Evening star., 1947-05-18

committee has based certain recon-
mendations dealing with problems
within the District of Columbia not
throughout the Metropolitan Wash
ington Area"
Pressure Charged.
Mr.. Cook, who is now an instruc-
tor in community organization at
the New York School Of Social Work,
emphasized the need for a strong
metropolitan fund-raising organiza-
ton and metropolitan social plan
ing council to match it.
On the question of fund-raising, he
said that use Of pressure" to con-
tribute to the Chest was "an ac-
cepted fact" To some extent. he
reported, this pressure is "fostered
by the campaign organization.
though this is denied" He
also commented that the business
unit of the fund-raising campaign
now is concerned because it may
lose contributions from national
business organizations which con-
tributed to this Chest during the
war on the principle that much Of
the money went to national agencies.
AS for Chest Council relation
ships, Mr.. Cook observed "off-the-
record criticism" on the part Of
one agency of the work of the other.
at is difficult" he added, ito
establish any sound basis for such
criticism, but it seems to be derived
from a feeling on the part of the
Chest that the Council is not SER
vicing the Chest fully enough and
the feeling in the Council seems to
be based on a resentment of usurpa-
ton of Council responsibilities by
the Chest and fear of being ignored
or absorbed by the Chest" g
Wide Dependence on Chest.
In the entire history of Chest
Council relations, he said, only one
agency has been dropped from
membership by adverse recon-
mendation and this was a Chest
and not a Council decision. On
the other hand, he added, the
Council has three times recon-
mended the dropping of one agency
but this was not followed by the
Chest.
In comparing Chest agency bud
gets with those of other cities, Mr..
Cook reported that Chest agencies
In Washington are more than twice
as dependent on the Chest for their
funds as is the average case in 13I
cities.
He also noted that Washington is
spending considerably more per cap
TIA for family service and general
dependency than do other cities.
How much of this goes for relief
purposes which could or should
be public responsibilities" he
added, is not known.
On the other hand, he said, the
Washington Chest Is far ahead Of
most communities in recognition OF
he value of such agencies as the
Criminal Justice Asso-
iatiorH washington Housing Asso-
iation, Department of Social Well
are of the Washington Federation
i Churches, Washington Urban |
league and the Legal Aid Society.
lie said the local Chest has pro
,ressed beyond the idea that well
are and charity are synonymous.
Mr.. Cook was sharply critical of
he Chests arrangement Of paying
or hospital and clinic care through |
he Health Security Administra-
ion, a private. nonprof1t agency
which is not a Chest member.
This system" the report stated,
is unique, confusing, unsound and
violation of public responsibility
or the administration of Com
nunity Chest funds. The sit
ation at present Is confusing to
IL concerned, results In lack OF |
ublic, understanding and appears
o cause poor service to those in
leed." +
On the score of participation by /
representative groups in the affairs /
f the Chest, Council and member
gencies. Mr.. Cook concluded that:
1.-The Washington Chest agencies
re being run by upper and middle
lass, white, businessmen, profess
ional persons and to some extent
y persons employed by Govern