Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-11
Consolidate City,s Charities

III is Richmond's imperative duty-a duty
l which can neither be evaded nor delayed
to bring about the consolidation. so far as is
humanity possible, of all the city's charitable
and benevolent agencies. Unless this is done.
and done quickly. there will be much suffer
ing here within the next year.
The war revenue bill, now pending in the
House of i Representatives and assured of pass
age, Will make unprecedented demands on
the incomes of those by whom charities in
the main have been supported. Even small
incomes will pay considerable imposts-con-
siderable, at least. when the present high
cost OF living, rapidly climbing. has to be met
from the residue. The married mans cxemp-
ton is reduced from $4 900 to $ $4,000 n year.
and for all income above 1000 he will pay
the normal tax of 81 per s1O0. ~ $4,000
s~urtaxes begin. increasing rapidly AS the
income mounts. Where the married man
with $4,000 income formerly paid nothing,
he Will pay $50 ii year, and the $4,000 man.
instead of $50, will pay $3.50. The payment
OF the man with n $4,000 income will be
$685.. compared with s12O, under the old law.
and he who makes $4,000 will turn s1.22o
over TO the government. From this point
the surfaces begin to soar, so that great for
tunes will pay from a fourth to nearly a half
OF their annual yield.
There must be 4 tremendous and sweeping
readjustment Of expenditures, beginning with
the expenditures OF those OF relatively small
means. The family budget must he curtailed
somewhere to meet the governments de-
mands. and most Of us have not found saving
particularly easy. even under existing cir
cu1nstances. With the best will in the world.
some reductions OF the amounts which we
have been accustomed to give TO charity is
nearly inevitable.
But charitable needs will not diminish; on
the contrary, they are likely to expand, due
to higher commodity prices, food shortages.
absence OF breadwinners at the front. and
the general wastage of war. Moreover. there
wiIi be new demands, based on the war itself.
Where Is all this money coming from? II
we understand human nature, subscriptions
10 charity are going to be reduced in some
thlns like the same proportions as expendl-
lures for amusements, and the proportion
may be greater. Only organization can NEE,
Tie need. and II should be a complete organi-
EATON. In Rchmond's case the central figure
in the movement should be the city govern
ment. with the Associated Charities and the
governing boards of hospitals and other in
stitutions for extending relief lending full
cooperation.
mo city government already Is a con
'riDutor TO benevolent agencies; it must be-
come a leader-the recognized leader-in this
work. A department OF charities should be
organized at once and placed in charge Of an
expert, capable OF framing n constructive
policy, with an adequate financial basis. and
then OF directing that policy's execution.
inc need OF such a department has long
existed; now that need has become exigent.
We shall have no money to waste, whether
III charity or anything else. and charity must
recognize its duty TO practice the strict est
economies. Only through organized effort.
iroWning on all applications, will real
economy become possible.
H