The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04
CHARITY TRUST PLAN
NOT FAVORED HERE
DR.. Allen Sees Need of Cleve-
land Federation Idea, but
Not Foundation.
DIR. DEVINE Is SCEPTICAL
New York Too Big to Combine
Benevolent Agencies,
lie Asserts.
DR.. DEVINE Is SCEPTICAL

lie Asserts.
Varied opinions OF the proposed estab-
iishment in the city of Cleveland OF a
foundation for philanthropic and chari-
table purposes, reported in THE SuN yes.
,4rday, and the possibility OF applying the
cleveland idea TO New York are expressed
by directors and critics OF New York
charities.
The cleveland plan as outlined to THE
Sun by Frederick H. Con. president Of the
Cleveland Trust Company. seems to be a
development Of the consolidation move
nent started more than year ago by the
Cleveland Federation of Charities and
Philanthropy.
That federation under the direction OF
It's executive secretary, c. w. Williams,
has already attracted national attention
because OF its success in decreasing I'M
wise giving and unwise spending. II Is
the first successful application in a large
city OF communal administration Of chari-
ties for which the Jews have long been
famous in many cities.
Fnvors Part Of scheme.
D.. William H. Allen, director Of the
Bureau Of Municipal Research and author
81 Modern Fhilanthropy, H. anxious to
have the methods Of the Cleveland fedora.
ton adopted in New York. but he does not
see the need OF a trust foundation of the
sor; projected by the Cleveland Trust
Company.
our city needs just now" he said yes
terday, the Cleveland federated appeal
and federated advertising of opportunities
FOR girers more than IL needs a trust for
Spending gifts. The latter would give the
dead hand still more deadening influence
I'VE need diversity. not uniformity in
the purposes of requests for charity"
continued Or. Allen. quoting a phrase or
Two from Mr.. Cons statement to THE
SrN We need diversity and competition
above minimum efficiency and not uni.
formity IN the powers of administering
these requests
Uniformity Is too often our beset,ing
sin now. 1t means uniformity with past
practice, where the city really needs Civ
inc To meet future. conditions. The con-
stitu,lon of the Cleveland board OF truss
tees as described by Mr.. Gorf affords no
guaranty that the directors Of beuuests
small know the first principles OF cfficien,
giving.
M Dehnite Assurance.
The publicity promised gives no as.
surancc that efficient giving will be re-
Mhrded and absolute charity denied
Any central benevolent trust should be
requlred TO publish requests denied, with
tie reasons for denial. and to publish the
work accomplished through gifts granted
To bring here soon the Clevela nd
principle 50 dramatically enunciated this
last year by the Federation for Charity
aud Philanthropy --the idea that the giver
mas the right TO know 100 per cent. of
his opportunity to help. the principle az
Tree competition among such opportuni-
tes-"auld do more good than a billion
dollar trust for spending gifts.
"A few thousands spent on duplicating
Cleveland's FIRST aid To g!vers' would, in
my judgment, jump New York city for
ward twenty-five years In its phiian-
thropy. Extreme: Yes. but true. be-
cause free and equal advertising Of OPP.
portunit,es TO give would advertise the
is that which helps make Government,
agencies etticient--which corrects. not
patches, evil working conditions
DR.. Allen said that a New York phi
lanthropist suggested TO him a few days
. 20 the transplantation In THIS city Of the
mcthodsN of the Cleveland Federation.
But Dr. Allen did not see how the Bureau
~ Municipal Research could take charge
Of the undertaking at present.
DR.. DcSinc Sceptical.
D.. Edward T. Dov!ne, formerly general
secretsry OF the Charity Organization So
c.ety Of this city. now director Of the
School OF Philanthropy. conceded that the
alliance of about IS organizations in the
Cleveland Federation for Charity and
Phllanthrophy had benefited that city and
directed bencfactions in a really helpful
way. but he was sceptical as IA the FEAST
T,f nI. ipu ~h. 10, haro
New York Is SO big and complex" he
sad, that the task of combining all its
benevolent agencies would be like trying
70 combine the agencies not merely Of
Cleveland or OF Ohio, but of the whole
NJ ide West.
"rhe Charity organization Society has
nov bureau OF information which In a
way aims at performing the same func-
ton proposed by the Cleveland federation.
lists
The Merchants Association and the
Chamber of Commerce are making in
cfcss!ng use of 1t in getting information
as 20 hospitals or other charities which
would be most benefited by donations.
! do believe in cooperation and pub
q Of opportunities for giving, but am
doubtful as to the wisdom of 'intcrlock-
ing drectorates' such as Cleveland seems
20 hay" adopted, Crder our present sys-
tom IN New York the charitable orruniza.
tons arc on good tsrms with one another
and believe there is little waste, though
no doubt there is some. Each society has
IT. own traditions, friends. sources, its as
sorlations built up through many years
ana nrohabiy each Is most effective work.
lng hy itself"
Another charity expert pointed out that
tn project of the Cleveland Trust Com
ii1}, as described thus far, Is not new
Other trust companies, including several
N THIS city, have advertised similar foulI-
GALLONS The Cleveland company. however
goes outside itself for three of the Ave
trustees o' the foundation, and that seems
a.