The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-07
LACK OF STATE
REGULATIONS
Have Brought About Chaotic COndi-
tons in Administration of Private
Charities.
(Bv Associated Press)


Pittsburg, June Chaotic condi-
tons in the administration of private
charities due to lack of regulation on
the part of state governments were
revealed in discussion here today at
the National Conference of Charities
and Correction. The evils that have
arisen are due chiefly to lack OF sys-
tematic inspection and advice, accord
inc to the leader of the discussion,
Robert W. Kelso, Secretary Of the
State Board of Charity of Massachu-
sets. ...
"There are in active operation
throughout the several United States
at least $4,000 incorporated charities,
said Mr.. Kelso. "They have well up
toward $4,000, 100000 incapital funds.
That sum, if we'll administered on high
standards of skill, is great force for
social betterment. If effectively han
died under system that does not tend
upward toward good standards OF SER
vice, it will be largely wasted and the
good purpose of the donors defeated.
Dishonesty handled, it is worse than
nothing; it becomes menace to the
public welfare.
"This age of charitable endeavor is
teeming with citizens who speak earn
estly for social advancement. An in
creasing humber of them are skilled
and able to analyze their problem.
Some Of them have little more than
good intention. Their experience is
nothing; their skill and capabilities
are nil; their effectiveness zero. And
there are others who are predatory.
They live upon the charitable agency,
appropriating it's benefits to them
selves, pretending falsely that their
purpose is charity.
"To whom does these vast capital
funds belong? Do they constitute a
trust for the indefinite public? 1t is
the function of the government to hold
charitable agencies to an account OF
their husbaondry? If it is has oul
popular form of government the
strength to accomplish such oversight
without depressing the standards Of
excellence in the enterprise ?-of putt
ing policies into charitable relief?
IF the government should sup
ervise, what is the best method Of do
ing it? Shall it be by permissive in
spection as in Massachusetts, or b!
license, as with children's agencies ii
Ohio? Shall an annual accounting b.
required as in Massachusetts, withou
strict enforcement, or should it be
thoroughgoing system Of accountable
ity and governmental regulation wit
penalties that mean something?"
Thousands Suffer.
Thousands of worthy old men an
women in the United States were pic
tured as suffering for lack Of scienti
fc care and affection at a meetin
here of the National Conference Q
Charities and Correction today. In
situation was described by DR.. !. ]
Nasher of New York City, who is on
of the leading authorities Of the coar
try on the care Of the aged D
Nasher said:
"There is probably no class OF d
pendents whose welfare has been mol
completely neglected, who have r
ceived less scientific study and car
than the aged. The child dependel
has the world for it's guardian; Il
aged dependent is disowned by n
own. So completely has the welfa
Of the aged as scientific study be-
ignored that today there is not
home for the aged, 50 far as ] kno
in which the vital problem Of the pro
er feeding Of the aged is understo
or even considered. !.
"Yet It has been found that t
aged require only about hak of :