Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-18
UNDER ONE CONTROL
Project to Combine the Jewish
Charity Institutions.
NOVEL IDEA FOR GOTHAM
Some of the Heads Do Not Approve
Plan.
BANKER SCHIFF FAvORS IT
Some Doubt as to Whether It is Pos.
sible to Get Complete
Harmony.

NEW YORK. March 1S.-All the jewish
charities of New York, including the hos
pitfalls, homes and other institutions, are to
be united under one control as the result
of a meeting held yesterday at the Hotel
Savoy. This step was taken only after a
long and lively conference which was pre-
sided over by Supreme Court Justice Green
baum. Thirty-five institutions, including
all of the large ones supported by those
of Jewish faith. were represented by one
more OF their directors. and many OF
the wealthiest and most prominent Jews
In the city took sides in the discussion.
Many in the gathering were women.
The object of combining all the chari-
table institutions under one oversight is to
economic in administration. principally in
the matter of solicitors for funds. and also
to increase the sum total of subscriptions
from the Jewish community, which now
aggregate about H.5O0OO0 annually.
Banker Schiff Favors Plan.
When the movement was first proposed,
some time ago, by a number of leading
philanthropists, who associated themselves
the Federation of Contributors. It
aroused strong opposition on the part OF
the Mount Sinai Hospital. the Hebrew
Sheltering Guardian Society and the Home
for Aged and Infirm Hebrews. The direct
ors of the Montefiore Home considered the
proposal and did not reach majority de-
cision one way or the other. Jacob III.
Schiff of the board told his brother direct
he was in favor of the plan for union.
as he believed 1t would enable the insti-
tutions to get as many men well able TO
contribute to charity. but who now hold
aloof the vague plea they are already
giving. BY comparing lists. Banker Schift
argued. these individuals who said they
gave, but didn't. could be smoked out.
NJ G.htf hno httt fs
ments We're advanced yesterday by others.
Joseph Levenson of the Young Mems
Hebrew Association. who was formerly
inheritance tax commissioner, spoke against
the plan for unity of control. His investi-
CATION showed, he said, that only . or
per cent of all the wills probated in New
York contained charitable requests. Public
opinion had not been educated TO give WILL
ingly. If all the charities were united much
of the incentive for working in aid of any
one particular institution would be lacking.
Many Oppose the Scheme.
Julius Goldman secretary of the Fed
Grafton of Contributors, declared that a
comparison of the reports of the various
Hebrew charities revealed the fact that
Il per cent of the $1,000 public contributors
restricted their offering to some one insti-
tuition. Others who spoke against the plan
were Lawyer Louis Marshall of the Jewish
Theological Seminary directorate, solomon
firm Hebrews and Banker James Speyer.
The latter, who had just returned from
his conference with President Roosevelt at
Washington. reached the meeting date.
The Jews of New York" Mr.. Speyer
said, ARE doing splendidly in their chari-
ties. They have nothing to be ashamed of.
They exceed those of any other American
city in their charitable deeds. l do not
see the necessity for any change in our
methods. l wish to be left to contribute, in
my own way. to such institutions as L
choose. l should hate to disclose. in one
subscription, how much l was annually
giving to charity. l should probably de-
cline to make my subscription in any such
manner if asked to do so. Another thing
is in these days of talk against truss and
combinations uniting all the charities Will
concentrate too much public attention on
the net total fund collected"
Majority Adopts Unified Control.
Banker Blunenthal of LaZard F'rer2s fol-
lowed Mr. Speyer in inveighing against the
consolidated scheme. There would not be
harmony among the institutions. he said.
Leopold Stern, Nathan Myers of the He
brew Technical School for Girls and Nathan
Blur of the United Hebrew Charities were
among those who advocated the unification
of the charities. Lawyer BLUR read letters
to show that the plan, although opposed in
Chicago and Philadelphia on the same
grounds here, had proved great sue
cess. Subscriptions had increased and new
institutions had been established.
After three hours of hard fighting on
both sides the question was put to a vote,
and seventy-nine favored and only fifteen
opposed trying the plan of unified control.
it being formally agreed by resolution that
the scheme was not to go into effect until
the subscriptions amounted to $4,000, Of
which 100000 was to represent increases
over last years subscriptions by the donors.