Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-16
"KETTLES, NO MORE.
Commissioners Refuse Permit for
That Method of Soliciting Charity.

Commissioners Refuse Permit for
That Method of Soliciting Charity.
The Christmas holidays this year will be
marked by the absence of kettles" and
other receptacles on the busy downtown
street corners for the purpose Of collecting
contributions from the generous public. The
Commissioners have put a ban on this
Christmas custom, and the various chari-
table associations which have practiced this
method Of making collections in the past
have been notified that their representa-
tives will not be permitted to stand on the
streets and solicit contributions, and that
they might as well abandon their Christmas
dinners to the poor. which in the past have
been famous. This action on the part Of the
Commissioners is based upon the recon-
mendation OF Major Sylvester, chief Of po-
lice.
In former years this form OF collecting
money for the purpose of making the poor
and sick happy and comfortable on Christ
mas was only practiced by the Salvation
Army, but this year four other organiza-
tons made application for the privilege,
and Major Sylvester decided that 1t would
not only be abused, but too much public
space in busy neighborhoods would be &C.
cupied, and traffic would be interfered with.
In recommending to the Commissioners to
taboo it he reported that while the law for
bids the occupancy of public space for pri-
vate purposes. the only question with re-
gard to these applications is whether such
occupancy is for the public good. con-
templated by the law.
The five applicants for the privilege were
Adjutant William s. Quirk. representing
the Salvation Army; E. A. James of the
American Salvation Army; Mrs. ]. Haslam
of the Homeward Bound Rescue Mission,
the Gospel Army and the Central Union
Mission. According to the police each one
intended to place kettle with an at
tendant attired in a Santa Claus costume.
at the corner of 7th street and Market
space northwest. If this had been permit
ted, the Commissioners contend, the pedes-
TRANS would have had difficulty in passing
the corner because of the crowding and the
constant blockading. 1t was chiefly ac-
count of this fact that Major Sylvester
whose duty it is to keep the highways free
from blockades, and to keep the holiday
crowds moving" placed his veto upon the
requests.
AS money collectors these kettles" ii is
presumed, must have been extraordinary.
The Commissioners stated that while they
are in hearty accord with any movement
that would afford the poor chance to be
well Toasted on Christmas day, they could
not, in consideration of their duties, permit
such wholesale practice on the street
corners. They have explained, however,
that If the public is anxious to contribute
to a Christmas dinner the donations may
be forwarded to the Associated Charities,
with directions where to place it. They
say ludt IL IL timely the SodlNdtloH ARMY Will
receive many contributions in this way, as
it's cause is popular and well known to the
public. and there Is no question about the
methods practiced by the army in disposing
of the money collected in this way. Another
official, when speaking upon this subject,
stated yesterday that numerous complaints
have been made at the District building
about the irregular methods of several re-
Hgious and charitable organizations, which
have resulted in the good intentions of the
respective managers being questioned.
1t has been suggested to the Commission
ers in connection with collecting money
for charity, especially dinners for the poor
on Christmas, that the collections be sent to
a working committee appointed for that
purpose by the Commissioners, as is the
case in San Francisco, in order that the
money collected might be distributed In a
proper manner and any evidence Of fraud
would be eliminated.