Evening star., 1932-11-01
BECGARS HERE GET
$1,46O,0(0 YEARLY,
STREET DECLARES
Total Is TWo-Thirds of Sum
Needed to Support Chest
Groups, He Says.
MAKES PLEA TO CITIZENS
TO PREVENT PANHANDLING
Director Places Number Engaged
in Seeking Aims at 2,000-In-
stitute Will Start Tomorrow.

Panhandlers are mulcting citizens Of
the District of nearly 81 100000 year,
or approximately $4,000 day, almost
two-thirdS Of the amount necessary to
support the So Community Chest or
ganiZationS in the city. ElWood Street,
director of the Chest, declared today.
Basing his charge on the estimate Of
trained Chest investigators that there
are at least 1000 panhandlers work
ing in the Capital every day, getting
an average of So each every day, Mr.
Street called upon Washingtonians to
refrain from giving money to these men
who, he said. prefer the living they can
make on the streets to accepting any
help leading to rehabilitation.
The men. he said, are hampering the
work of the Chest by loudly proclaim
ing the Chest will not help them, but
none Of those interviewed by Chest in
vestigators would return to Chest
agencies for assistance. preferring to
take their chances on the street, prey
ing upon the -heartedness of the
populace.
Sets Total at s1,460, 900.
Mr.. Street set the figure paid out an
Eually in the Capital to this type of
beggar as Sl.460,000 This money is
paid. the Chest director pointed out
despite the fact that there is a strict
law that provides that any one asking
for aims on the street is subject to ar
rest for vagrancy But, he adds. the
professional panhandler has reduced his
art to such a fine point that he keeps
track of the position of the policeman
on the beat and is always gone before
the citizen can turn him over to the
authorities.
There is only one way to cope with
this situation here Mr. Street de-
clared That is to refuse to give
money to these panhandlers Chest
contributors are provided with books of
tickets that will give any person asking
for help adequate assistance according
to his needs. The Community Chest
provides method by which the con-
tributor can know at any time exactly
how his funds are being expended and
can also know that they are expended
where aid is actually needed after care
full investigation by trained workers" "
Recently Mr. Street explained. one
of the investigators for the Chest Sc
lected four men known to be profess
sional panhandlers. living from day to
day by begging. They were questioned
separately. and it was the opinion of all
four that there are considerably more
than 1000 engaged in their business"
here. They said receipts ranged any
where from so cents day. for the less
adept, TO Sc to So for the topnotchers
in the racket.
Institute Plans Completed.
Plans for the Information Institute
of the Chest. TO be held tomorrow,
Thursday and Friday mornings Begin
ming at II O'Clock az the Willard Hotel
under auspices OF the Information Unit
Of the Chest campaign have been COM
pleted, it was announced by Mrs
Dwight Clark. chairman Of the unit
The meeting tullorrow will be de-
voted to talks on public and private
relief, with leroy A. Halbert. director
of the Emergency Relief Division Of
the Board of Public Welfare; arthur
S Rosichan, director OF the United
renee j. Shehan assistant director of
the Catholic Charities: Adjt. Gilbert
S. Decker of the Salvation Army. and
Walter S. Ufford general secretary of
the Associated Charities. as speakers.
At Thursday mornings meeting Of the
institute the discussion will be devoted
to character building and health. with
DR.. Calvert E. Buck, superintendent
Of the Episcopal Eye Ear and Throat
Hospital, and Miss Gertrude H. Bowl
ing, director of the Instructive Visiting
Nurse Society, discussing health topics
and Mrs. Gerritt Miller, former COM
missioner Of the Girl Scouts here; Mrs.
William Adams Slade. president of the
Y. w. c. A.. and Linn c. Drake of
the Boy Scouts, discussing character
building.
At the final meeting Of the institute
the coming campaign, in all its aspects,
will be discussed by NeWbold NoyeS,
campaign chairman, and by Mr.. Street.
Ellington to Make Plea.
Joseph D. Kaufman. chairman Of the
Publicity Committee Of the Chest an
nounced today that the Chest radio
program which will include an appeal
to colored subscribers of the Chest
here by Duke Ellington. nationally
known colored orchestra leader, and
talk by Clarance A. Aspinwall, chair
man of the special gifts unit OF the
Chest campaign organization. will be
part of his own Radio Joc" program
over WMAL from 7:30 until o'clock
tonight. instead Of from to $50 on
VOL, as announced yesterday
Mr. Kaufman is planning to have
Tommy Armour, noted golf professional,
who formerly was with the Congress
sional Country Club here, and will be
in Washington to compete in the Ma
tional Capital open golf tournament,
speak on his program next week.
The following week. Daniel Frohman,
dean of American stage directors. will