Evening star., 1947-01-15
WiIIett Says Chest
Welcomes Chance 10
Explain 10 Critics

Community Chest officials today
stood firm against criticism of some
phases of their activities made by
the Southeast Businessmen's Asso-
ciation, declaring they will well
come" the opportunity to answer
their critics ION facts, figures and
actions takep."
Replying to the associations de-
mand on Monday night that the
Chests books be audited and an
investigation be made Of its ''high
priced jobs and 'non-charitable
organizations Herbert L. Willett,
jr., director of the Community Chest
of Washington, declared.
| We welcome the opportunity to
! give to any questioner facts, fig
ures, actions taken, in an open
! fashion. We believe that to know
| is to understand and to understand
| is to support There has been much
misunderstanding and many mis-
statements. This is good time for
people to ask what they want to
know, to get clear picture of what
the Chest is, and to rediscover the
many services that it is rendering
and can render for the welfare of
our CITY,"
Audits Available.
Taking up the demand of the
association for an audit of the
Chests books, Mr.. Willett said the
organization maintains regular au-
dts of its books by the firm of
James A. Councillor, certified pub
tic accountants.
Results of these audits are pre-
sented to the responsible boards
of the Community Chest and the
Community Chest Federation, are
printed for distribution, and are
available at all times to any Of the
citizens of the area, or to members
of organizations" Mr.. Willett told
press conference late yesterday.
He said that, in addition to the
certified auditing of Chest books,
membership in the Chest requires
that each member agency also sub
NIT its books for an annual audit
ing.
In regard to the charge of ''high-
priced jobs" Mr.. Willett said the
salaries paid to its professional
workers are reviewed and examined
regularly by the Chests Budget,
Headquarters and executive COM
mittees, which are made up of "ex-
perienced business and professional
men and women of high repute in
the city"
Agency Work Defended.
Replying to the charge that the
Chest is supporting "noncharitable"
agencies Mr.. Willett said admission
of these groups to Chest member
ship has been passed on annually
by the Chests budget and execu-
tive committees and its Board OF
Trustees. Some criticism has been
made in the past by various busi-
hess groups to the Washington
Housing Association, the Council OF
Social Agencies and the Washing
ton Urban League.
Referring to these and other
"noncharitable" agencies, Mr.. Will
lett said the Chest believes that
planning ways of preventing
growth in volume and kind of social
problems is a function which a .
Community Chest must perform"
Mr.. Willett said it was unfair
for those persons who happened to
oppose any particular agency to re-
fuse to support the Chest and the !
other member agencies.
Ensiewment Interest Used.
The Council of Social Agencies
has been criticized by some per-
sons because of the report of its
Racial Relations Committee, which
urged the end of racial segregation
here. These critics also said that
the Chest had granted the Council
$4,000 to make series of eight
reports on various phases Of Wash
ington's community problems in the
postwar period.
Mr.. Willett said the amount was
s45 900 and came out of the interest
accumulated on endowment money
in 1945. /
None of the money came out OF
individual contributions to the
Chest" Mr.. Willett said.
Veracruz, Mexico, is buying Ameri-
can equipment to modernize its
harbOr,