Evening star., 1928-12-07

| fund director, has been due to the pro-
| gressive education of the public in civic
] responsibility and the increasing con-
viction that nearly every cent given
goes to real charity and welfare work
rather than into the pockets of pro-
moterS or into campaign expenses
Indianapolis still is far short of the 81
per individual of the population record
ed in Rochester, Cleveland and st
Louis. but it has not the enormous in
| dividual sources of income to draw
upon which are present in those cities
| Indianapolis is prosperous, middle
class city. 1t has few millionaires in
comparison to some other cities. Mr.
Borst is hopeful, however, that in a
| few years the 81 per individual OBJ
tanned elsewhere will be equaled, OF
even exceeded.
} Test Is in Spending.
The amount of money raised, how
ever, is not the final criterion. The
| test is in how it is spent. Even if In
dianapolis were raising only the $175,-
600 which the individual organizations
were able to get for themselves in 1917,
| it would still be far ahead, because of
| the increased efficiency in expenditure,
the business methods and the avoid
ance of duplication which has been in
troduced by the community fund or
ganization and the council of social
agencies. The latter is theoretically
separate from the fund organization,
and is the research and co-ordinating
delegate body of the participating IN
stitutions.
In the scheme of things here the
Council of Social Agencies is funda-
mental. The council is made up of two
delegates from each of the 81 organlza-
tions which depend partially on the
public for their support. In addition, IL
has delegates from 80 other organiza-
ton which do not ask the general public
for support-such as the taX-Supported
institutions and those which are heavily
endowed.
The Community Fund organization
consists of "a members, the terms OF
eight of whom expire each year. Three of
these eight are elected by the council,
three by the community fund organiza-
ton itself and two by the campaign
committee. The campaign committee,
which directs the annual campaigns is
one of the two subdivisions of the COM
munity fund board, which is appointed
by the board itself.
System Works Well.
This somewhat complicated arrange
ment has been found to work admirably
in actual practice.
Distribution of the money and the ad
mittance of new participating organiza-
tionS is controlled by a second commit
tee of the community fund directors
the budget committee, consisting of Is
members. All are members of the board,
but only eight are appointed by the
board The other seven, one less than a
majority, are appointed from among the
directors by the Council of Social
Agencies. This delicate system of checks
and balances is in the interest of har-
mony in apportioning the funds.
Actually the budget committee is
guided largely by the studies made by
the Council of Social Agencies, which
is always on the lookout for ways of
effecting economy and at the same time
increasing efficiency. Last year, for ex-
ample, it was able to consolidate five
family welfare agencies-representin
what is probably the costliest branch of
social Work-into one with a resulting
enormous economy in overhead. It
maintains a social service exchange in
which families which have been aided
are recorded, thus saving duplication of
investigation when another appeal is
made. It now is working on the project
of combined bureau for homeless men
that is consolidation of the work of
the various rescue missions and similar
organizations.
A great diversity in standards of work
has been found among these 1t is ex-
pected to bring the standards of all up
to that of the best at present and to re-
duce overhead.
Beggars Are Investigated.
The council has been quite successful
in ridding the streets of beggars. One
nurse of the Visiting Nurse Association
has been detailed to the council for this
work. AS soon as a report comes in Of
a new beggar seen on the streets she is
sent out to investigate. Sometimes she
finds that the man or woman actually
has been driven to begging by ill-health
or inability to obtain work. Such cases
are on the borderline where effective
social service work will keep the person
from becoming beggar. Once the
council knows the circumstances it
usually can make some provision for the
person to earn living. OF course,
many beggars, in Indianapolis as else
where, are professionals. If nothing
constructive can be done with such per-
lice. But they always are given a
chance.
Individual campaigns for funds have
been reduced to minimum The Com
munity Fund organization, however, un-
dertakes only specific job-to raise
money for welfare and charity work.
Appropriations from the chest to vari-
Gus organizations are made for specific
purposes. Thus the appropriation to
the Y. M. G. A. is solely for work
among boys. None of the money re-
ceived from the public can be expended
to meet deficiencies which the Y. NJ G.
A. may meet. for example, in its func-
| ton as a dormitory.
Some of the organizations combine
welfare and religious work The appro-
priations they receive from the Com
m1nlty Chest are specifically for the
former They must finance their re-
| ligious work independently, through
| contributions taken up in their own
churches and elsewhere The same