Evening star., 1933-05-04
10000 IN DISTRICT
ON CHARITY ROLLS
Oldest Inhabitants Hear
Chest Official Describe
Relief Situation.


The Community Chest and the reno
VIE campaign were both brought be-
fore the Association Of Oldest Inhabi-
tants last night by Herbert L. Willett,
Jr., assistant director Of the Community
Chest.
Pointing to the 81 100000 approved
by the Senate in the District Of Co.
lumbia appropriation bill yesterday for
emergency relief in the city, the speaker
predicted that the trend in the future
would be less Of relief funds from pri-
vate charity and more from public
funds.
This city has been out of step with
the rest of the country in the propor-
tionate amount raised by private and
by public funds, he explained Prior
to the increase of the emergency relief
item in the District appropriation bill
by the Senate, this city had met 80 per
cent Of its relief funds by gift and
only So per cent by tax, he said, while
the average city throughout the country
obtained more than 81 per cent of its
relief funds from taxes.
100000 in d. C. on Charity.
The tendency in the future, he pre-
dicted, would be to take lesser per-
centage out Of the gift pocket and
a larger percentage out of the tax
pocket" of the people, because the re-
lief problem had grown to such stu
pendous proportions that gifts could no
longer meet the situation. Recent reli-
able figures show, for instance, he said,
that the total amount of relief now
furnished throughout the entire United
States IS only per cent Of the total
OF lost incomes.
The Community Chest, he declared,
was working toward the greatest econ
omy and the greatest efficiency" in the
raising and disbursement of funds.
Pointing to increased economies in the
cost Of raising money, the speaker said
that before the Chest came to Wash
ington the cost Of raising a dollar was
is cents, but this had been cut down to
8.5 cents in 1890: 8.4 cents in 1881, and
40 cents in 1882.
Relief agencies, both public and pri-
vate, he estimated, are caring for more
than 100000 people in the District of
Columbia at present.
Mr.. Willett presented a graphic pic
ture to the Association of Oldest In
habitants of how the funds raised by
the Community Chest were used BY
stereopticon pictures he presented WV
A0Ay tgPASdi CAdliiplCS VI lll6 NOIh D6.
ing done by agencies supported by funds
in the Chest.
Among the various activities pictured
were those administering to family well
fare, child care, care of the homeless
and transient, health services and char
acter building. Mr. Willett spoke elo-
quently of the work being done by the
numerous agencies whose activities were
pictured on the screen, and at the
conclusion of his illustrated lecture. he
was given unanimous rising vote Of
thanks.
Discusses RenOyizing,
Prior to his address on the Commu-
nifty Chest, Mr.. Willett spoke briefly for
the renovlze campaign, sponsored by
the Board of Trade and cooperating
organizations. He outlined three rea-
sons for spending money on the up
keep and improvement of property:
protection of property value, cheaper
prices for labor and material, and last
ly. the unselfish purpose of aiding un-
employed who are in trouble.
At the request Of the City Fire Fight
ers' Association of Washington and by
motion of Fred A. Emery the associa-
ton recommended that all vacancies in
the Fire Department be filled by promo
ton from within the ranks, from mer.
who had had at least five years of
service. John Clagett Proctor, vice.
president. who presided, criticized ga