial purpose, and they will not
receive them, under one excuse or another
This gentleman also expressed the belief that
the Chidren's Aid Society, while filling great
need in community like This, were not sufficiently
saving OF the money given Them and stated that
were paid to the executive officers. and remarked
that II was very strange that Affecting appeals
CLorHE AND FEED STARVING CHILDREN
when tue soclety's last report showed bonds and
other convertible reserves OF $I5l,000 held by
them.
The reporter made an effort to clear up the
points OF objection made TO these two charities
specially named. Visiting the Office OF the Aid
society, Mr. Brace, VINO can rarely be found there,
was absent and likely to be away until Monday.
Mr. Macy, his assistant, could not give any state
ment as to the salaries palu but from the report
Of ass year 1t appears that five executive
salaries paid to the superIn tendent,
visitors and the eightyseven teachers, and for this
iuIol moeloA INC icpoiloI Wds TelcTTeU W ME- VII
llams, OF the Metropolitan Bank, who acts as
treasurer. This gentleman, who, with the other
Trustees OF the society, devotes much time to
watching the society and its workings, ex-
pressed the belief that 1t is the best charity IN the
CITY, that the salaries are very moderate, and that
the society," and especially the Industrial schools,
are doing great and glorious work in aid OF NOR
atty, industry and religion. Strange to say, how
ever, he as Treasurer did not know
THE SALARIES PAID
to the executive Officers, but knew that the paid
ones were Mr.. Brace and MIR. Macy, secretaries;
!! o 7; Brace, the Agent Tor the Country; L.. w:
Hostle, visitor, and Mr. Skinner, superintendent
OF Schools. Mr.. Williams as an evidence OF the
economy exercised pointed out the fact that the
education OF the 3477 children had cost but $40 81
per mead per year. including daily meal. gar
ments, shoes DC. A critical examination OF the
statistics OF the yearly report develops MOTH
ing that should induce any one to withdraw his
contributors or confidence from charity that all
our people nave come to look upon as one OF the
pest IN tne ctyi yet 1t is TO be regretted that the
omcers, III making up their annual report, DO not
MORE CLEARLY DETAIL THE RECEIPTS
and the source whence every cent goes. For ex.
ample, quite large sum Is received Tor lodging
and meals rom the dodgers from the newsDoys
alone IN one year 1882 79, and In the receipts iOr
the year no mention OF these items Is made
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