The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-05
CARNEGIE ON WEALTH.
Says That All Surplus Wealth Should
 Be Distributed.

The problem of our age is the proper
 administration of wealth; that the ties of
 brotherhood may still bind together the
 tionship, writes Andrew Carnegie in The
 Delineator for December There is only
 one mode of using great fortunes. That
 is one by which the surplus wealth of the
 few becomes the property of the many.
 and by which this wealth passing through
 the hands of the few can be made a more
 potent force for the elevation of the race
 than if distributed in small sums to the
 people themselves. The millionaire is but
 trustee for the poor.
 The man of wealth should become, after
 providing moderately for the legitimate
 wants of those dependent upon him, the
 mere trustee and agent for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his su- perior wisdom, experience and ability to administer, doing for them better than they would or could do for themselves. 1 Wise men will soon conclude that, for | the best interests of their families and l of the state, bequests to their families and of the state, bequests to their de- scendants are an improper use of their means. Beyond providing for the wife | and daughters moderate sources of in- comes and very moderate allowances, if any, for the sons, men may well hesi- | tate. The thoughtful man must shortly say: T would as soon leave to my son
 curse as the almighty dollar" He must admit to himself that it is not the welfare of the children but the family pride which inspires these legacies.
 Rich men have it in their power during their lives to busy themselves in organ izing benefactions from which the masses l of their fellows will derive lasting ad- vantage and thus dignity their own lives. | In many cases mans bequests are so
 used as to become monuments to his fol- l ly. The day is not far distant when the
 man who dies leaving behind him mil l lions of available wealth, which was free l for him to administer during life, will l pass away. "unwept, unhonored and un- l sung" Of such the public verdict will l be, ''The man who dies thus rich, dies 1 disgraced."
 It Is as important in administering l wealth as in any other branch of mans l work. that he should be enthusiastically l devoted to it and feel that in the field l selected his work lies. Tn bestowing char l ity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves. Neither the individual nor the race is l improved by almsgiving. The free libra ry is the best gift that can be given to community, provided the community will accept and maintain 1t as public institution as much a part of the city property as it's public schools, and indeed as an adjunct to these. It is reserved for very few to found universities. More { good is henceforth to be accomplished by adding to and extending those in ex- istence. Y have summed up my principles of giving in the trust deed for the benefit of the Carnegie institution at Washing | ton, D. C., in which said deemed 1t to be my duty and one of my highest privileges to administer the wealth that has come to me, as trustee in behalf of others, and entertained the confident belief that one of the best means of dis charging that trust Is by providing funds | for improving and extending the oppor- l tunity for study and research in our country. Moreover gave my trusteen full power to modify the conditions and | regulations under which tho trust is dis-