Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-19

Robert De Forest,
President Charity Organization, New York.
w. De Forrest president of the Charities
Organization of New York city, delivered
the principal address, which was followed
by an entertaining report by Mr.. Charles
F. Weller, secretary of the local Associated
Charities.
DIR. Wallace Radcliffe, pastor of the
church, opened the meeting with PRAYER
Prof. Charles p. Neill read the minutes of
the last meeting, and announced that an
aoJourned meeting will be held December
y, at the First Congrega tional Church for
the purpose of making certain amendments
to the constitution of the Associated Char
tiles.
Report Of Mr.. Hopkins.
Mr. Hopkins report was then read, of
which a portion follows:
The work of the Associated Charities dur
ing the year ended July 1, 1904, cost
$11s533O, or about $1,000 per month The
chief expenditure was for the trained per
sonal service of seven division agents, the
general secretary, and the other workers
who devote their entire time to the relief
and upbuilding of the needy. Their salaries
amounted to SS,97O.34 for the year. The ex-
pend1tures included rents. 81 800; postage
*ooo.o0; telephones. $3227 rs: printing, 1896
street car fares, $3.50 Additional items
necessary for the maintenance of eight Of
hces and the prosecution of the society S
extensive work completed the total of
$ll9o33O, already mentioned.
Contributions to the Associated Charities
amounted to s13.372. 90 last year This, with
| the balance of $3,930.37 in bank July l. 1903.
left IN the treasurers hands on July l. 1904,
balance of 1929 90. This has sufficed to
carry the work until the present time
To those of us who have been familiar
| with charitable work in Washington for the
| last ten or twenty years It is a cause of
n he IDOL
economy of funds well as the increased
helpfulness which has been developed in the
Associated Charities work during the past
decade. few years ago thirty to fifty
| thousands dollars worth of material aid
was sometimes disbursed in a single winter
These wholesale distributions were man
| aged with so little administrative expense"
| that the very men who served the relief
| committees of those days have since stated
| their conviction that these relief funds did
| more harm than good, because they encour-
aged idleness. shiftessness and chronic
pauperism Through the present methods
| and work of the Associated Charities a re-
| lief fund of from seven to ten thousand dol
| lars Is made to accomplish more adequate,
| prompt, sympathetic and wholesome results
| in the relieving of distress, while needy
| people are being aided to help themselves.
Both cash and character are saved.
| Any citizen who does not believe in lad
| ministrative expense of this nature Is in.
| vited to contribute to the Citizens Relief
Association, whose funds administered
| through the agents of the Associated Char
| tiles. are all expended for food, fuel and
| shoes for needy people.
We believe there are also a large number
| of thoughtful. public-spirited citizens who
understand that the Associated Charities
| work is both the foundation and the key
| stone without which the voluntary charity
| work of the city would be ineffective. order
| less, injurious. The finance committee So
| licits the assistance of every generous citi-
| zen in making known the extent and char
| curing the financial support for which 1t de-
ponds entirely upon voluntary contributions.
Development of Charity.
| Mr.. De Forrest spoke on the development
Of charity, declaring that the oldest Of the
charitable organizations has not been in
! existence more than twenty-five years.
Charitable effort was divided into three
| heads-childhood charity youthful charity
| and matured charity.
THE initial scope of most charity or
ganization societies." said Mr. De Forrest.
may be briefly summed up follows:
Scope Of the Organization.
Investigation of applicants for relief. so
| that aid may be given with knowledge of
their condition and surroundings. Treat
| ment of those who are helpable, not by
| mere doles, but according to the charity or
ganization motto: Not aims, but friend
| tinued until disability ceases, when material
| relief is found to be the need Cooperation
among all charitable agencies. No over
| tapping
THE lines of growth and expansion which
| have taken place in later years are well
| illustrated by the activities of the New
York society and of your Washington So
| ciety. Our New York society q speak of 1t
| first because l am most familiar with it,
| has developed the following distinct lines Of
effort:
"A plan for small savings known as the
| Penny Provident Fund, which operates as
| sort of conduit to the savings banks, and
has on deposit at the present time about
| 100000.
"a philanthropic pawn shop, known as
| the Provident Loan Society. which Is con-
| Quoted as a separate corporation. has had
I ten years of remarkable growth. and is now
! loaning upward of St, 000, co year.
Housing reform, which is in New York
tenement house reform. On the initiative
of the tenement house committee of the So
eiety President Roosevelt, then governor Of
| the state of New York. appointed the tene-
ment house Commission. This commission
| formulated the new tenement house law
| and an amendment to the New York city
| charter which created tenement house de-
partment. This legislation was enacted and
the new city department has now been en-
| forcing the new law for nearly three years.