The Wilmington morning star., 1947-10-07
Legal Ruling Needed

A formal, legal ruling on the county's
responsibility in maintaining the Assocla-
ted Charities as an agency for administer
ing relief to the INDECENT appears forth
coming as the result of discussion of the
matter by the commissioners and a spokes-
man for the directors of the Community
Chest yesterday.
Principal purpose of the appearance OF
the delegation was to end any and all doubt
as to who is legally obligated for the Chart
ties operations.
In stating the Chests case, President H.
A. Marks pointed out that the organization
contributed 81, 1000 to the Charities in 1946-47.
But this fiscal year, a request for a similar
INDECENT cases are the responsibility of the
Public Welfare department, of which the
ASSOCIATED Charities may be considered a
part in principle.
We believe Mr.. Marks when he said the
Chest is deeply in sympathy with the
Charities and its work.
But we also think that an agency, primarl-
ly supported by tax money as the
Charities is, should not have to call on the
ches, or the general public. Without ax-
%oeption, the Chests various beneficaries are
supported by public subscription or men,
bership fees. Therefore, why should it IN
! clude one whose principal maintenance is
from tax funds? But that is an opinion. What
IL. CL.,4 Io,rI 1xyontc &c q local ruling.
And from the comments at yesterdays meet
ing. it appears one will be received favorable
to it's attitude in the matter.
II think County Attorney Marsden Bel
lamy said, "the responsibility is on the
county, He later added tina II don't know
any reason why persons cannot give to the
Associated Charities"
Commissioner George W. Trask supported
:! Mr.. Bellamy's remarks by pointing out
that we (the county board) have accepted
this responsibility"
The State Welfare department, we are In
formed, has commended that local care OF
indigents is the primary obligation of the
counties and can be administered best
LII 0oSl JIG al oSPoI HSHS
showing New Hanover was the only one of
North Cardinals 100 counties still retaining
an Associated Charities was a large factor
in influencing City council to discontinue its
appropriation this year.
No formal action, such as a resolution, was
taken yesterday because only three of the
five commissioners were present. The others
were representing New Hanover at Colds
boro's Centennial celebration. Mr.. Marks
was invited to re-appear next Monday when
a full membership of the board is expected
to be present.
The Community Chest Is not fighting the
Charities.
Neither can its attitude on the issue of
whose responsibility the organization actual
ly is be considered a callous one. But the
Chest does realize, and quite rightfully so,
that an individual and separate financial
appeal by the Charities would be damaging
to the Chest. Therefore, it is entitled to want
all concerned to know officially where the
responsibility lies.
There are certainly no indications that the
county commissioners want to side-step their
duty in the matter. Therefore, it is difficult to
see how they would permit the unsupported
Charities to conduct a direct, public appeal
for private contributions. 1t appears to have
no mora right to do 80 than any other
county agency.
But the requested legal ruling should
eliminate any misunderstanding which may
exist as to who should and who should not
consider the Charities one of their charges.