The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-02-10
ORGANIZED CHARITY.

OkGANlZEU CHAklIY.
The Associated Charities of
Pittsburg has been made the OBJ
ject of considerable criticism by
reason Of the fact that the annual
report just issued shows that out
of twenty-six thousand dollars re-
ceived from generous citizens for
the benefit Of the poor, eighteen
thousand was expended in salaries
and other Organization purpos-
es. According to the Pittsburg
Observer the strongest denuncia-
ton of it's methods has been ut
tered "by gentlemen who are at
the head Of a dozen Of the city's
oldest and most prominent non
Catholic charitable societies.
There can be no doubt that the
amount expended for the official
working Of the Society is out of
all proportion to the amount de-
voted to relieving the misery Of
the poor. This seems to be a very
general complaint against the
working Of the Associated Chair
ties. Pittsburg is not the only city
in which a large proportion Of the
money solicited by this organiza-
ton for carrying on it's work has
been expended in salaries and in
investigating the status Of those
who appeal to it for aid. In many
cities, if not in all, the Associated
Charities is strong on "investiga-
tion' and weak in assisting the
needy poor who must be tided over
the period of investigation. The
public are becoming more and
more insistent that the money con-
tributed by them for charitable
purposes be expended for the re-
lief Of the poor rather than for the
support Of a large number of Of
ficials who have made the work Of
investigation an exact science and
have practically hidden those who
apply for aid subsist on air and
water until they receive from them
a certificate Of worthiness EMIT
ling them to assistance-from
some other society.
It cannot be denied that the As
ISOLATED Charities, wherever or
ganized, has done good work along
the lines of activity mapped out
for it. In the course Of it's investi-
cations it has no doubt ferreted
out and exposed many unworthy
applicants for charity who had
been imposing on the public. But
there is limit to such work and
most people, we believe, are not
averse to being imposed upon oc-
casionally rather than be deprived
of the satisfaction of assisting
worthy petitioners for their boun.
ty by having to appeal to a bureau
of statistics for a certificate show.
| ing that a poor person or an indi.
gent family has passed the exam.
ination to which it is subjected by
those guardians of the people Z
purse.
/ That those who are vitality inter.
ested in the work of the Associat.
ed Charities are beginning to see
the necessity of a change in meth
cd is evidenced by the fact thai
the local organization, through its
secretary, is endeavoring to secure
an emergency fund from which
temporary relief can be furnished
to those in need while their claim.
are being sifted. This is a gooG
move, one that will commend it
self to the people at large wht
would rather see their charitable
donation expended in this way
even at the risk Of affording relic.
in an unworthy case, than have ,
large proportion of it go for tn,
maintenance of a corps of investi
gators who dole out charity ssil
the name of cautious, Statistical
Christ. y Many people in this cit,
who formerly contributed to tn,
: support Of the Associated Chair
: ties in the belief that the create
i part, at least, of the funds wer
7 expended in relieving distress
: have turned their donations int,
) other channels. This is logica
7 reaction; and, no doubt, the Asso
4 ciated Charities recognizes tn