Evening star., 1947-09-07
Bell Halls Proposal
To Merge Chest and
Council Of Agencies

The proposed merger OF the
Washington Community Chest and
the Council Of Social Agencies in
a. new Chest Council was hailed
last night by Daniel w. Bell, presi-
dent of the Community Chest Fed
Grafton, as q step in the right
direction"
Mr.. Bell acknowledged that diff
ferences of opinions were bound
to occur but appealed for tolerance
"of the other persons views and
feelings"
The plan for a new consolidated
organization of the Chest and
Council now awaits approval by
the governing bodies of the two or
ganizations. The Community Chest
Federation, for which Mr.. Bell
spoke, is the fund-raising agency
of the Chests of Washington, Alex
andria and Arlington, Fairfax,
Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties.
Sees Greater Efficiency.
Mr.. Bells statement follows:
Community Chest Federation
officials are delighted to learn from
the recently announced plan to
replace the Washington Community
Chest and Washington Council OF
Social Agencies with one new or
ganization, that such definite and
constructive steps are developing.
at is a step in the right direc-
ton This reorganization should
achieve the greatest possible EN-
ciency and economy as well as
greater understanding and cooper
alton on the part OF all elements
in the community.
These desirable advantages Ger
tainly should be the result OF con-
solidating into one new organization
the present Chest function OF Chest
budgeting, public relations and sup
port of the Chest Federation ana
primary Council function OF re-
search and planning for the entire
health and welfare services OF the
District of Columbia, both public
and private.
"A further advantage would come
from the fact that the administra-
ton of the two present separate
groups would be consolidated under
one board and one staff.
Cites Broad Representation.
probably the most important ad-
vantage that will be gained from
the reorganization Is the broad rep
resentation of the general public
and community and civic organiza-
tions on the Board of Trustees. This
should Cd, place responsibility for
overall management OF the single
organization on broadly representa-
tive lay elements of its community
and az, insure that the overall
program of health and welfare serv-
ices and needs of the community
as well as the activities OF both
public and private agencies shall be
constantly and adequately explained
to the public.
"It is hoped that any differences
Of opinion will now be set aside in
the interest of meeting our varied
ana COIIlplCA oOCAuA PAobASAAo' AAAS
Community Chest Foundation Is a
community affair and its functions
are the direct responsibility of not
lust a few but each and every resi-
dent of this area. 1t represents the
combined efforts of hundreds of
thousands of contributors to provide
health, welfare and recreational
facilities to 1850, 900 residents of the
community.
Naturally when so many are in
terested in a project of this char
acter and size there are bound to
be differences of opinion as to the
agencies to be included, and the
types of services to be rendered and
other approaches to the problems
presented. But in reviewing these
problems let us each be tolerant Of
the other persons views and feelings
in the matter and not withdraw our
support from this great cause just
by reason of some small difference