Evening star., 1947-07-18
Chest
Continued From First Page)

Another statement came from
Washington Board of Trade repre-
sentatives, all signers of the ma
jority report, declaring that while
they would not have written a re-
port exactly like the majority re-
port, they recognized that a sue
cessful Chest is necessarily COM
promise of many points OF view
and that the report represents
reasonable community wide think
ing"
Split Over Council Issue.
According to the minority report,
the divergency of opinion within
the committee began with the very
cause of the appointment of the
investigating group - the contro-
versial race relations report spon-
sored by the Council which aroused
a storm of protest.
The actual split, however, accord
ing to the minority, developed on
the question of dropping the Council
from the Chest. The combination,
according to the majority, which
put over the recommendation for
a closer relationship between Chest
and Council, included the Board OF
Trade, Junior Board of Commerce,
Federation of Civic Associations,
Washington Industrial Union Coun-
Gil (CIO and Council of Personnel
Administration Government repre-
sentativeS.
In the minority on the Council
Chest question were the Federation
of Citizens Associations, Federation
of Business Mems Associations and
Central Labor Union (AFL). The
first two groups ultimately wrote the
minority report. In the end, the
Central Labor Union went along
with the majority report.
In proposing greater integration'
between the Chest and Council, the
majority recommended that all sur
veys, projects and reports under
taken by the Council with Chest
funds should be approved by the
Chests Board of Trustees. This Is
a direct reference to the Councils
Social Survey reports, which in
cluded the race relation report.
Two Proposals Made.
The majority made two recon-
on the question of ad-
mitting and continuing agencies in
the Chest. 1t proposed this set of
specifications for eligibility as Chest
agencies:
Charitable and welfare agencies
which are organized to give services
which are not presently provided by
already existing public agencies and
which are strictly directed to inn
prove the social and health condi-
tions of the community and its
people.
These services include (a) insti-
tutional care for children and the
aged: (b) family and personal coun-
selling, supplemented by such finan-
cial assistance as may be necessary
and available, and Co educational
and/or recreational programs such
as those with character building
nursing, medical care and
public health education"
On the question of admission to
the Chest, the majority also recon-
mended that no agency be mem
ber which engages in a type of
work so controversial in its nature
as to handicap the common effort
by its inclusion"
Wants to Drop Agencies.
The majority recommended the
of the following
agencies as Chest members:
Animal Rescue League, Children's S
Protective Association, District So
cial Hygiene Society, District So
ciety for the Prevention of Blind
ness, Foster Day Care and Coun-
selling Service Legal Aid Society,
National Youth Hostels, Soldiers,
Sailors and Marines Club, Wash
ington Criminal Justice Associa-
ton, Washington Federation of
Churches Social Service Depart
ment, Washington Heart Associa-
ton, Washington Housing Associa-
ton, Washington Urban League,
YMCA and YWCA.
The minority declared the fol-
lowing agencies overlap the func-
tions and responsibilities Of the
government and should
be continued for only one year as
Chest agencies to allow the District
time to absorb their work:
Child Welfare Department of
Hospital, Dental Fund,
Mental Hygiene Society, Special
Diagnosis and Therapy Fund, Trav-
elers' Aid Society. Washington Home
for Foundlings, Washington Society
for the Hard of Hearing.
Other Suggestions Made.
In its other recommendations, the
ma ajority:
/. Proposed a Chest Board of Di-
rectors of between so and 100 work
ers with no paid Chest agency
workers on the board. At present,
the Chest Board of Trustees num-
bers 232 members, of which So are
the paid executives Of Chest agencies.
2. Urged q year-round educational
to keep the public in
formed on Chest and agency ac-
tivities.
3. Advocated establishment of a
Grievance Committee to investigate
all complaints by or against the
Chest.
4. Recommended periodic surveys
Of Chest agency activities and a
complete and long-range survey OF
the entire social welfare situation
in the District to- uncover instances
Of overlapping agencies.
The minority report agreed on a
Chest board without paid workers
but specified the board should in
clude two members from the Dis
trict Commissioners and Is Wash
ington organizations and l member
from each of 10 Government de-
partments.
The eight signers of separate
statement attached to the majority
report thought paid workers should
be board members.
The minority report also approved
a grievance unit and recommended
q separate unit to handle emergen-
cy cases.
Signing the majority report orig
inally were:
Mr.. Leahy. three members OF the