Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-21

Surprising Amount of BencvOlencc.
Indeed, considering the peculiar con-
dit.ons affecting the District of Columbia,
cor dtions involving comparatively short
residence on the part of so many people,
and also the large influx to the capital city
of persons who have no real claim to the
charity of the residents, the committee has
been surprised to find an amount of public
spirit and private benevolence which It
would be difficult TO surpass in communi-
ties where wealth is greater and where
the time of residence of the individual citi-
zen has been much longer.
Moreover, the fact that Washington as
a residence city is every year attracting
persons of wealth and leisure from all parts
of the United States, and the active and
il telliSent interest many of these people
are taking in District pr ilanthropy, make
it fair 20 assume that the amount of money
available for charity in the District of Co
lumbia viii increase considerably with ev
cry year. provided only some system can
be- arranged by which individuals can be
interested in the various charitable works,
and ct the same time can be assured that
their gifts will be wisely and effectively
used. The success of almost every insti-
tuition with which the committee has been
called upon to deal can be traced to the de-
votion of one or more members of its board
of management, and it would be mistake
for Congress to adopt any measures which
will terd to make all of the charities of
At the same time the District owes to GER
tain of its dependents duty which 1t
should not seek to transfer to merely vol
u1tary organizations supported by private
gifts The committee therefore, would
draw the line between the duty owed spe-
officially to society In taking care OF GER
tain classes of dependents and that charity
which may best be exercised by churches
and benevolent organizations toward the
cor and the needy with whom such or
e. nizations are brought into immediate con-
tact
The problems presented in the District
of Columbia, while both numerous and
grave. are by no means incapable of solu-
TOE. Indeed. most of the difficulties that
are pressing for settlement here are
essentially similar to those that either
pressing various states and cities, or that
already have been met elsewhere. More
over the history of legislation in the Dis
government came into operation shows
conciusively that every one who has been
called upon to deal directly with the chari-
ties of the District has recognized the prob
lens which have beset the committee, and
has urged the solution which the commit
tee now recommends.
Information Vninly Sought
1.-THE earliest reports of the Commission
ers Of the District of Columbia make ap-
peals to Congress for a central board of
charities to coordinate the various insti-
buttons. and TO make suggestions for i'm
provement so that Congress might act in
telligently In the matter of appropria TONS
Congress also las repeatedly called
upon the Commissioners of the District for
information which would enable that body
to deal with District charities In n COM
prehensive manner, but hitherto the ex-
pected results have not been reached. In