The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-12
TIE BOARD OF CHARITIES
1t Will Meet and Organize at the
District Building Today.
The Former Superintendent n Candi-
date for Secretary to the Hoard
What Ills Friends Sny-Strong OPP
position Against Him Has Made It
self FeIt-A Little Inside History.


The new Board of Charities authorized by
Congress IN the act approved June 6. 1902,
and recently appointed BY President Nc
kinney, will hold its first meeting in the
District Building at o'clock this after
noon. The members of the load are John
Joy Edison. s. W. Woodward Simon Wolf,
George w. Cook. and DR.. Charles p. Neil.
Commissioner Mcfarland, who has i'm
mediate supervision OF the District CHI ri
ties, will be present and welcome the mem-
bers of the board TO the apartments st
apart by the Commissioners for their uss.
The first duty of the board will BE- 10 Or
ganize by choosing a president and vie
president, as directed by law. The board
will also select secretary, for whom Con-
gress has provided an annual salary of
$4,000. This position is one OF RESPONSE
bilty, as the secretary will be charged
with carrying out the wishes of the beard,
and will be, in fact. both its secretary and
executive officer. 1t is first of all posi-
ton for an expert in the matter of clari-
ties, and then it is one for man of la &c
talent, wise judgment, and one pos ssed
of the ability to command the confidence
and respect of those with whom he may
come in contact
Ii is understood that the former Super
intendent OF Charities, Herbert w. Lewis,
is candidate for the position, and that
up to ten days ago, when he was taken i'll,
made an active canvass for the appoint
ment. Furthermore, Mr.. Lewis and mis-
friends expect that he will be the choice
OF the Board, and it has been limited that
no other name would be proposed for the
position. 1t is claimed by the friends Of
Mr.. Lewis that his long familiarity with
the conduct of the charities Of the Dis
trict, together with his deep study Of
charity problems make his services in
valuable to the new Board, and that II
would be folly to look for anyone else 10
take the place.
But there is a little inside history 10
the creation OF the Board by Congress, and
to Mr.. Lewis administration of the Office
Of Superintendent OF Charities, which puts
quite another phase upon the subject. 1t is
limited that the motive for creating the
Board OF Charities was to get rid Of Mr..
Lewis. II is we'll known that for years
he has been bitter opponent of granting
money to UNCONVENTIONAL or other chart
ties in lump sums. He has insisted strenu-
ously upon paying charitable Institutions
for the work done. He has fought for this
principle on all occasions to the annoyance
of all concerned.
He not only set forth this opposition in
annual reports but In his recommendations
to the Commissioners of specific allot- !
ments of charity funds and in similar
to the committees OF
Congress. In short the Superintendent of !
Charities could be depended upon to OPP !
pose anything which went beyond the APP !
plication OF District funds. other than by |
the contract system
This opposition was carried to such an |
extreme, 1t is said, as 10 embarrass the !
authorities Of the District. In the Con-
yressional committee rooms the Superin-
lendent was regarded, some say, as a null
sance. and the testimony Of more than one
member Of the District and Appropriations
Committees has been that his notions were
such as could not be embodied in legisla-
ion without making the two chambers OF
Congress ridiculous in the eyes OF the peo-
Die.
1t was limited while the bill creating the
Board OF Charities was under considera-
ion that it was for the purpose of taking
he important matter Of the District char
ties from the hands Of one man OF auto
ratio tendencies Of mind and placing them
n the hands Of a commission where the
Judgment OF several men could find express
sion.
such a record opposition to Mr.. Lewis be-
ng Secretary to the new Board should
lave arisen. 1t is said that the opposition
las made itself felt upon the Board, and
hat the former Superintendent of Chart
les will have by no means an easy road
o appointment. Those who do not favor
dr. Lewis, 1t is said, have been carrying
N campaign against him quietly but eff
ectively. There has been no demons,ra-
ion, but the objections urged against him
re believed to be of sufficient weight TO :
e final. Those who did not think well of
ir. Lewis as Superintendent would think
o better Of him in the chair of Secretary.
nd it is understood that among those who
re determined that he shall have nothing
lore to do with the District charities are
enators and Representatives who have
lade their opposition known even at the {
White House.