Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-13

the District of Columbia. It.. was clearly
manifest to Congress and to the public that
the present constitution and arrangement
of the various charitable institutions is
| lacking to some extent in good business
methods and operating to considerable
degree as a perversion of charity. No
blame can reasonably be attached to those
interested in and. governing these institu-
tons and carrying on charitable work, and
whatever faults exist may be attribut-
: ed to the SYSTEM. In the past it appears
| that when charity was actually required
benevolently disposed people supplied the
want by their labors and contributions, and
this was the origin of many institutions
| They frequently grew and enlarged their
work beyond the ability of the founders to
adequately maintain them. and in some
cases were weakened by the loss Of zeal
or withdrawal of those originally interested
or the increased work demanding larger
amounts of money; and so appeals We're
finally made to the government for support
| in whole or In part. Thus hospitals and
| asylums have been provided for under the
supervision of the District government and
different departments of the national gov
eminent. The inevitable result of this all
has been an inequality of support for serV-
| ice performed and the extension of charity
| in directions where a large portion was I'M
deserved or uncalled for. The Commission
| ers and committees in making their annual
estimates and appropriations were In doubt
and more and more confused every year as
| to what assistance was right and proper.
|
three senators and three members of the
House Of Representatives, was appointed by
| Congress to investigate the subject or char-
| tiles and reformatory institutions In the
District of Columbia existing under the
| authority contained in the District OF Co
| lumbia appropriation act approved June IL.
1885, and March 3, 1897. Many sittings were
| held and voluminous testimony taken. On
March 81. 1893. the report of the result of
| their investigations was made to Congress.
| The report Is a comprehensive treatment
of the subject of charities in the District
| OF Columbia, and 1t would repay any one
interested in charities to obtain and read
| this document for the valuable information
and enlightenment they would obtain.
| Committees Report.
| After referring to the creation Of the COM
| mittee and their course Of investigation the
| committee In their report say In part:
lowing to the lack Of cooperation among
the institutions Themselves and the neces-
| sity Of securing the means for supporting
even limited ariIounp of work, 1t has been
| impossible in most instances to carry out
| progressive ideas5 and as result the chart
| ties of the District arg far behind those IN
| operation in other communities. The blame
| for this state of Affairs does not rest pri-
| MARTY with the ffrs titdtions themselves, FOR
in almost every fnstaHce the organizations
present records o&oself7 sacrifice on the part
of the individuals and of real devotion to
| the cause of charity.
| indeed, considering the pecular conoi-
Conditions inSo,y 5as aeomparatively shor;
residence on the part Of so many people.
and also the large tnfiux to the capital city
of persons who have mo real claim to the
charity Of the residents. the committee has
been surprised TO find an amount OF public
spirit and private benevolence which II
would be difficult to strpass in communities
where wealth is greater and where the time
| of residence of the Individual citizen mas
been much longer. "
lat the same time the District owes to
certain of its dependents q duty which II
should not seek to transfer to merely vol
untary organizations supported by private
gifts. The COMMITTEES therefore Woulo
draw the line between the duty owed spe,
officially to society in taking care OF certain
classes OF dependents and that charity
which may best be exercised by churches
and benevolent organizations toward the
poor and the needy. with whom such organ
izations are brought into Immediate con-
| tact"
The committee. in its report, recommend.
ed to Congress to provide for board OF
charities which should have the power te
visit and inspect all Institutions that receive
appropriations from Congress and that are
OF charitable. eIeemosynary, corrections
or reformatory character. and that no pay.
ment be made for the care. support. OF
! maintenance Of such charitable. eleemosy'