Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-11
RockefeIIer'S Benevolent Plans
Approved by Committee.
MURPHY EXPLAINS SCOPE
Definition of Purpose Would Set
Limitations.
CRITICS OF SCHEME ANSWERED
Only Amendment to Bill for Incor-
poration Makes Clear States
Rights to Taxation.

The bill to Incorporate the Rockcfei-
Ter foundation was ordered favOrabfy
reported today at an executive sessio,
of tho senate District of Columbia
committee, following the statem lat
made ny starr }. Murphy, the repre-
sentative of John ID. Rockefeller.
Mr.. Rockefeller now desires to have a
charter with such freedom of scope that
wherever there arises a human need the
board created by the charter will have
power to give help.
With the added explanation that the
benefits are not alone for the present
generation hut for future generations
Starr J. Murphy. one OF the directors of
the philanthropic projects of John d.
Rockefeller, thus outlined to the Senate
District committee this morning the scope
Of the charitable work to be undertaken
under the proposed Rockefeller founda-
tion.
Murphy Before Committee.
Mr. Murphy was called before the COM
mittee to explain the plans and pur-
poses of the Rockefeller foundation, the
Incorporation of which is proposed in a
bill introduced recently by Senator Gal
linger and now before the Senate Dis
trict committee.
Mr. Murphy gave the committee an esti-
mate of the money which the Standard
Oil maSnate expects to expend through
the Rockefeller foundation. The plan
inference from his remarks was that mill
lions will thus he dispensed.
The bill. which Mr.. Murphy discussed,
proposes that John d. Rockefeller. John
d. Rockefeller, jr.: Fred 7. Gates, Starr
J. Murphy and Charles o. Heydt may in
corporate themselves as the Rockefeller
Foundation. Its object is to be the bene-
fit OF mankind.
tion is empowered to establish charitable
agencies or 10 aid other agencies build
buildings. employ teachers. distribute
hooks and do practically anything COM
mon 10 charities.
Mr.. Murphy explained in general that
the charter of the Rockefeller Founda-
ton follows that of the general educa-
tional board. Incorporated by an act of
Congress. Mr.. Rockefeller, he said, has
found that charter of benefit. He desires
new organization however, that his
philanthropfc work can be broadened
along any desired line. Hence the appli-
cation is made TO Congress to incOrpo-
late the Rockefeller Foundation.
Scope of Foundation.
He pointed to the objects of the two in
corporations. set forth in the law Gre
: ating the general education board and in
the bill proposing to create the Rockefel-
Ter Foundation. 10 show the increased
breadth of scope, as follows:
The object of the said corporation
general education boar6 shall be the
promotion of education within the United
States of America, without distinction of
race. sex or creed.
THE object of the said corporation
Rockefeller Foundaton) shall be to pro-
mote the well being and TO advance the
civilization of the peoples of the United
States and its territories and possessions
and of the foreign lands in the acquiSi-
the prevention and relief of suffering. and
in the promotion of any and all the ele-
ments Of human progress.
1T is the purpose of the DONOR said
Mr.. Murphy, that the scope of the cor
poration shall be so broad that it may re-
spond 10 the demands of humanity as
they may arise
The charities of the fourteenth century
he explained, are not the charities of the
twentieth century: and those of the twen-
teth are not those of the twenty first cen
tHry. As set forth III the i'll. therefore,
the objects TO which the corporation s
funds are TO be applied are to be deter
mined by living men and not bound by
the Will of men long dead.
Definition Means Limitation.
Mr.. Murphy explained that he has
frequently been asked TO define with
more particularly the objects of the
foundation That is Impossible, he
said. because to define its objects more
definitely would be to impose a limita-
tion. and TO that the donor objects.
The form of incorporation, Mr.
Murphy explained, was adopted for the
Rockefeller as the result OF the ex-
perience under the charter of the gen.
erai education board He proceeded to
give a history of that board and of the
gifts of Mr.. Rockefeller to it.
II began in a modest way, he said,
when Mr.. Rockefeller gave II $1,000. 900
for promoting education. particularly
in the southern states. That work
proved successful and gratifying TO the
donor. he said He decided to extend
the scope of the boards work.
Many requests had come to him for
heip il was stated but IL was found i'm :
possible TO respond because OF the small
Office staff Mr.. Rockefeller realizes that
there is more danger IN giving unwise,y
than in withholding.
In business venture the donor de-
sires to get dividends" continued Mr.
Murphy. In his philanthropic ventures
he also desires to get dividends. not in
money, but in the welfare of humanity .
Gifts to Education Board
The appeals were insistent however. I,
was explained In 1905 Mr.. Rockefeller
gave the board o.ooo. 900 as an endow-
ment for promoting higher education.
The work inaugurated. but the
amount was found inadequate. In 1907
Mr. Rockefeller followed up his other
gifts by one of So. .0o0. 900.
Even that sum was found inadequate tc
meet the needs as seen by the genera
education board. In 1909 Mr.. Rockefelle
gave another Sl0.0O0.00o.
In all MIR Rockefeller has given to the
fund Ss3.oOOOOO Ii shows. said Mr.
Murphy. the scope and possibility oil
nhiIa nj hropic work in this country.
The experience with the general edu
cation board led the donor to seek
charter with a broader scope than ha.
that of the general education board
Mr. Rockefeller Row desires TO have
a charter with freedom of scope. so tha
wherever there arises human need tn.
board will have power 10 give help. con
tinued MIR Murphy.
II want TO say here that il is not tn
design TO supplant other agencies. Mr.
Rockefeller and mis- assistants have founC
that il is often best TO work through ex
isting agencies The charter proposes