Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-27
CONTRACT SYSTEM
Suggestions in Regard to Appropria-
tons for Charity.
THE VIEWS OF Mr.. HERBERT ". LEWIS
Specific Compensation to Institu-
tons for Services Rendered.

tons for Services Rendered.
PROVISION IN ESTIMATES
In the report of Mr.. Herbert W. Lewis.
the District superintendent of charities for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1899. esti-
mates of appropriations for several insti-
tutions are made with the following pro-
V:so: Under contract to ne made
by the Commissioners of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, not to exceed &c. The
Institutions to whose appropriations this
proviso is attached are the Columbia Gar
field. Providence. Freedmen's. Washington,
Chi,dren's and Homeopathic Hospitals; St.
AIMS and the German Orphan Asylums,
National Association for the Relief of Des-
titute Colored Women and Children, tho
Newsboys and Chldrens Aid Society, and
the Home for Incurables. The proviso is
not 1t is stated, made applicable to the
board Of children's guardians. the Industrial
Home School, the reform schools. the In
stitute for the Deaf and Dumb, the Wo-
mans or the Young Woman's Christian
Homes,' nor the Hope and Help Mission.
Inc Commissioners have, it is further stat
ed, approved the recommendations Of the
superintendent Of charities, and inquiry is
being made as to what will be accomplished
by placing the proposed plan in operation.
These purposes, If carried out, will give
private charitable institutions specific COM
pensation for public service rendered, I'M
der contracts with the Commissioners, in
stead Of as at present, In lump sums, bear
ing no proportion it is claimed. to the SER
vice rendered. Inquiry is also being made
as to why such an arrangement is to be
made applicable to some institutions and
not to others.
Mr.. Lewis Views.
"In regard to the first proposition" re-
marked Mr.. Lewis today. in conversation
with a reporter of The Star. cit appears to
me to be fundamental that the power and
duty to raise money by taxation and to
expend 1t for public service are those which
can only be exercised by public officers, and
that whenever the attempt is made to dele
gate this power and duty beyond the dis
erection of those to whom they are by law
confided the first principle Of proper public
service is violated.
1.-The duty of providing for the care and
relief of the helpless and unfortunate is
public in its nature. in so far as it must be
done at public expense, and should to that
extent be kept within the control of public
officers who are held responsible for their
management of public business. To hand
over this work to private corporations,
however, organized or for whatever pur-
poses they exiSt-to be under their sole
control and mana gement, but supported by
the public-is to lay aside a part Of impor-
tant public duties and to invite contention,
confusion and dissatisfaction on the part
of those who are. or imagine themselves TO
be, less highly favored in the distribution
than others.
81 assign, therefore, as the first reason
for urging the payment of money appro-
priated for charitable service only as COM
pensation for specific service, the abiding
conviction that such plan is in con-
fcrmity to accepted business principles gov
erning all other public service, ana that
to depart from them is to court trouble
and confusion. The private institutions, op-
Grating in whole or in part at public ex-
pense, offer themselves and their resources
for the accomplishment of charitable work
which, but for them, would presumably
be done wholly at public cost. They de-
sire to be left entirely free in the deter
mination of the part Of the work which
they will do, and they choose that part
which is least expensive and least trouble
some, or which appeals most strongly to
them.
1.-The public authorities are morally
chargeable with the responsibility of
ing the whole work of charity and reform
provided for by public appropriation prop
erly conducted; but they find that having
assented to the appeals of institutions for
appropriations and for freedom to choose
their own part of the charitable service
to be performed, the most expensive and
troublesome and least attractive part is left
undone, and there is neither resource nor
facility for it's accomplishment.
Second Reason.
IT give, then, as the second reason for
urging the contract system that it is SIM
ply the assertion of the right and duty of
conducting the public business in view of
the public needs.
THE plan ought to be uncbjectionable It
agreement with the Commissioners as to a
ra tie of compensation for the service which
they propose to render, at the request of
the Commissioners. and at public cost
and that they will thereafter be paid from
appropriations for such service in proper
ton to its amount and value. If under
such plan any institution is able to earn
more than the amount which the Commits
sioners are authorized to pay to it during
any year, there will exist very good ground
for urging an increase for the next year;
while II any cannot earn the full amount
appropriated, it will be for the reason that
there is no public need for the work which
they propose to do There certainly will be
no institution found insisting upon receiv-
ing public funds which it admits 1t cannot
earn, and there will be no valid objection
raised to the policy Of paying all for what
they do.
"Under the proposed plan Institutions
would render monthly bills against the
District for the amount of work done, prob
ably expressed in number of days of board
and care of inmates. at the rate agreed
upon. These bills would be promptly au-
dited and paid Having earned the money
the institutions would own it and there
would be no necessity for making reqUisi-
tions on the United States treasury or re-
turning vouchers for expenditures. There
would be no more necessity for keeping
separate accounts of public and private
funds or having treasurer made a bonded
disbursing officer of the United States
treasury. If a treasurer gave a bond it
would be to the institution and not to the
United States.
1.-THE institutions will be in as full con-
troll of their affairs at present for they
car still prescribe the classes of inmates