New Britain herald., 1917-11-28
ASKING AND GIVING.
War Has So Enlarged This Field That New Need for Regulation
 Has Arisen.
(New York Evening Sun. )

(New York Evening Sum- The uncomfortable discovery that
 charity covers multitude of sins in
 more senses than one has given the
 public very sick feeling in the last
 few days. There is no suspicion that
 the mass of benevolences growing out
 o" the war&are not genuine and dis
 interested. Some of the greater ones
 are well known to the public and
 many of the others are in the hands
 of persons whose names are sufficient.
 guarantee, at least when they them
 selves are active in the management
 and do not merely lend their credit to
 prom oters.
 But it has become quite plain that ] there is some profiteering in this for [ tile field and a few frauds and hum-
 bugs are liable to take advantage of
 the public generosity and unfortu-
 nately it appears that the size or con-
 spicuousness of any given effort af-
 lords no assurance either of the san
 ity of it's management orthe complete
 altruism of its workers.
 But in addition to the larger risks
 Of misuse of charitable contributions,
 there is wholesale process of petty collecting going on which if not alto gether irresponsible, is certainly un- vouched for in any proper way Streets and public places are infested with women and girls, even young ! men sometimes who flourish mite boxes in the face of wayfarers and on the strength of badge or rio bon solicit aims for all sorts of ob- scure necessities. the war sufferers of Mcsopots411ia, the orphans of tho Car natic Alps. or the unemployed bead stringers of Sasnt oland. not to speak of various home u-y.Gms and homes and holidays alleviaions.
 Now we should be sorry to think that the greater .:tlmhar of these causes were Iot aHtlen ntlc and tho solicitors honest. We think it likely that in a large majority of cases--tho vast majority perhapa-thc 'rakeon" for "expenses" and commissions is and moderate. Still there Is some ground for fear thai a large of charity collecting is done :, on a "fifty-f fifty basis and that even then the charity and not the collector shoulders the expenses Further, the collection habit has become so preva- ent and proEniscuous, especially tho street phase of it, that the public are exposed to serious abuses; those who Ire approached must either shut their eyes and give on trust CT else button ID their pockets against all appeals.
 The fact is the war has so expanded he field of asking and giving that a 1ew need for regulation has arisen. There should be stringent rules as to he proportion of any sums raised hat may be paid to promoters, mana gers, colporteurs or collectors; thero 4 should be rigid examination as to the purposes for which funds are raised, ls to tho accountability of those rais- ng them and as to their bona f1de ap- olication to the relief of distress. Tho .ity authorities ana some of the lead ng charitable societies should take he matter up in concert. frame rules, insist upon licenses issued upon proper guarantee. and finally audit he accounts of all except regularly hartered organizations
 This is due to the sufferers in Who5o ,ehalf so much money is being raised. t is due to the givcrs. It is rendered ,ecessary to safeguard public morals nd public confidence. Otherwise. it s to be feared, a cynical attitude may Ievelop injurious to deserving causes nd worthy people and sniritllally lurtful to everybody.
 It is time for Hindenburg to amend ( lis previous proclamation about the ubn, arine doing it's work 2Hd c<hot