Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-13
The Charities Contributions.

In the criticisms Of the Associated
Charities which have lately been individ-
ually voiced there has been evident con-
fusion Of that organization with the
Board of Charities. The two bodies have
no connection. the one being wholly vol
untary association of people engaged in
the work Of assisting individuals in solv-
ing the problems of life and the other be-
ing an official body charged with the duty
of directing and supervising the expendi-
ture of public funds appropriated in aid
of certain institutions and esta blishments.
The Peters bill, now pending in Congress.
proposes to place the work now done by
the Board of Charities under director
to be named by the Commissioners. 1t
makes no reference whatever to the AS
sociated Charities, which does not lie I'M
der the jurisdiction of Congress, inasmuch
as it is not supported in the slightest de-
gree by public money.
Another misconception is evident in this
discussion. the latest contribution to
which is a strong, clear statement OF ex-
PLANTATION issued by the board of managers
of the Associated Charities. Critics OF
this organization point to the large per-
centage of so-called charity money"
spent in the upkeep of the organization
in salaries and other expenses. They
charge. both directly and theoretically. that
an insufficient amount is devoted to what
they broadly denominate as charity, but
which should specifically be called aims.
As matter of fact, the Associated Chart
ties, though engaged in large work of
individual relief, is especially organized
for the purpose of maintaining an organ
ization which will permit an intelligent
distribution of aims in cases where direct
relief is necessary. The money needed to
support it may be regarded as founda-
ton investment for the prevention of
waste and for the yielding of a maximum
of good results from the funds available.
1t is entirely unfair to criticise TIE AS
ISOLATED Charities because the money
which it receives is spent largely for the
upkeep of its own organization. IF any
citizen Of Washington desires to give aims
to the poor directly and exclusively
and does not wish that any of his con-
tributions shall be spent upon the ma
chinery of distribution, he can accom-
plish this result by contributing to
the citizens relief committee. which
is collecting agency. and which in
its disposal OF the funds intrusted to it,
respects the specific desires and requests
of subscribers. The fact that the citizens
relief committee utilizes the Associated
Charities as agency of distribution in
no wise lessons the efficacy Of the aims
thus given. Many people give aims di-
rectly through the Associated Charities,
using for this purpose the so-called
golden book fund" which is a segregated
resource for emergencies and for direct or
individual charities.
To criticise the Associated Charities for
criticise the peope who give the money,
for they do so with their eyes open and
with knowledge of the use to which
their contributions are to be put These
TO the Associated Charities
are also large contributors to the aims
giving funds of the citizens relief COM
mittee, the churches. the missions and
other similar agencies. 1t doubtless
seems an extraordinary situation to
these benevolent men and women that
they may not spend a portion Of their
charitable offerings in supplying ad-
machinery TO satisfy them
selves that their aims go only to the
deserving. with the result of diminish
ing poverty instead of pauperizing the
recipients, without subjecting them
selves to be berated by non contribu-
tors TO the Associated Charities fund
and menaced with supervision by the
Commissioners OF their methods of ex-
pending tehir own charitable donations
of money.