, 1880-07-11

| WASlGd. q. f4VosA Nc@"A ~ o--"0~
| nlishing much good.
II has been wisely suggested that the two
Hospitals for. Women and the founallngs
Home may be adyantageously consolidated
| under one management, since the character
of their work is largely the same Certainly,
the same sort of medical attendance. nurs-
inc and service would be appro-
nriate and efficient. These several In
stttutions are in a condition Of chronic
i1nnecuniosity: but, If joined together,
the same amount Of contributions now dis
tributed among them would suffice for an
ample support in their. consolidated form.
The work performed by the Erring Women's
| Refuge is much better done by the House OF
the Good Shepherd, and the former has VAL
| liable property, which, it properly manaSea'
would bring in substantial income to the
mission in hand. The distinction between
orphans and halforphans Is exceedingly ME
spun when the children In either case are
to be supported by charity. Yet two large
establishments are meagerly maintained on
the basis Of this distinction where one coult
be well sustained, and its scope Of usefui-
ness 'correspondiDgly enlarged by placing
both under the same roof and the same man
agement. One well-arranscd and well~man-
aged Industriat:Home for Women and Girls
would do more and costless than the three or
FOUR independent and insufficient efforts in
the same direction.
A conspicuous instance Of the tendency to
separate action in the case Of every charity
suggested is to be found In the proposed
Home for 1ncuraDles. The TRIBUNE has
urged this charity upon the people Of Chicar
20 as one Of the most co1nmendable that
could be undertaken, and the medical pro-
fession agree that every large community
should have such home. But 1t is not
necessary to this end that new charter, a
new Board of Management. new building,
q new set Of employees, and a new line Of
subscriptions should be started. When the
subject was first agitated, Dr.. Locke, as
President of the St. Luke's Hospital, offered
on behalf Of that institution to assume the
management, secure one OF two adjacent cot
tages, and give the proposed charity the benefit
of fhe St. Luke's corps OF physicians,
nurses, and matrons. The offer was ignored,
presumably because St. Luke's Hospital is
supported mainly BY the Episcopal Church,
us though it made any difference to lncura-
bles what 'sectarian doctrines govern those
who take care Of them! The Old Peoples
Home. which has large and comfortable
building, might add branch for inourables
to their system, and thus secure new SYM
pathy and extend its mission;. but we pre-
sumo such proposition would be opposed |
OIL sectarian or some other equally i1Tele- |
want grounds.
The work OF consolidating the private |
charities Of the city ought to be taken in
hand by the Relief and Aid Society. This |
association commands the highest degree Of |
public confidence and has had @ vast expe- |
rience in the distribution OF charitable funds. |
Its management Of the relief fund contrib |
utcd BY the whole world after the fire Of |
1871 was wise, prudent, and efficient It's |
officers and the gentlemen who have always !
interested themselves in its work are entirely |
capable to superintend the proper consolida- |
tion of the various private charities in |
business-1ike manner. II they cannot secure |
the voluntary cooperation of the various |
Boards OF Management, or the various |
or the various cliQues which are
operating the different institutions. they may,
by maturing plan, obtain virtual control
over private subscriptions, and thus make
sure Of placing contributions where they will
do most good. II all the people who con-
tribute to charity, whether to individual beg
gars or paid solicitors for established tnstitu-
tions, were to give annual or semi-annuaI
to the Relief and AID Society,
and slut of other contributions, the money
now expended could be employed to much
better advantage in a consolidated system
Of charities.