The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-12
WILLOWS WANTS
 CENTRAL BUREAU
 FOR CHARITY WORK
Believes Private Enterprises Are Inefdciently Admin istered From Lack of
 Cooperation
Says the City Is Refuge for Recreant Husbands and
 Mecca for Tramps

Before one of the most representa- tive charity audiences which could b. gathered in Bridgeport, including tn active heads of those widely scatteret charitable, benevolent and philan thropic societies which exist hero Maurice Willows, associate secretar, of the American Association of Socie ties for Organizing Charities, discuss ed the aid of the poor and dependen in the Sun room of the Stratfe1d Ho tel yesterday afternoon.
 His discourse, which was ana1ytica and suggestive of remedial measures was made at the request of a corn mittee recently appointed by the var ious charity societies, with whom, a the request of Mayor Clifford Wilson committees from the Board of Trade Business Mems Association and Man ufacturers' Association had become associated.
 The basis of the speakers address was a number of reports unon investi tions into charity and sociological work undertaken by the committet and personal inquiry by MT. Willows The existing conditions he sunaraar ized as follows:
 There are about 10 societies for material relief in Bridgeport.
 There are about z5 groups of per sons devoted to social welfare.
 There is no connection between their work and records of the ex- tent of poverty are not available.
 Some families have been on char ity lists for three generations.
 In many instances the work is anti-eociaI and through lax ac- countings no records of expendi- lures are maintained and causes of poverty are not revealed.
 It is estimated that about $36, 900 is spent annually by private char itable societies upon the poor
 Charity methods here are very primitive Duplication and over tapping of work exists.
 No agency in Bridgeport today cares for dependent children. The lack of Juvenile court is con- demned,
 There is no record as to the num- Der of children kept in cells over night awaiting trial in the court
 No children's aid society or So- ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children exists here.
 Tuberculosis patients not ade- QuateIy cared for under present systems
 The homeless men problem is of the worst character here. Bridge port is a Mecca, for trampe.
 Wife deserters are welcomed in Bridgeport under present systems. The remedies suggested by Mir. Will lows include:
 A consolidation of the various private associations and societies here.
 The establishment of a Central Associated Charities society iden- tified with the National organiza- tion
 The organization of a confiden- Hal exchange that duplication of work and adequate records of the poor and conditions may be kept
 A council to include representa- tives of all the various business, civic and charities organizations.
 The establishment of card rec ords, in 2. central bureau
 Employment of trained investi- gators and directors.
 Agencies to care for dependent and neglected children and to aid the proba ton officers in the care of children probated or awaiting trial
 The transportation and private code system with other cities to drive the homeless from our doors
 The expenditure of $5.00o the first year for salaries and office ex- pense that trained workers may be brought to Bridgeport and direct
 
 templated society.
 Beginning with a mention of the work already done by the assocfa ton of which he is a member, the speaker quickly led up to the reason for ap- bearing before his audience He said that there were already established about $50 branches of his organiza- tion which worked Jointly and greatly aided in charity work
 SociO1OeicaI conditions i1o Eridrer1-| he said were very bad and with the present organizations giving material aid in some cases and social assistance In others, there was no coordination and a gross lack Of record Keeping. In many instances those who contributed would be unable to determine how their money was being spent, and ex- animation of some records here al- ready proved great duplication of ex- penditures and work. There is there fore, no possible way of getting at the causes for poverty with a view to- wards eradicating 1t and as a matter of fact none today could estimate the extent of charitable work in this city, though it was estimated that about private organizations.
 The methods pursued here were ex- tremely primitive but it was easily ascertainab1e that the amount spent for charity in Bridgeport was far out of proportion to the population, due, he believed, to the methods which aI- low overlapping of individual work The foreigner was fast coming into our community and little had been done for him though he is one of the industrial necessities of Bridgeport There is need of careful study and tabulation of results in this respect, and the cry in this as in every other city is for trained, service Surveys and lease work" are needed to pat charity work on a proper basis and reduce eventually the great and need less expense which merchants, and those contributing were today put. A new organization is needed, to be called the Charity Organizations So- ciety.'' It should be composed of in- 1ividuals and members of the various societies. The new or sanization, he said, was not to be for he purpose of administering material aid but rather for aiding and cooper ating with the groups of societies be-