Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-14
Superintendent Lewis Points Out the
Necessity for 1t.
REVIEW OF HIS own LAB ORS
imperative Demand of Public Aid
to Institutions.
AN INTERESTING TALK

Speaking today to a reporter of The Star,
Mr.. Herbert W. Lewis, the District super
intendent Of charities, made the following
statement relative to the proposed board
Of charities:
THE office of superintendent of charities
was created by the enactment of provso
to the District of Columbia appropriation
bill approved August 8, 1880. The neces
sity for some controlling or directing influ-
ence over the expenditure of public funds
for charitable purposes had grown more
and more apparent from year to year as
the contention for the subvendon of new
institutions and the increase of the ap-
preparations made in aid of those already
established became more insistent. 1t was
seen that as appropriations were increased
efforts to secure income for charitable in
situations from other sources were relaxed,
and there was decided tendency to insist
upon larger and larger measure of pub
lie support under private management; and
that the public charitable work of the Dis
trict was drifting altogether out from the
control of public officers, and that they
were held responsible for the recommends
ton OF ever-tncreasing appropriations, but
given no voice in the decision as to the
expenditure of the funds thus appropriated,
although they were well aware of waste,
duplication and misapplication Of effort
and expenditure.
Control Required.
The institution Of the District had been
investigated first by the board of police
surgeons, then by one after another of
the persons specially appointed by the
Commissioners for the performance of that
duty. and the unvarying report was to the
effect that some effective control was re-
CURED not only in the interest of the gov
eminent, but of the institutions which from
this nature were and necessarily must re-
main public Institutions; such as the aims
house and work house, which were crowded
down into miserable conditions of support
and maintenance by the absorption by the
private charities of all justiiable increase
in charitable appropriations.
In snort, 1t was seen that so-called
charity at the expense Of congressional APP
proprlatiens was tremendous power to
set at liberty in a community, and that to
leave it without proper guidance was about
as reasonable and safe as it would be to
send locomotive under high pressure
charging over rails with no one at the
throttle
THE superintendent provided for by the
act of 1880 was required to formulate such
a. system or plan of organized charities for
the District as vol by means Of CONSOLE
dation, combination or other direction, in
his judgment best secure the objects con-
templated by the several institutions and
associations for which appropriations are
made, with the least interference each with
the other or misa pplication of effort or
penditure, and all such appropriations shall
be expended for the purposes indicated I'M
der the general direction of said superinten-
dent and near as may be in conformity
with such system or plan. subject to the
approval of the board of Commissioners of
the District Of Columbia
Steadily Resisted.
LAS to the presentation of plans for the
consolida ton, combination or other direc-
ton of the charities of the District, that
work has been done. Such plans have not
been brought forth all at one time or yet
fully developed. No great measure of sue
cess in securing the adoption of tho parts
Of them most urgently demanded and most
plainly practical has been attained but
they are before the people of tho District
and the Congress for discussion and ac-
ton. AS to the expenditure Of appropria-
lions 'fn conformity with such plans 1t
has, with a few notable exceptions, been
steadily resisted by those who have in
mind what they conceive to be the best IN
terests of some one institution, or who fear
that under the plans proposed they will be
unable to advance the special interests of
some church or school of medicine or class
Of persons in whom they ere particularly
Interested and for whom they are anxious
to give time and exercise their talents in
the administration Of charitable enter
prise.
Too Much for One Man.
Thus the office of superintendent of
charities it exists at present has COM
pleted one part of the work for which 1t
was created. and as to the other, 1t is evil
dent that 1t can make but little progress
1t was pretty large expectation that
single official would be able to guide the
expenditure of more than 100000 in con-
formity with plan which he would origt-
nate or adopt when his functions We're to be
purely advisory and persuasive, and when
there were many who for one reason or
another would consider it matter of
conscience to oppose.
''Of course. without the adoption and put
The Many=Toned "Crown"