The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1917-10-25

The following has been submitted |
by the Social Service Board for pub
icaticn:
To the Public:
Some three years ago, there was
very much criticism In this commun-
ity as to the manner In which charity
work was conducted. This matter was
taken up by the directors of the Com
mercial club and a committee was ap-
pointed to form new charity organi-
zation. After much work and effort,
the Social Service Bureau was organ
lied. At the time of It's organization,
it outlined certain work which It pro-
posed to do in the way of decreasing
the number of calls upon business
houses for charitable aid. To remedy
this it proposed to raise one budget
to care for all charitable organizations
in the city. The Social Service Bu-
reau has operated for three years do
ing as we believe. much coed work in
the face of continued opposition from
some sources. 1t has had the full CO
operation Of public officials, and the
Board, with two exceptions, has work
ed in splendid harmony during these
three years.
The Bureau has now discontinued its
work, hoping however. that another
organization will be promptly formed,
SO that the good work which has been
accomplished during the last three
years shall not have been done In
vain, The members of the Governing
committee of the Social Service Bu-
reau are still interested in the charity
| work In our city, and are desirous at
this time to express to the public their
willingness to cooperate in any way
j possible to continue the efficient ad-
ministration Of charity in this cimcun-
ity. So that the public may better
know some of the things which have
been accomplished in the past three
years. we state below some Of the
conditions which were found prior to
the organization of the Bureau, and
some Of the things which we believe
we have accomplished for the good Of
| the community
Existing Conditions Before Bureau
Was Organized
/. Citizens, and especially business
| men, appealed to repeatedly for char
table funds by persons In behalf of
others or for themselves. A number
| of families making a practice of house
to house begging,
2. A great deal Of duplication in
| charity giving by various societies
and Independent charity workers, en-
couraging pauperism in Richmond
8. A great deal of charity giving
| without proper investigation, encour-
aging charity imposition in this COM
munity.
| A. Other communities dumping their
dependents and detectives upon Rich
mond for support on account Of Rich
mond's charitable reputation.
| s. Children sent by parents as ap-
/ plicants for charity, encouraging
new generation of dependents and
| paupers.
6. Women applying for charity in
stead of husbands supposed to be out
of work. encouraging idleness and
| lack of thrift.
Z. Lax enforcement of non-support
laws, breaking down family RESPONSE
bility.
s. Lax enforcement Of laws against
| street begging; street begging by
transient beggars being general in
| Richmond.
| TO- Children committed wholesale to
institutions for dependent children,
placing them upon the support of the
| taxpayers, being a more easy solution
than compelling parents to properly
support their offspring.
II. Lax enforcement of compulsory
education and child labor laws.
| IL. Scarcely a record kept of work
with dependent families, reasons for