The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-09
PUBLIC AID FOR CHARITIES.
TliYINS~-0IRWB OF COMPTROLLER
COLER'S sU98ESTTONa

Citizens IN General Seem TO F0vor making
Appropriations to Private Institutions
on a Pro Rata Basis-BuIk of Public
Opinion with Him Too in His Advocacy
of Compelling Rigid Accounting OF all
Money Received and Disbursed-A Note
Of Alarm From Brooklyn Institutions.
Reporters for TIE SUN interviewed a num-
Der OF well known citizens OF New York yes
terday to obtain their opinions on the radical
change proposed by Comptroller Coler In the
city's policy toward charitable institutions Of
q private character. Comptroller Coler. in the
report on the subject OF municipal subsidies
to private charities which he submitted to tho
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment on
Thursday. gave the results OF n careful investi-
cation OF the system now followed by the city.
under which $3.131 5S051 was paid In 1893
for paupers In private institutions. against
1884. 456.4a expended in the same year
under the direction OF the Department OF
Correction and Charities for paupers
and prisoners Mr.. Oolers opinion. based
on the reports made to him by various
charitable societies. Independent nvestG gators
In the charities Fields. and his own observa-
tions. was that no lump sum should be appro-
priatsd to any institution that all institutions
receiving aid should be held to a strict ac-
counta biity therefor. and that there should be
no payments for inmates OF private institutions
except the account shall have been accepted by
the Com m issioner OF the Department Of Char
tiles as proper charge
WOULD AFFECT 236 INSTITUTIONS.
The changes in policy which the Comptroller
recon N ends will affect tho financial MANAGE
ment OF 1886 charitable institutions OF one kind
and another. Some OF them are large. Others
are insignificant. Some OF them are worthy.
Some. the Comptroller is convinced. are con-
Quoted with the sole object OF providing COM
g. t1
city provides the money which is given to them
from four sources-taxation. the excise fund.
theatrical and concert licenses. and tho school
funds. How the money is spent is in some
cases unknown to the municipal authorities.
and their efforts to get information on the sub
ject have been blocked and rendered useless
by tho managers OF the institutions. Here
are the opinions OF some OF the persons who
were interviewed by Sun reporters:
AS THE PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS SEE IT.
Warner Van Norden. Treasurer OF the New
York Association for Improving the Condition
OF the Poor. declared himself as strongly in
favor OF the general action suggested by
Comptroller Coler. Il have known and ad-
mired Mr.. Coler for years." he said. and I
have also had much to do with religious work
and the distribution Of charity is a religious
work. am opposed to paternalism in govern
mont in all forms. and believe that all chart
table and religious bodies should be kept poor.
! would not even have a church endowed.
Give us this day our daily bread we are
taught to pray. and this should apply as much
to charities and churches as to individuals.
Such organizations should rely for their income
from day to day upon the public and their own
work in making their worthy needs and work
known. For them to get to relying upon the
public purse for funds is demoralizing. and
hA ~ IL
rauperize the people. Perhaps wouldn't
10 SO far In all directions as Mr. Colsr
advises. but there is much Of g pod In what he
says. do not wish to 60 over the situation in
detail. but believe that in general way the
charitable work conducted in this city has
been carried or well and honestly. think.
however. 1t would be better II each institution
had to trust to itself for funds"
Frank Tucker. an agent OF the New York
Association for Improving the Condition OF the
Poor. said that the offlcers Of the association
were all in sympathy with the purposes set
forth in Comptroller Coler's suggestions.
"R. Fulton Cutting our President. and Howard
Townsend one OF our Vice. Presidents. and
myself" he said called upon Mr. Coler in
June. before Mr.. Cutting went to Europe. and
Mr.. Cutting told the Comptroller then that he
approved OF the idea OF readjustng the appro-
priations made by the city to public charities
II it will aid You any Mr.. Cutting said. you
may state that the New York Association
for Improving the Condition OF the Poor will
hereafter refuse to receive any money from the
city think the suggestion that all the money
appropriated should appear each year In
the city budget is one OF the best in the whole
lot and do not see how any one interested
could properly have any objection to II. There
are number Of details In tho Comptroller's
paper upon which express no opinion because
they do not affect us. but in all that does affect
us. the suggestions hrve my full approval. The
situation as it is now. has resolved itself prac-
tically into a distribution OF public funds
through private charities"
WORD OF CRITICISM.
Edward 7. Devine. the active man OF the
Charity Organization Society and editor of that
society's weekly publication. Charities. had
much to say in praise OF Comptroller Coler's
suggestions and something by way OF criti-
csm. Mr.. Coler." he said, has advanced
greatly In his grasp Of this subject since he
wrote an article for the Popular Science Monthly
few months ago. Then he criticised the
private and even some parts OF the pu bic char
tiles because they spent so much money for
salaries and SO little for aid. and no chose some
unfortunate examples to prove his assertions
1t happened that he hit upon q number Of in
stances where the legitimate work done in
OF teachers or OF investigators. and OF
course. salaries made up their chief expense.
Mr.. Coler has advanced in his knowledge OF
the situation and he now presents . report
which 1t 10 almost impossible for any one to
pick flaws In. There are but two points
which see to erticise-and these relate to de-
tail. Mr.. Colsr suggests In one part OF his re-
port that institutions which receive dependent
children should be Obliged to employ one
visitor for every 500 children. to investigate
and report as to whether the child was properly
dependent upon the State while in another
part OF the report he would have all cases in
Vestgated by the Department Of Charities.
This would result In conflict and l think as a
matter OF principle. that all Investigations
ought to be mRde by public department. Ny
second criticism is in regard to the manner
suggested. by which the comptroller alone
could hold up and mako void any appropriation
which had been made for a charity. In Mr..
Coler's hands such power would probably not