The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-02-05
SURVEY OF CHARITY
WORK PROPOSED FOR
RELIEF OF INDECENT
Study of Poverty's Cause and,
Capitalization of Aid
Planned.
COMMERCIAL CLUB -
TO HEAD MOVEMENT
Committee to Propose Plan
For Efficient Distribu.
ton of Aid.

charity survey OF Richmond. cor
Quoted on a scientific basis. to ascef-
tain causes of poverty, outlining q
method of obtaining funds eystemati-
cally and to suggest means of efYici-
ent distribution of aid, is proposed in
plan which the Commercial Club
will execute soon.
Members of the Associated Chari-
ties, Domestic Science Club, Penny
club. and Salvation Army. interviewed
today, pledges support to the move
ment, which in it's genesis, among 9TH
er reforms. purposes to do away with
sporadic appeals for financial aid 10
relieve suffering In Richmond.
Various philanthropic efforts. such
as the visiting nurse work, dinners for
poor children, activities of the Penny
club and the Associated Charities, as
well as other organizations, will be
scrutinized closely. with the end in
view of centralizing. If possible, the
executive management of all charity
work.
To Study Conditions.
The plan contemplates a minute
study of the social conditions of the
city by committee working under
the auspices of the Commercial club
This committee will file an extensive
report indicating the cause of poverty
and pauperism in Richmond. and sug-
gesting a central body to distribute re-
lief along lines approved by sociolog-
ical principles.
Interest of the Commercial club in
the movement is to cease as soon as
the committee files its report. The ac-
tual working OF charity relief will not
be supervised by the commercial or
ganiZation, which hopes only to pre-
sent a method OF lettering this phase
Of civic endeavor-
Charles w. Jordan, secretary OF the
club, said today that he favored the
plan and would back the execution OF
the undertaking.
Charity workers themselves admit
that the work has been handicapped
by lack OF systematic and sympa-
thetic understanding of the real es-
sentiais OF the problem, and as a result
see in the proposal a solution of
questions that annually have been
growing increasingly complex 1t is
felt that misapplied charity pauper-
ICES and does not assist from financial
dependence to self-sustaining inde-
pendence.
The Associated Charities. which
wien IL was organized, Planned the
cooperation of all the city churches
through representatives on the board
of control, has been handicapped, IL
has been said freely. by failure of citi-
Zens generally to interest themselves
in the project.
The proposed reform seeks a rene
dy and proposes active broad civic in
terest to replace apathy and lethargy
which has thrown the burden of char
ity relief on a few active workers in
tine charity organization.
Mrs. Benton Addington. president
of the Domestic Science club. which
brought the visiting nurse to the city.
said, For some time We have felt
that there was something wrong. We
certainly will cooperate in the move
ment."
Members of the Penny club. an or
ganiZation whose relief work among
the poor cannot be overestimated
have promised assistance. while mem
bers OF the Associated Charities also
will assist. The W. r. c. and the coun-
ty board of charities are planning TO
consider the project.