The Wilmington morning star., 1947-10-10
A Welcomed Announcement

A Welcomed Announcement
Announcement by the board of directors
of the Associated Charities that 1t does not
contemplate a separate financial appeal Is az
welcome as it is wise, especially IN vie"
of events of the past several days.
Such p drive would have been damaging
to both the Charities and the Community
Chest.
Because the question of the county's
responsibility in maintaining the Charities
as an agency for administering relief to the
INDECENT has been brought to new proml-
hence, it would not be prudent for the or
aanization to consider a campaign for public
funds at this time. In order to clear up any
misunderstanding in the public's mind as
to who is and who is not primarily re-
sponsible for the agency, the directors OF the
Chest have called upon the County attorney
for a legal ruling.
Appearing before the County commission
ers early this week, a spokesman for the
Chest was told by one of them that I'VE
(meaning the board) have accepted this re-
sponsibility."
Wednesday, another commissioner is
quoted as saying that II do not think care
Of the INDECENT should be paid from a public
treasury. I feel that a certain amount of
responsibility rests with the citizens Of the
community"
Thus, there is a conflict Of opinion on the
board which only a legal ruling will help
clear.
The board of directors of the Chest,
through a formal resolution adopted on Aug.
20, declined a request from the Charities
for a fiscal year appropriation of $1,000 on
the grounds that a survey by the State De-
partnent of Public Welfare had disclosed
that call cases carried (by the Charities) are
legally the responsibility of the Department
Of Public Welfare and that "the Community
Chest should not assume the responsibility
Of supplementing tax funds used for a gov
eminent function so designated by state
legislative action"
Therefore, it lis only natural for the Chest
to be anxious for it to be generally under
stood that 1t Is not Indifferent or callous
toward the Charities but that It is convinced
1t is not It's responsibility 10 assist a
primarily tax supported agency.
The anticipated opinion from County At
meeting should 60 far toward clearing the
issue.
II is 70 be believed that It will be in
keeping with his statement last Monday
expressing the belief that "the responsibility
is on the county" We believe that this
function can be best fulfilled through a
single agency, the Public Welfare depart
ment
The whole matter goes back to the study
Of the Charities and its relationship to
other agencies In the city and county. Fol-
lowing the survey, the North Carolina De-
partment of Public Welfare recommended
that the general relief functions of the
Charities be transferred to the County De-
partment of Public Welfare, including the
responsibility for investigating and certify
ing persons eligible for medical and hospi-
tai care.
The future Of the Charities may depend, to
a marked degree, on the manner in which
the county accepts It's attorneys ruling.
If he finds that it is a part in principle of
the Public Welfare department and the coun-
~ is responsible for its maintenance, then
it is easy to understand how the Charities
should not press a campaign for supplement
tary public support.