Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-31
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES
Some Confusion Caused by Its Change Of
Plans
The Appeal of the Emergency Relief
Committee-Money Needed for
Administrative Purposes.

"Unless am much duller Of comprehension
than people generally, 1 do not think the
public will very clearly understand the
situation as presented by the Associated
Charities Tuesdays Star had an article
under the heading Of Poor Relief Fund
in which 1T was stated that 5000 or s. 900
ought to be provided Immediately to meet
the wants of the emergency relief commit
tee. In the same article Treasurer Edison
Is represented as saying that every dollar
SO contributed will reach those who are
really in need This is supplemented by
a report of Secretary Wilson's remarks on
the subject, to your reporter, in which he
Is quoted as saying: 1t is hoped that the
community will respond generously to the
call of the committee and send subscrip-
tions to the treasurer, Mr.. John Joy Ed
son, or to any member of the committee.
They may rest assured that the money will
be used IN the most discreet manner and
none of it will be used for administra-
tive purposes
"On the other hand, I have before me
somewhat voluminous combined appeal for
contributions, issued in the form of circu-
lars, signed by the board of manag gers of
the Associated Charities and by the
1lnance committee Of that body. In these
documents 1t is stated that the money they
ask Tor is required TO- administration pur-
poses only, and, further, that the yearly
expenses Tor these purposes are estimated
at $500 per annum.
What are we to understand from these
apparently conflicting statements? Are
there two separate funds, to which the
public is expected to contribute? If SO,
why? And. If SO. are givers expected to
give to both funds or may they choose to
which purpose their givings are to be ap-
piled? 1 have every year given something
to the Associated Charities, as originally
organized, and am prepared to contribute
again, because l am opposed to street beg
indScrimina @ hei
tended to all askers, and usually the most
freely to the least needy and deserving.
But, as the case Is set forth by the two
somewhat confusing presentations above
referred to, and laying aside for the time
being the question whether or lot the sum
OF S,500 is rot an excessive amount to be
taken out of the contributions given by the
charitable and expended for purely 'ad-
ministration purposes / am at a loss to
determine just how or to whom my offer
ings shall be made, so that they will do The
most good 1 will say, however, that /
much prefer that what do give shall be
applied directly for the relief of the DOOR
rather than used for salaries and the pay
ment of Office expenses, which, in a degree,
are OF course necessary, but which, L sub
init, ought to be kept within reasonable
bounds. Let it net be forgotten that the
calls on this community are many, and
that, as rule, those both able and willing
TO give are comparatively few"
Seeretnry's Wilson's Explanation.
The attention of Secretary Wilson of the
Associated Charities was called to this
matter by a Star reporter, and he said
there is evidently misunderstanding In re-
gard to the character of the work done by
the Associated Charities. Under the pres
ent system" he said, ''it Is a non-relef
giving organization. Our work is one of
investigation. registration and sending
cases for relief to relief-giving organiza-
TONS
the churches, lodges and other bodies. 1t
was found recently that many cases calling
| for assistance were from class of persons
not connected with or having claims on
| any church or relief association, and as
| there were no funds available the citizens
| emergency relief committee was organized.
| 1t was decided to ask from the public a
sum of money amounting to two or three
| thousand dollars which could be disbursed
| by this committee to meet such cases. The
| Associated Charities will not disburse a
| single cent of this sum- The committee has
| no office rent nor salaries to pay, and the
money will be expended in the relief OF
persons sent to 1t by the Associated Char.
| tiles. 1t is therefore true, as 1 stated that
every dollar contributed to the emergency
| relief committee, of which Mr.. John Joy
| Edison is treasurer, goes to the relief Of the
| deserving poor.
I'm regard to the $500, which it is esti-
! mated will be required to provide for the
| administration purposes of the Associated
Charities, 1t may be thought, especially in
| this city, where a non-relief organization
| is unknown, that this is large amount to
expend in such way. 1t should be re-
| membered, however, that the Associa tee
| Charities under the present system aims
| to be a clearing house for the entire or
| ganiZed charity work of the District, and
it is believed that if the system is prop
| erly carried cut it will save many time.
that amount to the charitably inclined
people of the District. In New York
similar organization expends annually be
tween $4,000 and $4,000 for administra
tive purposes, while in Baltimore $1,000
is expended annually in this way. Las
year the people of this city contributed
some $4,000, which was paid out in two
| months. AS the weather his winter i!
not as severe 1t was last winter 1t /.
believed that all deserving and worth,
persons can be helped this year with one
third of this amount, which will be rep
| resented by the money required to main
tain the Associated Charities for an entir'
year and by the special fund which tn
emergency relief committee has Gale,
L