The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-08-11
AIDING PRIVATE CHARITIES.

Should public money be expended In
aiding private charities? There has
been a sharp issue raised on this point
by the Society for the Prevention Of
Cruelty to Children in New York city
The comptroller Of thit city has ques.
toned the propriety of such uses OF
public moneys. and has taken the trou.
BILE to consult many of the men, In
different parts Of the country who have
studied the matter. This was done
through a committee Of the Charity
Organization Society. The committee
made a report, an extract from which
10 as follows:
'TO aid us in this question we have
sought to ascertain the practice OF
other large cities in the United States
and the views of persons throughout
the country whose experience and pro-
fessional standing give weight to their
opinions. The result has brought out
the exceptional and unique position
which New York occupies among all
American cities in making large grants
to private charities, and the equally
striking unanimity Of expert opinion
against such grants. A large majority
Of the twenty or more persons with
whom we have correspondent, and who
may be regarded as authorities on the
subject, emphatically oppose the policy
of appropriating funds from the public
treasury to private agencies. They
take the position that homes for de.
fective children, societies for the pre-
vention OF cruelty to children, child
ren's aid societies. newsboys' homes
and lodging houses. orphan asylums,
homes for the aged, general hospitals
special hospitals, dispensaries, homes
for fallen women, general relief socie-
ties, special societies of various kinds
having relief funds. bureaus Of chart
ties and charity organization societies
should all be private charities. sus-
tanned entirely by voluntary contribu-
tons"
Some of the replies received by the
committee express positive views:
Prof. John Graham Brooks. lecturer
II economic and social topics. writes:
THAT the giving of public money 10
the unweeded mass of private charities
is a dismal failure is clear enough,
and two-thirds of 1t ought clearly TO
be stopped at the earliest possible
date"
Prof Henry w. Farnam of Yale
University writes: "On general prin-
ciples ! feel strongly opposed to- the
practice of supporting so-called private
charities from public funds. A charity
which is supported by taxation ceases,
in my Judgment, to that extent To be
a real charity"
Ernest p. Bicknell. General Super
intendent, Bureau OF Associated Chari-
ties, Chicago, H., writes
Replying to your inquiry OF the ed
inst, concerning the apportionment Of
city money to private charitable insti-
tutions, would say that in my opinion
the only safe rule is To give public
money only to public institutions"
Fred II. Wines. Assistant Director
Twelfth Census, Washington, d. c.,
writes; In reply to your letter OF May
%, ! think IL is very we'll known by
every one who has ever read or heard
any of my public utterances on the
question that | do not believe In sub
slides from the public treasury to prI-
waite charities"
Other opinions against the giving OF
public money 10 private charities are
by Robert Treat Paine of Boston,
James II, Reynolds Of New York Miss
Julia G. lathrop Of Hull House, Chit
cagO; Miss alpha u, Smith, General
Secretary of the Associated Charities
of Boston, ana Prof Charles II, Cooley
ot the University of Michigan.
These opinions are based upon the
present social conditions IN the States
II II practical rather than a lhooret-
teal question, II the state h, for
any reason, unable Co supervise tho
charities, then public moneys should
be- devoted 10 the assistance VI private
charities The rule Is correct one,
that publir money should be- expended
py pnbllr Oripors - that como SON ~
responsibility may br secured