Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-09
RESPONSE TO CHARGES
STATEMENT By MANAGERS OF
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
Revision of Constitution Providing for
Additions to Board - Work
Done in February.

| The board of managers of the Associated
| Charities held its regular meeting yester-
1 day afternoon in the general offices of the
| association at 81 G street. There were
present Prof B. T. Janney, chairman; Mr..
| John Joy Edison, Mr.. Frederic l.. Moore,
Mr.. J. B. T. Upper, DR.. George NJ. Kober
| and Mr.. Charles F. Weller
| Among other subjects considered was the
| report that some citizens have charged the
Associated Charities with encouraging idle
ness and complicating the servant girl prob
lem by giving aid to families in which there
| were able-boded people who should be en-
| ployed. The board took this occasion to re-
| iterate it's policy, which is that no aid shall
| be given in any case without thorough
| personal investigation by a trained agent by
| visit to the home of the applicant and in
| quiries as to the applicants circumstances,
| references. vigorous condition, possible en-
| ployment and all other points bearing upon
| the case. All the agents of the association
| are under constant instruction to give no
| aid to people who are able to work and fail
| to do SO. Members of the board stated that
| these rumors were probably due to old sto-
ries which had some foundation eight or
nine years ago, when aims We're diSburSed
! from various sources without any adequate
| investigation of their recipients.
1t was suggested at the meeting that
wise aid is sometimes given by churches
| and other relief agencies who fail to ask
reports from the Associated Charities con-
| corning the families who appeal for as
sistance: In SO far as cooperation in these
| lines is incomplete, hurtful charity is posi-
| bic, but in so far as the records of the As
| ISOLATED Charities referred to by all
charitable workers, it is certain that the
encouragement of idleness will be prevented
and that self help will be promoted among
needy people.
Request for Information.
The Of To 10
public a general request that any person
| knowing of instance in which agents of
| the Associated Charities have encouraged
ldleneSS, or dependence be asked to report
at once to the general secretary of the as
ISOLATION in order that any mistake may
be remedied and misunderstanding re-
moved The board also states that any
citizen who has any doubt in regard to
the thoroughness and the careful consider
alton with which the work of the Asso-
c1ated Charities Is done will confer favor
upon the board of managers by visiting
| any or all of the offices of the association
examining typical records, interviewing the
agents and studying the details of the work
| as closely and critically possible. 1t has
been the experience of the board that the
| more people know of the work of the
association. the more friendly approval they
are certain to have for its purposes and
methods.
Resolutions of sympathy were passed by
| the board for the family of one of the
board members. Mrs. ]. w. Babson, whose
daughter, Miss Myrtle Rose Babson died
suddenly on Tuesday, while serving as a
volunteer friendly visitor among families
living in the extreme southeastern portion
of the city.
Revision of Constitution.
special committee was appointed to
submit suggestions for the revision of the
| constitution and bylaws of the Associated
Charities in the light of the experience
gained through the actual work Of the last
five years. The chief point suggested for
revision was that the number of members
of the board of managers should be in
creased in order that the active workers
in the seven divisions of the association
might be more adequately represented upon
the board. The latter includes fifteen MEM
bers and it was suggested that the con-
sttution should provide for board COM
prising from fifteen to thirty-five men,
bers, thus addowing valuable active work.
ers to be added from time to time to the
management of the society
The secretary was instructed to search
for larger building in which to locate
the general offices of the association, which
now occupy two rooms which are made
quate for the work which has to be done
The secretary was instructed, If possible, to
ma building which would accommodate
not only the general offices of the Asso-
ciated Charities, but the central offices of
other charitable organizations, whose close
cooperation is desirable.
~ SPcCidi SoiHitiitlcc representing the
seven division agents of the Associated
Charities waited upon the board yesterday
to submit a plan proposed at the agents
meeting for the holding of a special rally
of all the volunteer active workers of the
association, in order to bring together the
300 volunteers, as well as the small corps
of paid workers who represent the move
ment in Washington. The agents suggested
that they would like to arrange this con-
ference in the form of an evening dinner
at which each person who attended would
pay for his own dinner. The board ap-
proved this plan of the agents, with the
specific understanding that no money what
ever should be drawn from the treasury of
the Associated Charities for the organfza-
ton of this meeting, but that all the ex-
perses of the latter should be met by the
persons who attend the rally.
The Work Done in February.
The secretary reviewed the statistics of
the work accomplished by the Associated
Charities during the month of February
There were LAO applications from needy
families and from business firms. church
workers, charitable organizations, dispen-
saries. nurses, school teachers and private
citizens interested in needy families. In
all there were l, 157 families who received
charitable attention from the agents of the
association; material aid was administered
1881 times during the month to 600 fam
lilies, of whom $50 families were helped with
the funds Of the Citizens Relief Associa-
ton. In % cases aid was given through
appropriate Institutions and organizations;
correctional and legal aid was administered
in As instances. There were 43 children who
were provided With clothing in order that
they might be enabled to attend public
school, In "A instances special help for the
sic;i was secured. For the free dispensaries
50 Investigations were made
The agents of the association were as
sisted by 80 volunteer workers during the
nlcnth of February. There were /, 1874 visits
made, and reports concerning cases of need
were sent out to interested inquirers in 39l
instances. Division conferences held twelve
meetings during the month.