The times., 1901-05-27

field. however, there has been a concen-
tration of the charitable system of the
District which will more fully go into
effect with the beginning of the next fis-
cal year, July l. Speaking Of this matter
TO a Times reporter, George S. Wilson,
Secretary of the Board, said
The creation of the Board of Charities
by Congress was with a view TO bringing
about the proper concentration and CO.
ordination of the charitable service of
the District. Heretofore each charitable
institution and organization has made it's
appeal TO Congress for money and, of
course, persons interested in a particular
institution always felJ that that special
institution or organization was the most
important; and while almost every per-
son was convinced that there was tend
ency for charitable institutions to multi
ply unnecessarily, yet in no case would
the representatives Of any particular in
stitution admit that their particular
charity was one OF those that might be
discontinued or consolidated with others.
Hence Congress was obliged To listen to
The claims of all and decide among them
The Board of Charities is held respon-
Slbie lot the Work OF all charities in the
community aided by public funds and is
required TO make q report covering the
whole field and TO submit estimates for
ganizatiOn and coordination Of the vari-
Gus branches of the work, because the
Board is interested primarily, not In the
institutions themselves, but In the deppnd-
ents who must be cared for.
The Board, as the representative Of
the community, has imposed upon il the
duty OF providing proper care tor the de-
pendent classes, and its effort is directed
toward accomplishing this in the most
humane and economical manner; hence
the Board VIII recommend the maiute-
"a sFE 14r4h Incl .4t &.
best serve this end. IN other words II
is the duty of the Board to survey the
whole field, find what is needed, and then
determine upon the best mems of TDeat-
ing this need. And as every possible need
cannot be met at once the Board must
discriminate as between more and less
urgent demands.
This is only Introducing the theor-,
that obtains IN the other branches Of the
District government. II would be iTuDOs-
sible for Congress TO grant avo~ythino,
asked for by every interest in tbG CON- Con-
muhtty- Hence the District Commission
era IN making up their estimates of an
preparations, having considered the gen
eru welfare, recommend the things most
conducive in their judgment to the gen
eral good
In n, speaking Of the general advantages
I ~ IN pHblc oI the establishment of the
io"ard of Charities. Mr. Wilson said that
IL was the means Of concentrating the at
tehtlon OF some Of the best uc0pie IN the
community on the difficult problems
tory work anu ''ioiiiia-
The members of the board. s." he said
serve without compensat ton ana accent
Jhe position simply because Of their desire
TO further the interests Of the community |
at large. The law requires the Board 10 |
meet at least once every month. but il
mas been found necessary so far 10 meet |
much more frequently than this in order |
TO give the attention deemed necessary
TO enable the members 10 make intclli-
gent reports and recommendations con !
cerning their work
During the period of about ten months |
since the organization of the Board ii |
has held tweHty-eight meetings and tho |
was 40, the membership of the Board |
being five Many of the meetings have
been protracted night sessions"
Secretary Wilson spoke Of a visit to the |
Asylum by the members of |
the Board, accompanied by the Engineer /
Commissioner Of the District and the In /
spector of Buildings. OF this delegation |
four had never before been inside the /
almshouse, work house, etc, OF The asylum.
While the purpose Of the visit was 70
look over the reservation and select a |
site for the new wcrlShouse building, |
Mr.. Wilson spoke Of what was disclosed |
to these men as revelation" hc deems
1t matter Of great significance that the |
charitable system Of the District viii be
administered by nVc repre- /
sentative and intelligent citizens.
The changes in administration inaugu-
rated by the Board and provided for by |
Congress were enumerated by Mr. Wilson |
as follows:
The contract system with the hospitals
providing for q specific payment for spect-
iic service on the contract basis instead |
Of n lump sum appropriation as hereto
fore; the separation of the almshouse
from the workhouse. and an appropriation
Df money to purchase land for new
aImshouse; an act prohibiting the send