Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-03


tion concerned might not be crippled through
the unexpected withdrawal Of its income the
amount Tor one quarter, S25O, was given.
Discussing the matter Of exending relief
through the police department. Mr.. Warner
observes that Q small amount Of relief distrio-
uted through the police usually reaches q very
necessitous class, and where no better agency
for the distribution of outdoor relief exists it 70
possibly useful method Of aiding the poor.
The police departments Of nearly all cities re-
eeive more or less from public or private
sources for such purposes But he never knew
nor heard OF police department that could
properly be made the almoner Of any consider
able sum. Giving relief is not the policeinan's
speciality and he ought not be asked to under
take very much work Of this kind.
NEED OF MORE EFrzorIvE CHARITY ORGANIZATION
"This city" he continues, sis unfortunate in
that 1t has no central private organization
which has secured the confidence Of the great
majority Of the charitable public Of the city.
Good work cannot be done without such Q
centralized force which insures the co-opera-
ton Of the public and private charitable
agencies, one with another, which acts a.
bureau of information to all charftably in
terested in the poor Of the city and as a clearing
house OF charities to prevent duplicate work
and the overlapping of relief.
ut was erroneously supposed by some that
the superintendent Of charities when appointed
would act as such a centralizing influence. But
this work Of effectively organizing the public
and private charities Of the city is beyond the
power of any public official. 1t has
been, and no doubt will hereafter be.
the duty Of the superintendent OF
charities to offend many people, whereas
an agency which is to organize the charities
OF the city must have the friendship and CO.
operation of all. A society with guaranteed
income of "a 600 year for administration pur-
poses and the hearty support o. our best
mos. intelligent citizens would do more
for the charities Of the District and conse-
quently for the District poor, than any public
Official that could be appointed or than any
appropriation that Congress could possibly
make"
THE sUPERINTENDENTs OFFICE.
Respecting the superintendent Office Mr..
Warner has some remarks to make. He says:
THE limitation which obliged tho President to
appoint some one for this office from outside
the District is source Of irritation to many,
and In view OF the other limitations imposed by
the act creating his Office should possibly be
pealed. The history of the organization of the
state boards Of charities elsewhere shows that
such botiies have frequently gone outside the
state to get man for the work. because one OF
larger experience could be found by this
method. 1t is on the same principle that
charity organization societies frequently call a
man from distance to act as general secretary;
on the same principle that churches summon
pastors from distance, or that boards of school
trustees get the mostcompetent superintendent
they can hear Of whether he be resident Of
their particular city or not.
But in view of the rapidity with which this
department has recently grown and of the fact
that by many the superintendency of charities
was looked upon as a temporary expedient for
getting neglected department into better adj
ministratiye shape, it would seem that it might
be the wlsest course not to tinker with the
office, but to abolish it, and to establish some
thing more nearly like that which is found in
the several states, namely, a district board Of
charities and corrections. At the proper time
n bill having this object in view will be pre-
sented to the Commissioners and through them
to Congress Such board should have full
powers of investigation and report regarding
all charitable and correctional institutions
in the District which are in anywise
connected with the government or with gov
eminent appropriations. 1t should possibly
contain representatives Of the boards Of man
agement of the Washington Asylum, of the JAIL
Of the reform school for boys the reform
school for girls, the board of children's guard
ians ard the municipal lodging house. 1t should
especially have power to inquire into and to
further organize the system Of medical chari-
ties In the District. meaning by this all those
that serve the District puor and receive public
money. Such board should further have an
expert secretary, at a salary not less than that
now paid the superintendent Of charities"
NATIONAL BUREAU OF CHARITIES Atr COR
REcTIoNs.
Another matter in which Congress should be
interested at the earliest possible day is the estab
ishment of national bureau Of charities and
corrections, an Office something like that which
now deals with matters Of education. A large
number Of the states already have state boards
of charity, and a central bureau could do much
to facilitate. improve their work. to introduce
better methods and to facilitate their mutual
acquaintance.
It is to be hoped that this matter will be
brought prominently forward at the national
conference of charities and corrections to be
held in connection with the worlds Columbian
exposition.
1T will be SEEM" Mr.. Warner Gays in closing
his report, that the estimates for the next
year are for about the same in amount as those
provided for the current year-leaving 'out
of view those items which appear In
this bill or this part of the bill for the first
time. 1t has seemed that reorganization rather
than growth by means of more money was what
our charities needed at the present time. While
the amount remains the same the number Of
separate items estimated for is reduced from
twenty-seyen to eleven. This is in the line Of
business-like organization of the department
and will enable hurried committees to under
stand its needs more readily and more fully
Heretofore the work this section of the ap-
preparation bill has resembled that which would
be necessary it was sought in pro-
viding for other departments Of the city gov
eminent to incorporate in the bill an indefinite
number OF special contracts with private par
ties. 1t is hoped that hereafter matters will be
SO presented that this section need cause no
more vexstion and despair to the congressional
committees than that which falls to their lot in