New Britain herald., 1922-02-03
DISCUSSES CITY'S
 BOARD 0F CHARITY
Meriden Journal Compares Work
 Here and in Silver City

Under the caption. New Britain Allows no money From Taxes to g Welfare Societies." the Meriden Jour nal yesterday carried a story corfl- pairing methods of caring for the needy In the Silver City with those employed here. Following Is the Journals account.
 New Britain, which takes some credit for glv!.k Meriden a new con- solidation charter, differs from the Silver City in methods of making public charities expenditures. In New Britain practically all of the funds for social service work in the city is in the hands of tho city chnri- ties department New Britain never in It's history appropriated cent to any private charitable organization. Money to conduct the numerous pri- vatc charities in that city Is raised by subscription through United Charities drive, on the plan of the community chest idea. The reins of the city's charity work arc in the hands of the superintendent of the board of public charities, who keeps the files, distributes money, groceries.
 
 tigations for himself.
 "'rhe board of public charities in New Britain, in charge of Superin- tendent William Cowlishaw, estimates that for the year ending March l., 1922, it will have spent s112,o7l. Of this sum about $1Oo,469 was for actual relief purposes, conducting the town farm and paying for patients of the city of New Britain in state in- sttutions. The remaining $10,252 was paid to workers in the depart mtnt, the city physician, investigators of cases and for office expenses. In the department of charities itself the city has five workers. The superin tendent receives $2,5O0 year. an in- vestgator s1,5oo, clerk s1,1oo, and an assistant investigator and a stenographer each $500.
 "At present the department of which he is head is caring for 3o6 families a week, Mir. Cowlishaw says. In 1920 the average was about 72 families a week. Mir Cowishaw went on to say, in speaking of the re- quests of private organizations for assistance from the city in meeting running expenses, that he believed city ordinance prohibited the appro- priation of money for such purposes
 Money for private institutions in New Britain is raised by yearly drive The money is then split up among seven organizations which form the United Charities. The largest private charitable organiza- tion in the city, corresponding to Merden's Organized Charities asso- ciation is called the Welfare Organi- zation, and is headed by Miss Cora BeaIc.
 Miss Beale estimates that she has abo,1t s6,o0o year at her disposal for the entire expense of maintaining the organization. Of this sum apou' $2,75n Is used for rent, of1lce eA- penses, telephone charges, admins tration expenses and salaries. of three workers, including herself, in her ot- flee, and the remaining $3,25o goes for actual relief purposes. Of the s6.oOo at her disposal $5.500 comes in during the year in gifts of money The organization works in eo-opera- ton with the city charities depart" ment, the latter organization having comnlete files of each case In the city where aid has ever been given and q minute record of the facts m the case.
 ",rhe work in New Britain core sponding to that done in Meriden by the Public Health association Is taken care of by the city. A private organ iyation corresponding to Meridens visiting Nurse association exists 'n the Hardware city. however. rms wear the organization estimated It's running expenses in budget at S2,- 700."