Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-07
The Evil of Indiscriminate Aims.
giving.


NEED OF AN ORGANIZED CHARITY.
Editor Star:-Tne present call upon the
charity OF the city which is being so generously
responded to will fail OF its best result If 1t does
not lead to some permanent arrangement both
10 relieve helpless poverty and to prevent it.
Everywhere material progress and pauperisn
are marching on parallel lines. Year by year
the burden OF the taxpayers for crime and pau
perism increases. IL has grown from eight to
twenty millions in a single decade. An ever.
Increasing beggary cOvetS its levies, threaten
Ing TO reduce the competent TO It's own level by
wholesale cOnnscation If its exactions are not
stayed. II Is a serious and a menaclng fact
Nearly all OF US who are hOuseholderS are dis
pensing privately aid often to more persons
than are In our own families The religious
and the humane societies distribute vast sums,
and the city provides for thousands by public
taxation. And this goes on enlarging its bad
proportions in this city without a serious at
tempt to arrest its growth.
1t is notable that the recipients OF this vast
Charity are not wholly OF the Ignorant class
Numerous cases are known Of educated per-
sons and some who have held high positions.
Intelligent selfishneSs not less than benevo-
lence dictates that we should undertake some
measures TO protect ourselves from this grow
1Dg evil. have no panacea, and do not wish TO
arrogate especial knowledge; but, having had
occasion recently to visit other cities, venture
to suggest that, wt.ho risking anything in
experiment, we might gain much by adopting
eXpedients already tested. In Boston they have
board OF associated charities, Of which Robert
Treat Paine Is now president. All the charita-
d
trail building, which is supplied by the city.
The city is divided into districts, and for each
there IS q paid visitor, and committee who
meet weekly. The visitor nils out card CIV
Ing the name, residence. circumstances, and
kind OF relief required. which is at once sup
piled, The cards are arranged In alphabetical
order, and the societies examine them and can
al once ascertain II any person Is getting relief
from other sources.
The people of Boston nave been educated to
see the great vice OF indiscriminate aims CIV
ana begging will become an art, profitable
business among the poor"
Washington is the Paradise OF the profess
sional beggar: The corners and goers toss him
Dr. and he tbr1veS apace, after receiving am
pie aid from various donors. A good woman of
my acquaintance has furnished grog brulser
with n1ckels for his drinks for two years past
On New Years morning, as 1 met him with a
black eye and swollen lace coming for his grog
money. she appealed to me to give him some
TING '.ior his poor wife and children" mo-
ment after he owned that he had been on
drunk all night, and never had wife or child.
such cases are very numerous. They are not
only wasteful Of means, but the giver becomes
promoter of vice and pauperism Careless
giving is, therefore, positively immoral. But It.
can only be stopped by a wise organization of
the charities OF The city. We have no social
science club unfortunately, to urge this policy
or wisely initiate it.
The District commission is too much burdened
oy It's vast and various duties They propose
to Congress to organize an Independent board
OF citizens. This will Lot pass; indeed, iU Is
not likely to be considered, unless leading clti-
zens take an active interest In it. 1t must be
backed by some general expression and the
support OF personal influence with members of
Congress to secure attention In this short and
crowded session. 1t is a matter teetotally In
vOlvtng the best interests OF the city. The bur
den OF its taxes. the health, the morals and
thus incidentally the value OF property here,
are to be largely affected by the growth of pau
perism and consequent disease and crime. The
intelligent care OF the neglected classes will
largely prevent helpless poverty, and thus In
crease the wealth, health and virtue of the peo-
pie. Intelligent organization is the crying need
TO supplant the present waSteful and vicious
system OF private almsgiv1ng, and provide a
system which excludes the unworthy, shall
make 1t absolutely certain that none VINO are
deserving shall ever suffer for food, shelter or
tender care In this city. which should be bright
example. E. D.