New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-08
A CHARITIES EXCHANGE.

Ono fact deserves TO be emphasized in con-
motion with Mr.. Kcnnedy's noble and munih-
cont Gift 20 the non sectarian charities OF this
city. That is the establishment OF central
Office which will be open night and day Tor
tho investigation and relief OF worthy cases OF
distress. Whoever receives from beggar in
the streets or at his door pteous appeal for
help can refer tho applicant to the United
Charities Building. with the assurance that the
case will be thoroughly Investigated and judged
on its merits. When the full force OF these
systematic arrangements for separating the
honest ont of work from the professional beg
gar is appreciated there will be fewer Migrants
in the streets plying their trade and imposing
upon human credulity. Whoever is now in the
habit OF doing out pennies at strcct-corners
or of listening sympathetically to tales OF pri-
walton and distress at his hall door no longer
has any excuse for indiscrlminate aims giving.
His plain duty is 10 refer all such applicants
To an Office where there are facilities for asccr-
tanning the precise facts and for extending
mercy only TO those who fairly deserve 1t.
When this is done and an annual subscription
is paid TO the working charities societies housed
in Mr.. Kcnncdys fine building the richest and
the softest hearted man alike can refuse help
to bcggar without hesitation or conscientious
qualms.
The four societies FOR which this magnificent
building has been erected all represent bust
ness principles in the operation OF charitable
agencies The Childrens Aid Society, the
Ncw-York City Mission and Tract Society, the
Association for Improving the Condition OF the
Poor and the Charity Organization Society
recognize no limitations OF religion or race, and
arc conducted with as much system and prac-
teal efficiency as the largest manufactures or
mercantile houses. Mr.. Kennedy in his pres
cntation address referred to the Good Samar-
tan, who improvsed a hospital, took the place
OF a surgeon and nurse. and left an endowment
fund for the sufferer. as marking ont the lines
on which all modern charitable work should be
conducted. The comparison was apt. but one
clement was left out. The businesske ca
pacty and shrcwd. practical ability of modern
charitable enterprise were not Indicated. These
arc characteristic features. The Good Samari-
tan now needs to be skilled detective in
order to avoid imposture and to discover fraud
and sham. lie must take lessons OF the man.
mon of unrighteousncss and be rs wise in his
generation as the children Of light
The modern charitable agency needs to be
nothing less than sieve for separating the
wheat from the chaff. Bcnevoence which gives
in ignorance curses rather than besses. II
tends to paupcriae, degrade and demoralize
those whom it seeks to benefit. The time is
surely coming in this great metropolis when
through the intelligent work of systematized
charities beggas will disappear from the
streets from sheer lack Of that thoughtless
patronage which promotes imposture. The
time is also near at hand when Migrants and
tramps will find the loathesome police station
lodging rooms closed against them in the in
tcrcst Of public health and morals. When
municipal lodging. houses are opened in evcry
quarter of the town and decent accommodation
is offered to every unfortunate who is willing
to work for his nights lodging and his break
fast that horrible oaricature upon public char
ity will disappear from progressive New-York.
The United Charities Building hes been con-