Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-10
DISTRICT CHARITIES.
The New Superintendent Expected to Assume
His Duties Next Month.
WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES HIN TO po-Hr n NOW
SECURING ALL TIE PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
HE CAN oBTArx-Hp FoRNrR ExrERiENcK WILL
AID HIN IN HIS WORK HERE

There are good many people interested in
the policy that will be adopted by the new
superintendent Of charities. Mr.. Amis q. War
ner. He expects to be here by April 1 and
enter upon the discharge OF his duties. The
Office lie an entirely new one and in this re-
spect Mr.. Warmers Official career win be with
out precedents. HE duties are outlined by
the Language Of the clause Of the appropris-
ton bill which created the Office, and with this
o. his guide he will be left pretty much 10 his
own discretion as to his official procedure.
PROVISION OF THE LAW.
The law provides that il shall be the duty o,
the new superintendent Of charities Ito formu-
late for the purposes Of expenditures for chari-
ties in said district such a system or plan OF Or
ganized charities for said district rs will by
means of consolidation combination or other
direction, in kis judgment best secure the OBJ
jects contemplated by the several institutions
and associations for which such appropriation
is made and for other charitable work Of the
District with the least interference each with
the other. or misapplication Of efforts or ex-
penditure and without duplication Of charita-
BILE work or expenditure"
The superintendent is authorized 20 INQUIRE
into the character, efficiency and facilities OF
such organizations and their expenditures, &C.
He is to recommend such changes and modifi.
cations rs will secure the best results He il
sioners of the District who shall communicat,
the same. with their estimates OF appropria-
ton, to Congress. together with the recommen.
dations and suggestions Of the superintendent
For this labor the superintendent is TO receiv,
q salary Of 5000 per annum.
IMPORTANCE OF THE POSITION.
The Importance of the position can be appre
ciated when it Is stated that there are som,
forty or fifty institutions which are aided to I
greater or less extent by public funds. and tina
the annual expenditure Of such money Is in tn.
neighborhood Of 100000. Mr.. Warner Il
securing all the information that IA,
can on this subject, and through th,
District Commissioners and individual,
interested in charitable work he has been sup
piled with considerable data. When he arrive,
here he will therefore not be entirely ignorant
of the general situation. His previous experienc,
II is believed, will be of assistance in this work
He formulated plan for the charities in Bslti
more which is said to be working well. grea
many people, especially those who have inter
ested themselves in charitable work, believ,
tina, the time has come when charity should b,
organized in this District and that thcr,
should be one central authority which would
be useful in guiding and directing the expendi
ture of money, especially public money, fol
charitable purposes, In many states there ar,
state boards of charities and il was thought b,
some that such board ought to be established
here. Instead, however, Of a board superin
tendent has been appointed and he has beer
vested with the powers that a board would
exercise.
ONE MAN BETTER THAN A BOARD.
As the attempt to organize charitable effort
| is new move in this District the preliminar,
work that will be needed can. il is thought. b,
best performed by single individual rather
than a board. Heretofore organizations have
been formed with the view of relieving tn,
needs Of the unfortunate and the poor anc
no thought has been given to
the question whether some institution
already established was not well equipped fol
this work. This practice is thought to hav,
been injurious and this new law is supposed to
supply the remedy. While the superintendent
OF charities will have no power TO prevent the
establishment of new charities or the relin
gushing Of those in existence. yet he is re
quired to report as TO the necessit,
for their existence, the work that they are do
ing and whether il is desirable to longer con
tinue to contribute to their support from the
public funds. In this way the Commissioner,
and Congress will be placed in possession of in
formation 30 that they can act upon the de
mands which are made with some reasonabl,
certainty of doing the right thing.