Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-30
THE DISTRICT CHARITIES
The Commissioners Approve Bill for Creation
of Board.
Provisions of the Measure Under Con.
sideratiOn - Comments by MF.
Herbert w. Lewis.

Favorable action has been recommended
by the District Commissioners on the bill
providing for the creation of District
board of charities. The proposed measure
is similar to one introduced in the last
Congress, and the present report Of the
Commissioners Is almost Identical with the
one made by them on the first bill. With
their report the Commissioners have sub
mitted one made to them on the subject by
Mr.. Herbert ". Lewis, the District super
intendent of charities.
The bill provides for the appointment of
q board of five members, who shall serve
without compensation, the office Of the pres
ent superintendent of charities to corre-
spond with that of secretary to the board.
Mr.. Lewis states that he finds it impossible
to do the things which are made his duty
by the law creating the office, and that
his supervision of the accounts of institu-
tons is merely formal. since he has no
authority over expenditures either as to
of proper objects of public benefaction.
His plans for the collection of complete
information, he says, come to naught be-
cause Of the few who decline to report or
whose unbusiness-like methods make 1t i'm
possible for them to furnish the information
desired. One Institution denies the right of
the superintendent to inquire as to the
amount and sources of its income and an
Other refuses to- place in his possession
information from which he can ascertain
the quality and success of work. These
conditions might possibly yield to persua-
son and patience, but there is nothing to
prevent their being set up again at any
time. in his opinion.
Quotes Former Superintendent.
1.-The first superintendent of charities"
states Mr.. Lewis, recommended that the
office be abolished after two years expe-
rience, and that n board be set up in its
place. Various plans and recommendations
for the reorganization of the charities of
the District have been proposed during the
last four years by the superintendent of
charities and others, only to be deferred
while waiting for the action of one after
another of the various commissions ap-
pointed for the purpose of investigating
the whole subject. The joint select COM
mittee of both houses of Congress, after
Investigations continued through nearly two
years. made a report declaring that the
first step toward the efficient reorganization
Of the District charities is the appointment
of a board of charities
1.-The bill under consideration seems to
have been prepared from a. modification of
the Ohio law, with important elements of
the new statutes and the provisions of the
new constitution of the state of New York
The Ohio board has been especially vaIu-
able in that state, and the provisions en-
larging the powers of the New York board
are working admirably. The bill bears I'M
mistakable evidence Of extensive knowledge
of the work and organization of the vari-
Gus state boards of charities. 1t provides
for all that Is essential to the success of
such board, and Is not incumbered with
useless or experimental provisions