The times., 1898-08-06
EXCLUDES CHURCH UNIONS
Sectarian Societies CannOi Share
Appropriations for the Needy.
Many ADDITIONAL REPORTS
superintendent of Charities Is In
formed OF the Work Done at Eari-
Gus Benevolent Institutions -
Lieut.. Amiss Suggests Changes
Concerning the Fifteenth Street
Transfer station

Church societies have been withheld
from participation in the s2S.0JO which
was appropriated by Congress to be dis
tributed for charitable purposes by the
Board of Childrens Guardians.
The Acting Comp roller of the Treasury
yesterday replied to any inquiry upon the
matter by the District Commissioners.
advising them not to pay any OF the
money included in the appropriation to
any church or religious denomination.
nor 10 any institution or society which
is under sectarian or ecclesiastical con-
troll.
The ruling thus established by the Act
ing Comptroller is an important one, and
is set down in his letter in the follow
ing language:
II have received your letter of the 18th
ultimo. asking whether the Board OF
Children's Guardians is authorized, In
view of the clause in the District appro-
priation act of March 3, 1897, TO con
tract with sec,arian institutions Tor the
care OF wards of the board
.'The clause In question is as follows:
And il is hereby declared 10 be the
policy of the Government of the United
States TO make no appropriations oil
money or properly for the purpose OF
founding, maintaining or aiding by pay
rnent for services. expenses. or oLhei
wise. any church or religious ueholhiHd-
tion. or any. institution or society "hic"
is under sectarian or ecc.esiastlcal con-
troll; and it is hereby enacted that, from
and after 5he 3Oth day of June. 1879 ho
money appropriated for charitapie pul
..ff
he paid to any church, or religious oe-
nomination.. or 10 any institution or So
c;atv which is under sectari2n OF &c
clesiastical control
.The appropriation for the maintenance
of the Board of Chi,dren's Guardians CON
ta4ns the following provision:
For care of feeble-minded children
board and care of all children committeu
to the guardianship of sad board by the
courts of the District, and for the tempo
rary care of children pending inVesdsa-
ton. or while being transferred from
place to- place. S2S,ee1-'
..'This appropriation is found in the Dis
trict of Columbia appropriation act Tor
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 In
that act are many appropriations for GER
tain institutions which are understood to
be under sectarian control They are the
same appropriations that have been made
from year to year. The clause in the act
of March s. 1897. declaring the policy of
the Government in regard 10 appropria-
tions for sectarian institutions, is not in
volved in the question which you have
submitted.
The latter part of the clause, howev-
er, which enacts that after June 90 1898.
no money appropriated for charitable
purposes shall be paid to any institution
under sectarian control. is permanent
legislation, and in my opinion. applies to
the present case. The appropriation for
the Board of Childrens Guardians is an
appropriation for charitable purpose
and should be expended in conformity
with this law.
Il have the honor to advise you. there
fore. that no part of this appropriation
can be paid to any church or religious de-
nomination. nor to any institution or So
ciety which is under sectarian or eccle-
siastical control