Evening star., 1901-03-27
NOTES ON CHARITY REFORM
PAPER READ BEFORE THE An
CHRONOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
DR.. George nj. kOber's Discussion of
Conditions i'm WashingtOn-Other
Features of the Program.


large and the papers were very interest
ing. The program was as follows: THE
Making of a Life Mask" by William Pal
mer; presentation of Assyrian seals and
magic bowls, by DR.. I. Casanovicz and Of
remarkable stone knives, by President Will
liam H. Holmes; THE Ill Health of Charles
Darwin; It's Nature and Its Relation to
His Work." DR.. w. w. Johnston; "The Re-
suit of Charity Reform in the City of
Washington Since 1s93,' DR.. George M
Kober.
DR.. kober's paper was more than gen.
orally interesting, because of its local char
acter, and because it's author Is one who
has given much thought and time to the
subject he discussed. 1t was as follows:
ut may not be without interest to review
the work accomplished in charity reformsi in
this city, especially since the organization
known as the Associated Charities ceased
to be, in 1896, a reief-giving body and
adopted the more rational plan of first in
VeStigating the merits of applicants, and
If found worthy to that aid is prompt
ly furnished by some of the cooperating
relief organizations. In brief, the object
OF this society now is to prevent aid being
given to unworthy persons, but to extend
willing hand and even seek those who in
their sturdy, self-asserting manhood prefer
suffering to charity,
Associated Charities and Methods of
Investigation.
For this purpose the society employs
general secretary, who is an expert in mat
ters of charity organizations, and student
of sociological questions. He must, of
course, have clerical assistance to carry
on the voluminous correspondence, and also
a number of field agents. The latter, six in
number, with two assistants, are all wo-
men of special training, and have each a
modest office in different sections of the
city, where applicants or their friends call
in the forenoon. The afternoons are de-
voted to visiting the homes of applicants.
II after thorough investigation the agent
deems the case a deserving one, she sees
that the right kind of help is extended
through public and private charities,
churches or benevolent individuals indeed
in many instances the best form of relief
is hndlng employment. 1t will be readily
understood that these Investigations In
volve the exercise of considerable tact and
Judgment, and must be painstaking, as 1t
Is absolutely impossible to deal with a case
lntelllsently and justly, unless all the facts
are known; careful record is kept to-
gether with the disposition or treatment of
the case, and placed on file for future ref
erence.
Cooperation Essential for Success
In order to accomplish the most eff
fective work it Is highly desirable that pri-
vate individuals and all relief-giying bodies
should refer their applicants for investiga-
tion to the Associated Charities since if
these bodies were to act independently,
there is nothing to prevent an applicant
from securing relief from several or all
OF them at the same time. If these bodies
or individuals prefer, however to make
their own investigation they should at
least send reports to the central organiza-
tlon so as to be compared and Implications
and impositions eliminated.
IF this is not done, incalculable harm
may be done for well as eYpreSnad hv
Mr.. Wilson. Many persons would rather
beg than work, and many will make the
excuse of being unable to find work. If
they think relief can be easily obtained;
some will even leave work to ask for re-
lief To give relief in such cases Is not
only to waste funds, but to do positive
harm to those whom We would help.
Indeed, even in deserving cases relief Civ
ing is a dangerous thing for the recipient,
and should only be recommended in emer-
gency cases, or as last resort. 1t is but
one way Of dealing with an applicant but
it is not the only way.
For this reason one of the objects of the
Associated Charities is to supplement ma
terial and by friendly visiting, which shall
gradually build up habits of industry, saw
ing and self-control among the less for
tunate and to this end organize q body of
volunteer visitors. Until this association
has a sufficient corps of volunteer workers,
much of this personal service In the way
Of seeking employment, teaching them bet
ter ways of living and pointing out op-
portunitfes which may lead to self-support
and Self-reSpect, must be done by the
oVerworked but ever loyal division agents,
who, in my judgment, by reason Of their
special training are in fact the most COM
petent of all advisors. Time will not per-
nit me to go into the details Of the work.
except to say that during the past year
these agents made not less than 2S,SO3
visits.
Former and Present Expenditures.
'We will now consider some of the re-
suits accomplished by this healthy effort
in charity reform. Justice Cole In his re-
port president of the Citizens Relief
Association, for 1899, is authority for stat
ing that from 1891 to 1895 the central re-
lief committee collected and distributed an
average Of from 100000 to $50, 900 annually
in money and supplies This was done
practically without any system of investi-
cation. The following year 1885, with the
beginning of the new era, the same object
accomplished by an expenditure Of
only $12 721.45; in 1897 $14,5SS63 were ex-
pended; in 1898 Sl2, ,246.51 in 1899 S12 245.ss44
and in 1900 s12, ,4O3.01.
In other words. the annual expenditure
Of $500 to $4,000 by the Associated Chari-
ties for salaries of a general secretary,
clerks, field agents, office rents, ETC., for
this central bureau of investigation and in
formation, has saved the community from
$4,000 to $4,000 a year, not to mention
the greater and more beneficial effects in
preserving the manhood of individual ep-
piicants. and the prevention of pauperism
by fndiscriminate giving.
THE Associated Charities from 1896 to
1900, both Inclusive investigated 12.502
families or cases, representing 37,S42 per-
sons, and procured relief through cooper
ating agencies for all deserving cases, rep
resented by 1888 families The society
found employment during this period for
1,O16 persons. while temporary employment
was frequently found. at a time when most
helpful In connection with the street clean
ing department during severe snow storms
In casting up the statistics for the past
five years I find that the number Of fani-
lies requiring assistance has steadily de,i
creased from 1.797 in 1896 to LAOS in 19Q6,
and this, too, In spite of the fact that our
population has increased at least 10 per
cent
Provident Savings Fund.
Zone of the most important services per-
formed by the agents Of the Associated
Charities is the encouragement of small
savings among the poor This work was
commenced in 1885, the amount deposited
by ninety-four persons being S7. 80; 1897,
by 2O3 persons, $276.50; 1898, by 33s persons,
$50 25; 1899, by 6S7 persons, 81 4l4 Sb: 1900,
by 947 persons, 81, 134.45.