The Washington herald., 1908-03-12
BENEFACTIONS OF THE RICH
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

per year among HIS feIlow-men and has
offered 10 pay the Mexican national debt
Similar activities are under way In other
countries.
What impresses the foreigner more
than anything else. perhaps. in connec-
ton with American philanthropy. is the
businesslike way IN which the relief Of
the unfortunate is carried on in this
country. Everywhere there is system.
The Hebrews, especially, conduct their
charities IN a systematic manner. The
movement toward united action in char
table enterprises is growing in America
There is now state supervision OF chart
ties in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio,
Kansas. Pennsylvania. California. Mich
igan, and a number OF ether States, and
there IS as little politics as possible in
the management It has been proposed
10 have the Federal government assume
charge Of philanthropy in the United
States. just as there is a state depart
ment OF charities in Prussia and other
European countries. Another idea that
has been suggested for improving the
American charity system Is one which
would be imported from abroad II is
the sale OF charity stamps, the proceeds
70 go 20 worthy charities.
Great as have been the activities Of
American philanthropists. there is still
wide field open 10 them. II seems that
the worthy objects OF philanthropy are
constantly changing and increasing. The
establishment OF children's Fairgrounds.
the erection of model tenements. for ex-
ample. and similar activities. We're not
thought Of half a century ago. and the
end of evolution in philanthropic work
is not yet.
John d. Rockefeller was recently re-
minded by Senator Tllman Of the neces-
sity OF keeping UP with the times IN max
ing benefactions. The two men were rid
ing in q train through the South when
Mr.. Tillman told his companion that as
a result OF the philanthropy OF rich men.
the negroes in the South were being
better educated than the poor whites
Mr.. Rockefeller promised TO remember
and act accordingly. The next day he
attended a negro church 10 begin a study
OF comparisons with a view 70 wider
work
That philanthropy IS becoming fnterna-
tional in its scope is evident from the
activities Of the Red Cross Society Il
has been predicted that the time Is not
far distant when rich man may offer,
and have his proposition accepted to
buy the independence OF a wear race.
Andrew Carnegie offered 70 buy the in
dependence Of the Philippine Islands
some years ago. but his offer was re-
garded as so quixotic that II was not
seriously considered.
That both the philanthropist and the
sociologist have much 10 do is shown by
a recent census bulletin on benevolent
Institutions. 1t shows that there are
4.207 benevolent institutions in the Unit
ed States containing nearly 800 900 in
mates. and that the annual cost OF
maintaining these is over S55,0O0,000 In
addition 10 these institutions. there are
orphanages and chndren-s homes with
80, ,2S9 inmates, day nurseries with 1871.
and hospitals with 1.06i5l2 Dispensaries
now treat about 10000 cases a year
The number Of inmates Of perma-
nent and temporary homes FOR TIE in
digent is about 100000 yearly; blind and
deaf in homes and schools aggregate
14.75l. while there are 70.O09 blind and
nearly s0.oo0 deaf in the country. The
insane in hospitals number 10000. and
the feeble-minGed IN institutions num-
Der 1900. AlmshOuses in the United
States contain 1915 paupers. And all
these are reached by the benefactions of
the rich
TO-mOrrOw-ArbOr Days in Amer
len.