The Washington times., 1924-07-10
The Lack of Public Support
for Safety Work
By BILL PRICE.


Failure of the public support the excellent work done
by the Washington Safety Council thereby causing the dis
solution of that organization reaction against the multi
lying demands upon the people Of the District for funds for
&c and other purposes.
h several years small number of public spirited citizens
spt the work of the council going They have freely
nI their time and money that lives and limbs Of local
++ MT be made safer. The painting of white lines at
r I Gons has been of inestimable help the traffic
rot 1o educational benefits therefrom have been Of
eno+ 80 \ council did this because the municipal gov
District autbord funds for that purpose by Congress
continuing these lingI oHO'"SOA " AAnu OW0 ""S u
Council ncIudno the work has been done by the Safety
public schools that all nizaton of safety councils in the
public safety and assist in Spreading the teach
It is evident, however, THAI, -
urfe Of appeals for funds mas nsd
drives of all kinds became fawn Ior SIX years since
respond as literally in the past 1ne 1@ne 70
small group Of business and wealthy comparatively
are the first to be approached when anu O
The business men Of Washington bear thu. .
appeal Tor funds They are public spirited s1 SVy
gree and recognize that leadership expectede d
all matters of charity philanthropy civic tnem IN
TIC welfare but they are frequently pressed anu pun
is unfair and improper. Rner tnaL
The business Of soliciting contributions to every CO.
project has become almost professional Fraternal
and many other organizations hit business men fly
donations OF anything and everything for affairs
SrnTo
projects the bulk of them entirely beyond the bounds
public welfare
The average citizen the street can hardly turn
without asking him to subscribe to something -
buy tickets The member of fraternal order finds b
mail cuttered with tickets to something for which he
expected pay whether not he financially able to do
The consequence that really deserving projects for the
good of the whole public parts of it, supported
they should be-
is becoming difficult for the worthy of charitable
undertakings to get what they need and should have Th
is deeply regrettabe and not in keeping with the kindly
hearts of Washington people It is due to the inability d
people chartaby inclined to discriminate as between thu
appeals reaching them.
The situation should revive the project of Community
chest for the District proposition admittedly hard to handle
IN satisfactory but successfully working many large
and small cities and communities One advantage of such
pooling OF charity and other funds that reputable and
responsible of the community representatives of civic
and trade bodies would thoroughly investigate the needs of
organizations doing charitable and public welfare work and
be in position to aOt to them necessary portions of funds
to be subscribed by the whole community Generously in
cned people would not hesitate respond to an annual call
for certain lump for the chest They would recognize
1t as public duty@and help to humanity.
Of the responsibilities upon those administering tho
work would be numerous and the thanks few but there would
at least be that the whole community would
IN the good work and not throw the burdens upon
paratively few. 49,