The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-04-14
NESSAGSN N|THODTW|RES ASSOCIATED CHANT|ESDA
MORE LIGHT ASKED UPON THE
SUBJECT.
Doubts About the Efficacy of the
Proposed Organization Objections
Fairly Stated by Friendly Critic.

Editor Star: The movement to or
ganize an Associated Charity Society
has been discussed for some time, sew
eral meetings have been held and va
rious articles on the subject have ap-
peared from time to time in all the
Honolulu papers. An article i'm last
nights Star induces me to take up the
subject, because l, like others who
for many years have contributed our
share to one or more benevolent sOcie-
ties i'm Honolulu, do not think the ma
jority of those who support said So
cieties understand clearly what the
objects of the proposed Associated
Charity Society are.
The Star says: There has been
ample time for the various charitable
societies to be informed as to what
charity organization means and their
officers will be able to decide today
whether the city is ready for such an
advance or not"
When speaking with an officer of one
of the charity societies a few days ago,
l was told the main object was to bring
all societies into one organization,
make one fund out of all funds now
belonging to the different societies, so
that all needy persons could be pro-
vided for out of one fund.
Another one said Many dollars are
paid to people who are not really in
posed upon and defrauded that a check
must be placed on the funds.
In regard to making a common fund
| out of the funds of all the societies, I
| say that the national benevolent So
cieties" (American, German and Brit
| ish) would in short time find their
membership to be materially decreas-
| ing. These societies, like fraternal or
| ders, do not go beyond their own
| spheres except perhaps on extraordina-
| ry occasions and as patriotism plays a
| large part in keeping these societies to-
! gether, l fear that neither the Ameri-
| can Relief Fund, the British or the
| German Benevolent societies would
! last more than a few years.
I AS to fraud: l would like to ask
how many such cases occur during the
! year? Has there been so much that
| the formation of a society with paid
| manager and paid assistants Is war
ranted? During my experience, ex-
tending over nearly twenty years,
cannot recall six such cases of fraud
That charitable people are imposed
upon Is true and will be true as long
| as people are charitable and i think
| that they are as much to blame as any.
one. | have seen time and again thai
| a busineiS man down town is asked FOL
a dollar and that he is glad to get rit
| of the applicant by handing to him the
| amount. DO you believe that this vii
stop it if an organized charity society
| is formed? I say no. the people who
allow themselves to be imposed upor
! are the only ones that can stop It,
1t has been said the manager is tC
| receive a salary of $3.50 a month. Il
not that a large sum to begin with
| Suppose the two assistants receive So
and office rent and incidentals amoun
to $50 more: we have an outlay of $780,
| a month Does any one mean to say
that the different societies are impos
ed upon to the amount of $500 a year
You evidently think so, as you say
What is aimed at is the protection o
the various societies from unwarrant
ed raids upon their funds"
/ should like to see a plain statemen
published as to the aims and objects
of the Associated Charity Society, 81
that every one that contributes hi
money towards charitable societies cal
see what is sought to be accomplished
as I do not think that the officers o
the different societies should alone de
eide such an important undertaking
Hoping that the above will be taken u
by someone interested in the move
ment, as well as by yourself, l sub
scribe myself,
CHARITY.