Evening journal., 1919-01-14
URGES fight ON
FAKE war CHARITY
N. Y. District Attorney Pre-
pares Bill to Block
Mulcting OF Public
THREE MILLION OF
GIFTS WENT WRONG

New YORK. Jan. i4.-Recommenda-
sions made by the New York county
nstritc attorney for tho enactment Of
Avs by Congress which will make i'm
possible the mulcting Of millions OF
1ollars from the American public by
sshieves operating under the cloak Of
apparently legitimate war and other
charities win be embraced in a bill
aow being drafted.
Edwin p. Kilroe. assistant district
attorney. who for the past fourteen
months has been Investigating war
funds and charities. returned from
Washington last week after interview
ing Secretary Of War Baker, Senator
Ashurst. who has a bill relating to
such collections pending In the Senate,
and Representative Jerome F. Donovan
Of New York. A draft Of the proposed
bill was forwarded 20 Senator Ashurst
and Representative Donovan yesterday.
Senator Ashurst has consented to ac-
cept the draft as his amended bill and
has fixed Janutry 25 as the date Of its
hearing before the Committee on Mill
iary Aafflrs. Representative Donovan
has promised to guide its progress
through the House. Tho cooperation
of the Citizens Union, the Chamber Of
Commerce. Merchants Association, Ma
uonsl Investigation Bureau and the
State Charity Commission has been
asked by the district attorney.
10000 Agencies In Existence.
The Investigations conducted by the
district attorneys Office disclosed that
since the outbreak Of the world war In
1914 upward OF 10000 agencies. osten-
sibly engaged In war relief work Of one
Kind or another. sprung up like mush-
rooms in all parts Of the United States,
snd Of this number at least 1900 oper-
ated and solicited contributions In the
cify Of New York. OF these 1900 are
slill in operation In this city.
"Tho amount raised in the United
states BY these charities either in
money or goods, has been conserve
lively estimated at between s3.000OOO,-
600 and s4.0O0,O00OOO. and Of this
amount it may be said that GO per cent.
was raised in New York, SAYS Mr.. Kill
roe's report 10 District Attorney Swami.
sFrom facts revealed IL may fairly be
Estimated that the amounts stolen out
right In this city during the period OF
swelve months before the Investigation
Started exceeded s3,0OOOOO. lt is not un- |
lair 10 say that The wasiage due to in
Efficient management and duplication of
Effort amounted TO as much as 60 per
cent. of the total moneys collected"
: This sum represents the discrepancy
Which was found 10 exist between the |
amounts collected and the sums appar-
entity dedicated to the announced OBJ
fcct for which the collection was made.
Protection for Public
MANY difficulties were encountered In
making the investigation and It was
fcaliged that the situation called for
slrastic legal remedies 10 project The
bubble and safeguard he honest war
felief ORGANIZATIONS This was done
through warnings issued 20 The public,
me suppression Of improper activities
by prosecutions or by publicity where 4
an element Of strict legal proof might
have been wanting and HE enforced
festituiion Of funds fraudulently OBJ
lained
As result OF this 3Si out Of 53i or
kanizations soliciting funds here were
sarced to discontinue their activities.
either as being corrupt, dishonest, mis-
hanaecd or as pepeirating q fraud onl