New-York tribune., 1922-12-11
Charity Society
Denied Right to
Solicit in Public.
Commissioner Coler Refuses
Permit TO Volunteers of
America, Charging They
Broke Faith With Board
Defends Limit on Drives
Organization Began Cam.
paign Last january With
out Authority, He Asserts

While the Ohrihtuat poh - S~""e
on the streets for the Salvation Army
the Volunteers Of America are pre-
cluded from making similar holiday
collections because Of the refusal OF
commissioner Bird s. Coler Of the
Department Of Public Welfare TO
grant them a permit The Commits
sioner issued q statement yesterday
explaining the situation. He said he
had refused the Volunteers a permit
because they had broken faith with
the department. The Volunteers took
their case 10 the courts and retained
former Governor Charles S. Whitman
ns counsel.
"Ths ordinance limiting street coll
leetiOns and placing the issuing OF
permits therefor under the junsdie-
ton Of the Commissioner Of Public
Welfare was approved by the Mayor
December 8. Of last year said Com.
missioner Coler There was a formal
understanding between the Board OF
Aldermen and this department that
their agreements with the SALVATION
Army and like organizations would be
carried out b. this department.
sAivationists Given Permit
sIn accordance With the agreement,
when the Salvation Army came 10 Us
with a request for their Christmas col
ieetIons from December 20 %, that
request was granted, with the under
standing that they we're 20 have an.
other opportunity for the general col
lection throughout the city Tor Two
weeks in May.
HTbe Volunteers Of America came
and they were thoroughly informed
that they would be treated Just the
same as the Salvation Army and
granted the same courtesies and per
mits. The idea was that each organi-
zation should have two short periods
during the year in which they could
make their general appeal from the
streets TO the public. The Salvation
Army has kept faith with this depart
ment in every way. The Volunteers
Of America have not Only few days
after the first Of January the Nolun-
teers Of America began soliciting
throughout the streets OF the city. Ar
rests we're made, and as a result they
have attacked the validity OF the ordi-
nance. Former Governor Whitman Is
their counsel, and the case has been
postponed month after month and
finally, again, rntil December 10.
Says He MustrP rotect Public
ave now have a request from the
Volunteers Of America TO collect upon
the streets for three weeks during De-
cember. We cannot see our way clear
70 grant this request The purpose OF
the ordinance 70 my mind is not alone
for taking illegitimate collections. from
the streets, but for so limiting good
ones that the people will not be con-
tinually harassed the whole year round.
II the Volunteers Of America win their
case take IL that the streets OF New
York will be flooded with all types Of
solicitation. This | do not believe TO
be either in the interests Of good
morals or the best interests OF private
charities themselves or the public well
fare In general"
The maintenance OF an orphan
asylum was one Of the objects for
which the Volunteers Of America
wished 10 collect funds, according TO
Commissioner Coler. An investigation
showed. the commissioner said. that
they had eighteen children In tvo in
stitutions. neither Of which is approved
I By the State Board Of Charities. Com
missioner Coler declared there was hb-
/ solutely no necessity for these places
as far as the city was concerned, as II
has over 200 vacancies in Protestant
/ institutions at the present time.