Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-16
THE BOARD oF CHARITIES.
Superintendent Warner state. Reasons "a
Establishing NJ.

The passage Of the bill 70 create board 81
charities for the District OF Columbia is one Of
considerable interest TO the charitable citizens
and institutions OF Washington.
Recently Senator Gallinger. who Is the chair
man Of the subcommittee in charge Of the bin,
requested the superintendent Of charities 20
present a written statement OF the reasons fs
the passage OF the bill in question.
Superintendent A. q. Warner complied with
the request today and sent the following letter
on the subject:
The act creating the Office Of superintend-
ent OF charities tor the District 90 Columbia
Was merely proyiso hastily inserted in al an
nual appropriation ball and. as its terms indi-
cate, was intended 90 be only the trst step IN
reorganization 81 the whole system cf
public expenditures for charitable purpose IN
the District The necessity for the measure
proposed NAV he indicated By an enumeration
OF the undesirable features OF the present ar
rangement
1. The superintendent Of charities has pow
ers OF estimate independent Of the Commission
ers his annual estimates are transmitted direct
Ia Congress without revision by the Commis-
slonors. This is contrary 60 good administra-
tive organization and was probably not intended
when the office OF superintendent was created.
ami should be changed.
? The scope of the superintcndent's powers
depends upon the changing classification II
Classification varies and the arrangement u I'M
satisfactory both TO the institution aud 90
The superintendent. BY the present arrange
ment the reform school for boys is not under
him. while the reform for girls which has eN-
actly the same legislation Is, and other ineon-
grnities.
3. His powers OF visitation are so limited at
present that II is impossible for him 60 survey
the whole field and plan wisely for the whole
department. though a superintendent OF chhri-
d IN has aA ~sla Wit
the aims house. the Juvenile reformatorie-
OF certain of the large hospitals. I'm some de-
partments this has led 20 what. from n super
nciai investigation. seems 10 be unduly large
expenditure IN some branches and unduly small
ones IN others. The board % charities should be
able 10 survey the whole field in order that it
NAV properly Coordinate the work Of all the
institutions
L. The present act requires the supcrintend-
ent OF charities shall not he a resident Of the
District Ihis proviso was possibly wise AZ the
Time 1t was inserted. but now is constant
source OF yeNation and disgust 20 the citizens,
places the superintendent in a false light
before them and L. needless
.. lhe superintendent of charities stands
TOO much alone. His isolation j. unfortunate,
because he is more likely to make mistakes, be-
cause even IL he docs not make them he h. more
likely To be suspected of doing So and be-
Gauss change IN the personnel of the
once ieaSes the new man with no one who UNI
II likely that he will make mistakes which some
one acquainted with the Office co1ld have he ped
MIN 10 avoid The proposed act IL drawn in
accordance with the legislation that has
been found most useful in various states having
state boards of charities. Their experience in
dicates thatan unsalaried board havinca salaried
expert Tor secretary is the best method
OF organization for this supervisory
power Ii entails no additional
expense. but interests "a larger number OF citi-
zens m the department and so makes il more
eihcient Wise recommendation will certainly
Dc more readily acquiesced m by the community
IL theS come from n representative board in
stead OF from an isolated individual
FINALLY II may he said that the present IL a
favorable time for making the desired change
since " can IN nowise conflict with ths
personal interests of the superintendent of
charities Other work has been waiting TOR me
Tor nearly year, and must go 60 il not later
tnen wiil permit. III the proposed bill is passed
hhail stay long enough 10 see the new mach:n-
cry In motion and give the new board and its
secretary as much insight as I can into the
cnodinon of the department II such a
change as that contemplated in the bell Is
TO be made is manifestly advisable that ii
should he made now. that the new man NAV
come to the work under the new and more
permanent conditions