Evening star., 1932-08-31
DIVERSION OF CASH
BY VOLUNTEERS OF
AMERICA CHARGED
Only a Fifth of Collections
Go to Charity, Police
Report Asserts.
SOLICITORS ACCUSED
OF "HITTING THE CAN"
Regional Commander Wise Alleges
Falsehoods in Policeman's
Statement.

IdlsenoouS IN Follceman
Statement.
Charges that only 20 per cent of the
FUNDS collected by the Volunteers of
america Is used In its charitable work
port submitted today to United States
attorney Leo A. Rover by Inspector
.. I. Davis, commander of the Police
department. Crime Prevention Bureau.
Inc report was based on an investiga-
tlon OF the organization by Detective
w. T. Murphy. The inquiry, Inspector
DAVIS said, was ordered after the re-
ceipt OF number of complaints.
Hitting the Can" Charged.
u Murphy accused the solicitors of
hitting the can," or otherwise con-
verting the funds solicited in the name
OF charity to their own use, and said
ne could find no evidence that contribu-
tlons taken for the milk fund were used
10 purchase milk. Milk distributed by
the organization, he declared, is
SKINNED variety donated by Washing
ton dairies.
Staff Capt. Arthur E. Wise. regional
commander Of the Volunteers, said that
while he had not examined Murphys
report In detail, it contained so many
OBVIOUS 1alsehoods and misstatements,"
he Is convinced it was inspired.
Il cannot imagine how any reputable
police official would issue such a re-
port" Wise declared. 'T cannot imagine
where the police obtained the misinfor-
nation which they are now making
public and I cannot understand why
they did not consult with an officer of
the Volunteers who could have supplied
them with facts. Our activities are con-
Quoted in the open and any citizen In
washington or any member of the Po-
lice Department Is welcome to come to
our office or to our shelter on Pennsyl-
yania avenue and make any study which
he may desire Of our books, records and
work.
Worked as Solicitor.
In his official report, Detective Muir
ply said he applied at the Pennsylvania
avenue Office Of the Volunteers for job
August /, and was put to work as a
solicitor. He said he was instructed
upon approaching a prospect to say:
needy women and babies of the Volun-
getter"
THE present bane of the Volunteers
said the report, lis the increasing habit
of hitting the can BY this Is meant
the extraction of coins from the can
for the purpose Of converting them to
the solicitors own use. In other words,
'gyping' the Volunteers. 1t is reported
that all Of the men hit the cam
have learned that the amount which
they hit is so per cent of the amount
Of their collections"
The commission received by the solic-
itor. Murphy explained. is 40 per cent.
provided he is not quartered by the
Volunteers, and 80 per cent If he Is
supplied food and shelter. OF the bal
ance, he said, 10 per cent goes to an
official of the organization, 10 per cent
to a crew manager, 10 per cent to the
New York Office and 10 per cent for
the maintenance and operation of
busSes and trucks. THE balance" he
declared, IT have been unable to trace
Murphy said he contacted all Of the
Washington dairieS and learned none
had sold any milk to the Volunteers.
Soma of, the dairies, he declared. donate
SKINNED milk daily, which is distributed
at the Pennsylvania avenue shelter.
During the course of my investiga
tion," Murphy said. "I failed to find
a single instance where the Volunteers
SPt1ll ally IIlOIlCy 4Ol IAAC PuACAlooC VI
any kind of food. The business men
of the District donate the food to the
Volunteers.
"As further evidence of the slipshod
method of doing business adopted by
the Volunteers, is the credential which
is given the solicitors. This credential
is designed to serve as concrete proof
of the solicitors right to collect for
the Volunteers. Now, the name I gave
when I was hired, and I was employed
without any questions, was Hugh Brad
ley. The name on the credential given
me is George Sweeney"
DisgruntIed Men Complain.
"The inquiry which I waged." Murphy
continued, convinced me that not
single avenue of possible revenue is
left untouched by the Volunteers. On
the other hand. in fairness to the or
ganization. should state that most Of
the complaints which I received came
largely from disgruntled men who had
a grievance against the Volunteers"
Murphy attached to his report state
ments of six former solicitors which he
declared bear evidence of the amounts
which the Volunteers collect daily. This
Is only small part of their revenue.
These collections, coupled with the fact
that I was at no time able to find any
money spent for the purchase Of food,
milk for the needy women
and babies of the Volunteers, is indeed,
clear evidence of gross irregularity."
Various Collection Methods.
Murphy pointed out that the organi-
zation has various methods of collect
ing funds in addition to the house-to-
house canvas. One is a telephone ap-
peal, another Is the sale Of books con-
tanning tickets emitting the holder to
food and shelter, and a third is the
placing of metal boxes in stores.
men, he said, are engaged
IN the house-to-house solicitation.
Capt Wise, in answer to Murphy's
criticism, said his organization had
been serving the poor and needy of
for many years. Every
month, he declared, the Volunteers
serve approximately 10000 meals to
he destitute.
I'VE have been doing the Lords
work to the best of our ability and have
received the generous financial sup
port Of the people Of Washington"
Wise said. I'VE shall continue to do
our work and be faithful to the trust
upon us by those who con-
ribute to our activities"