Evening star., 1897-04-07
DISTRICT CHARITIES
Commencement of Their Investiga-
ton by Congress.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE RELIEF FUND
The Method of the Associated
Charities Explained.
HOS Sc HO SPOK f

The joint select committee on charities
and reformatory institutions in the Dis
trict of Columbia began a series of hear
ings today upon the subject of charities,
The committee met at . o'clock this after
noon in the room of the Senate District
committee, and the hearings will be, held
at the same hour tomorrow and Friday.
Todays hearing was upon the general
subject Of charities in the District, and
those invited to be present were the Dis
trict Commissioners, the relief committee
of 1Sa6-97, the Associated Charities. the
charities committee of the board of trade,
the superintendent of charities and the
officers of the Civic Center. a
Topics Discussed.
The topics outlined for discussion today
were as follows: .,.s..
The method of distributing the annual
appropriation of $1,000 for the relief OF
the poor. F..
The extent and character of the relief
work supported by subscription.
The need and method of inveStig atiHg the
applications for relief.
The proper organization of the charities
of the District of Columbia.
Should relief be confined to bona fide
citizens of the District of Columbia?
Tomorrow the program Is as follows:
Subject: 'Reformatory Institutions" To
be heard: The officers of the reform school
for boys; the officers Of the reform school,
for girls.
Topics TIE work of the reform school
for boys and needs of the institution. Man
agement of the school and extent of the
supervision exercised by the Department OF
Justice. Should the control be transferred
to the District authorities? The work OF
the reform school for girls. Does the school
provide for all necessary cases? Conditions
of the mcst economical management.
from these schools? Subject: The In
sane; the Deaf and Dumb: the Feeble
minded" To be heard: DR.. Godding of st.
Elizabeth's DIR. Gallaudet of Kendall
Green. Mr.. Lewis of the board of children's
81 ardianS.
The provisions for the care of the District
| insane and the method of commitment.
The deaf and dumb of the District at
Kendall Green.
The feeble minded; in what institutions
placed; comparative cost at various insti-
tutions; increase or decrease in the number
of cases.
The Commissioners Letter.
At the meeting this afternoon Chairman
Mcmillan laid before the committee writ
ten report frcm the District Commission
ers, which was not read.
This letter gave d detailed statement as
to the distribution of the annual appro-
pTldllO.A Ol Slo,VU iOi tEt Iei-l VI
poor.
The Associated Charities.
Secretary Wilson of the Associated Char
tiles briefly outlined the scope of work of
that organization. He said it the
aim of that body to organize charitable
work. Private funds alone are used and
no governmental aid is solicited He
thought a board of charities should be es-
tablished in this city, which would have
to Of he nYnY mn n n
Congress to dispense. all charity funds.
DR.. Van Reipen of the board of managers
| of the Associated Charities concurred in
Mr.. Wilson's statements, and said he de-
sired to add nothing thereto.
Mr.. Janney of the committee on charities
| of the board of trade was then heard. He
| said the board of trade had considered the
question of charities for some time and
| had concluded that a board of charities
| should be organized. He thought about
nine members should constitute such a
| board.
| Mr. H. B. F. .Lacfarland of the commit
| tee on charities of the board of trade, fol-
| lowed Mr.. Janney, concurring in what he
| had said.
Mr.. Macfarland advocated turning over
| to the Associated Charities the $4,000 an
] rually appropriated for charitable work.
| Mr.. Macfarland thought that the board OF
| chiidren's guardians should nave jurisdic
| ton of all child-Caring work, and no child
! should be made a charge upon the appro-
! priation until it had been made ward of
| the board Of children's guardians and de-
clared proper subject for help.
In response to questions, Mr.. Macfariand
| said there would be no difficulty in secur-
| ing competent men to serve upon a beard
| of charities without pay, and ii would only
! he necessary to employ a paid secretary
Nho should be expert, upon charity
| work He said, in answering a question,
| that the organiza ton of A board of chari-
| ties would broaden the scope and lessen the
| cost of the work. He believed. speaking
hi
gIess for charity was inadvisable