The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-10
by BENJAMIN c. MARSH.

BY BENJAMIN C. MARSH.
In his presidential address at the
National Conference of Charities and
Correction in 1906 Dr. Edward Z.
DeSine st1ted:
III I have rightly conceived the
dominant idea O: the modern philan-
thropy II IS embodied in determine
tion to seek out and TO strike effec-
lively at those organized forces OF evil.
at those particular causes OF depend
cnce and intolerable living conditions
which are beyond the control of the
individuals whom they injure and
whom they too often destroy" IT Is
unfortunate that one of the most bril-
liant opponents OF organized charity
in the country. while so clearly dag
nosing the conditions. should 40 fun
damehtally confuse the functions OF
government and charity as to include
among the functions OF philanthropy
tacks which are wholly the func-
ton and duty of government 10
accomplish. II is significant, how
ever. of the attitude of many charity
organizations and their leaders toward
problems In the solution of which
charity has no part. DR., DeYine has
Clearly recognized that the evils with
which charity has dealings cannot be
combatted by charity
Learn From Abroad.
Eve must learn from abroad, now
ever. in a large measure tho fact thas
government alone can deal WIN THESE
problems and to confess from our own
eXperIence that church and charity
have completely failed In the e'tort 10
usuru the preroEatives and exercise
the functions Of government Charity
has been he pallat.ve, and with Few
executions has not been successful.
Conferences OF Charities and 'Correc-
tion have for years been tnTeighlns
against tho interference OF politics IN
charities. It remained for an asgrsk-
siye organization. the Bureau OF NUM-
cipal Research, in New York. to recog-
nize that tho more rational procedure
,s the proper organization OF govern
ment. so that it may be compelled 70
perform cfIlciencly the service when
which 1t clearly must perform. ana
for which 1, alone can secure nec"s-
sary funds.
"The most striking illustration OF
the need for governmental action y
10 be found in the present land sYs-
TEN ii, American cities and our system
of taxation. For over half century
the charitable organizations OF Ne"
York City have been striving to secure
decent housing conditions for thas
city.
After many elaborate Investigations
and reports and final upheaval. tens
cment house law was passed in 1907,
which has indeed given New York a
fairly complete and model system OF
warehousing It's Inhabitants. but which
can by no means be considered as fur-
nshing good housing plan Tor the
community. Under the provision OIL
this tenement house law the density
of population per acre. dark rooms and
bad ventilation, and the covering by
buildings of an enormous proportion OF
the sites of the lots. has been permitted
which should not he possible in any civil
lied Community. tits possible under this
law 10 erect high tenements through
out Greater New York and duplicate
tho conditions which have caused 50
many of the problems of charity IN
lower Manhattan. y
Startling Conditions.
This. moreover. is being done partlc-
ularly in the Bronx. The inveski CATION
conducted by the committee on con-
gestion of population into the lano
system of New York has revealed some
tionto land in the hands of apparent
" few owners. More than one-twenti-
eth Of the assessed land value of Man
haitian Cover sl45,000, 000) is owned By
eight families, estates and corporations
One and lightweight one-hundredths
per cent. of the total acreage Is com.
r prised In these same eight holdings
Speculation inland has proceeded SO tal
in Manhattan. and evenin those parts Q
the boroughs of Greater New Yorl
that are accessible for workers to tn
manufacturing districts. that 1t Is I'M
possible for the workman. even though
earning $3.50 s year, to rent piece 9
ground in addition to his house. !
Z Will be only by the action OF govern
ment in restricting the usc to whicl
land may be put that this eXplottatio,
Of the pG,Gra can BE anu
Instead OF attempting to prevent tn
exploitation Of land In New York. som
Of tic charities have encouraged It .!
rewardIng landlords for their specu
TITS Ut is very significant that ono Of tn
largest charities OF the city paid II
one year over 100000 for rent 10
poor families. ~,
is it entirely a coincidence !, that la IN,
charity was obliged 70 close rs uo1 =,
during the past year because II az
not, have funds, with which to respon'
20 the demands made upon 1t?
Foreign Methods.
Foreign methods of dealing Wit
khis e%ploitation OF land, this crue
pweating of the limited commodlt
whics every OHIO must use, carries q
significant lesson to American citle
and lis is a rebuke to the folly Of our char
& ity, Several German and Austrian
rities have for years had system 9
town planning by which communlt
Needles III advance what its develop
y ment shall be. and by q system Of pre-
gentive measures protects the welfaf
of its present and future citizens
Town planning Is the name by whlc
this provision Is designated. TO accom-
pllsh this four distinctive function
lre Involycd
I, The limitation OF the area With
which factories may be located Oil,