Evening star., 1909-04-11
MAY APPEAL GAS CASE BUSINESS MANS VIEW
Congress Should Modify Law Mr.. lisner Pleads for the
Says Corporation Counsel. Charity That Counts
BURDEN OF PROOF HEAVY GOOD RESULTS OF SYSTEM
Suggests Court Is Methods of the Associated
Wrong in interpretation Receive His Endorsement
RULING COULD BE REVERSED GIFTS woRTHILY PLACED
Change Bestowal of Charity Upts,
Legislature Rather Than
~.ughly of Local Organization.
Mr.. lisner Pleads for the
Charity That Counts.
GOOD RESULTS OF SYSTEM
Methods of the Associated Charities
Receive His Endorsement.
GIFTS W0RTHILY PLAC
Bestowal of Charity That Uplifts,
Rather Than Degrades, the Aim
Of Local Organization.

with a business view of the situation.
willing and ready to help with few dol
lars If adequate returns are assured. but
not willing to supply a cent if funds are
liable to be wasted. / have somewhat
thoroughly investigated the Associated
Charities, and find that association COM
posed of men and women loyal, earnest
and able, doing the most and best possi-
BILE with the funds at their disposal"
This is the strong Endorsement of the
Associated Charities by A. Lisner. pro-
prietor of the Palais Royal In an inter-
view yesterday Mr. Lisner voiced his ap-
proval of the Associated Charities, the
Citizens Relief Association and the Asso-
citation for the Prevention of tuberculosis
In highest terms.
The charity that uplifts rather than
degrades, he declared lis to nv mind
best exemplified i'm the three associations
to which considerable attention has been
directed of late. That such organizations
should be allowed to fail for want of nee
essary funds will seem astonishing ta
many who rightly conclude that WASH
ington is not lacking in sufficient num-
bers with hearts In the right place and
pocketbooks ready to be opened Then,
why the slow reply to the cry for finan-
cial aid? Is 1t not because the assaci-
ations are not properly understood? To
the business man the Associated Charities
Is the most important factor, burdened
with the responsibility of disbursing the
funds
A Purely Business View.
with business view Of the situation,
willing and ready to help with a few dol
lars If adequate returns are assured, but
not willing to supply cent if funds
are liable to be wasted, 1 have some
what thoroughly Investigated the AS
At
tiOn composed of men and women loyal,
earnest and able. doing the most and
best possible with the funds at thei-
disposal. That equal ability and in
tegrity used in almost any other field
of endeavor would bring any one Of
them a better reward in dollars an:
cents is my experience as a business
man.
Il have elaborated upon this point
because, even among the charitably IN
clined, 1 find at times complaint OF the
expense incidental to the dispensing of
the funds. Gratuitous service of the
| charitably disposed would be. to my
| mind, expensive in comparison because
it is liable to be spasmOdic, and il con
tinuous may prove lacking With serv-
ices paid for the necessary ability must
be constantly demonstrated. results
must be always evident. Results show
that the Associated Charities is most
economically doing its work.
Its Methods Epitomized.
Let me point to some of the workings:
I'D Thorough diagnosis or investiga-
tion of every case of need by trained
social workers to ascertain cause of dis
tress and remedies therefor.
cd Painstaking treatment based on
such diagnosis with view to reach cause
Of poverty and remove it when possible.
"(3) Use of adequate relief to accom-
plish cure and prevent distress.
% Organization of all possible char
liable resources that are in natural rela-
tion to the individual family, such as
churches, employers, relatives and char
itably disposed individuals.
"(5) A friendly visitor or good neigh
Dor for each family under care, to give
counsel, encouragement and personal in
terest in the rehabilitation of needy fam
lilies.
"(6) Teaching of thrift by stamp-sav-
ing system and house to house visitation.
$12OO0 collected last year,
I'D Cooperation between all the
philanthropic agencies of the city that
waste and duplication of effort may be
avoided.
"6) Inquiry of applicants for medical
charity as to their ability to pay the dis
pensary charges.
.(9) Discouragement of indiscriminate
almsgiving, street begging and vagrancy.
QO The enforcement of existing law
as to school attendance, child labor, sup
port of families by Sinking husbands.
Trinity Of Associations.
THE Citizens Relief Association sup
plies the funds for the purchase of fuel
food, milk and eggs, and other necessi-
ties. This association is made effective
through the Associated Charities. whose
agents undertake the distribution eco
nomicaliy and effectually.
The Association for the Protection of
TuhercniOSfS ia doing Snlon6iH n
work, supporting a free dispensary, sup
plying visiting nurses and organizing
special home treatment.
Thus Washington has trinity of as
SOciattons that are one in purpose, nobly
struggling for the betterment of social
conditions. working with heart and hand
and thoroughly worthy Of our financial
support. i hope and trust my statement
hearts and reach the purses Of sufficient
numbers to make good the deficit of
$1,OUV now existing.
Poverty Disease.
Among other cordial Endorsements of
the work done by the charities for which
the joint finance committee is making
it's earnest appeal IS the following from
DR.. William C. Woodward, health officer
Of the District. DR.. Woodward speaks
from an intimate acquaintance with the
are attempting to meet and solve:
Il take pleasure in recording my hearty
approval of everything that the Asso-
ciated Charities, the Citizens Relief AS
sociation and the Association for the Pre-
vention Of tuberculosis stands for. Pow
erty is a disease of the community. While
the acute symptoms may manifest them
selves only in certain places and under
certain conditions. yet its remote inf1u-
ence permeates our entire civil life Its
Limitation depends upon the scientific
study of causes and upon the discovery
and application of proper Gun at.ve and
preventive measures.
when our people can be made to
realize that this is the case there should
be no difficulty in obtaining such funds
as may be necessary for continuing and
extending the work Of the organizations
named above
Contributions Acknowledged.
Howard S. Reeside acknowledges for the
Joint finance committee the following
amounts:
,,,I .tr,ff,