Evening star., 1927-04-12
PERKINS ANSWERS
CHARITIES CRITIC
Chairman Of Easter Cam
paign Explains Methods.
Fund Still Far Short.

Do the charitable agencies of Wash
ington tend to create more dependence
by Offering help to people who are
really able to care for themselves.
This challenging question was asked
yesterday by business man Of high
standing in this city in conversation
with a representative of the Associat-
ed Charities and the fact that he is o
generous contributor to the work of
this society shows the sincerity of his
query Cleveland Perkins, chairman
OF the Easter campaign committee, an
swered the question as follows:
Trained Workers Used.
This question is just the opposite
OF the criticism most commonly lev.
eled at organized charity. namely, that
TOO much investigating is done and too
little relief given. The Associated
Charities as an organization is well
prepared to answer the question be
cause it has emphasized constantly the
absolute necessity OF using trained SO
cial workers who are capable OF max
ing a thorough diagnosis or study Of
each family situation presented to the
society.
THE result is that instead of over
hasty and ill-considered payment of
cash relief to all who ask for it. every
possible source of self-help is first
drawn upon and all available public
services are utilized. Any charitable
organization that fails to do this Is
open to just criticism on this score.
We at all times invite the most search
ing inspection of our plans for family
"a IN Nj rnttAf a q n hry OIfY ffSn fYAd
workers.
Far Short Of Goal.
''The Easter home saving reports
which our committee has been giving
paign are fairly typical of the real
family disasters which our workers
find and relieve in constructive man.
ner. looking . to the return of each
client to self-dependence as soon as
practicable"
The joint finance committee, re-
sponsible for raising the $40, 900 budget
required by the increasing calls for
help. is still far short of the goal The
additional contributions received to
noon today brought the list up to
3,54s. Contributions should be sent
to Ord Preston. treasurer, 1922 Elev
enth street northwest, or The Evening
Star.
No. 16.-Tuberculosis Exacts Its Price
Anyone who has been obliged tc
take "the cure" for tuberculosis
knows what long and tedious proc
ess it is. Freedom from worry az
we'll as patience and a determination
to get well are important factors in
recovery. But how can Mr.. s. be free
from nerve-wracking anxiety unless
he can be assured that the family he
has left behind is going to be looked
after? Mr. s. must be in the sana
torium at least six months. Meantime
his wife and four children are left
absolutely without means except fol
the earnings of the oldest child. just
above school age, and what a younger
boy can earn out of school hours. A
carefully studied budget for the fam
lily needs shows a deficit OF $24 a week
This is 1924 while Mr.. 8. is taking the
cure, but II his life can be saved, II
not this small price to pay?
No. l1.--Sufferins for Their Father.
Sins.
A grandmother is using her slender
savings to provide shelter for hei
seven BTanuCnlldfen ana Cneir fnOIner
None OF the children Is above schoo
age. Their father has never provided
for them as he should. Now he is 0
fugitive from justice. But who be-
lieves that the children should be made
to suffer for their fathers sins? Those
who know them speak of their goot
behavior and they are well thought OF
by their day and Sunday school teach
ers. In addition to what the grand
mother and other relatives are able tC
do, $40 week is needed to save tht
children from serious undernourish
ment until the oldest daughter grad
yates from school and finds employ
ment next Summer.
No. 16.--Handicapped by Near
Blindness.
Although his eyesight is almost
gone, this colored man manages tt
find his way about to pick up q few
dollars by tending furnaces and doing
odd jobs. But with this serious handi
cap he cannot earn enough to provide
adequately for his wife and five chill
dren The wife goes out to work three
days Il week and the oldest girl works
after school hours and on Saturdays
With the coming of the warm weather
there viii be no more furnaces to tend
and only odd jobs for the man to do
Ten dollars a week added to the fam
ily's earnings will no more than cover
the shortage Those who know the
4 ,I,s 80 Enft% Hk1A