Evening star., 1948-02-11
Vote Next Week
SET on Plan for
Chest Merger
New Agency Would
Give Civic Leaders
Greater Influence

Community Chest and the Coun-
Gil of Social Agencies will decide
next week whether the organiza-
tions will combine their func-
tions in a proposed new United
Community Services of Wash
Details of the proposal, an
yesterday by leaders Of
both organizations. promise a large
measure of control by the COM
at large, as expressed by its
various representatives, and by Or
ganized groups outside the social
welfare field. ....
The new agency, according to the
planners, would perform these
tasks:
Gather facts and make special
studies dealing with social needs,
problems and services: provide uni
form standards of services and per-
sonnel practices, stimulate develop
ment of new services where needed
and eliminate duplicating service;
budget funds for Chest agencies,
formulate basic principles to guide
member agencies on health and
welfare matters and work to insure
adequate funds for these services by
keeping the public fully informed.
General Assembly of 1913.
Community organizations eligible
for membership would be city-wide
ones that have been actively con-
cerned with social welfare for at
least two years and have a depart
ment or committee currently work
ing on these problems.
The body would have a general
assembly of about 373 members
about half of whom would repre-
sent community organizations OF
the public at large; board OF
trustees, and a 25-member eXecu-
tive committee, of which 10 men,
bers would be chosen by the Board
of Trustees.
The general assembly would act
as semiannual forum and would
be responsible for conducting an an
nual COMMUNICATIVE social welfare
conference.
OF some 200 members of the pol
icy-making board of trustees, a
maximum of % professional social
workers could be included, and plan
ners expect the number to be less
than that.
Professional Control Charged.
Criticism of the Chest and Coun-
Gil, which included a renewed attack
last week by civic leaders and busi-
nessmen, was based partly on the
contention the two agencies are con-
trolled by paid workers.
The board of trustees, under the
proposal, would include a lay men,
ber of the board from each of the
private agencies included, repre-
sentative from each public agency
two professional workers from each
of six welfare divisions and a lay
member from each community or.
ganization.
The number of trustees from the
public at large and the member
community organizations woulc
equal the total number of the other
trustees.
Since some public agencies have
boards of laymen, it is expected tht
number of paid professional worker!
above the IL from the welfare divi.
sions would fall short of the maxi.
mum provided.
At press conference yesterday
Lee D. Butler, president of tht
Washington Chest, said he consid
ers the new organization would re-
suit in the obvious economy of 6
single executive director, pub C re-
lations staff and other adminiStra
tive set up in place Of two.
Costs Held in Doubt.
Miss Jane Hoey, acting presiden
of the council, added, however, tina
since it is impossible to know wha
new types of activity would be de.
cided on by the reorganized body, i
could not be said whether the com.
bined setup would result in less cost
Under the criteria of membership
in the new organization, the plar
states the agency must perform {
service needed in the community o
q preventive, remedial or educa
tlonal nature in the field of health
and welfare, and must not dupli
cate the work of any other agenc.
in the field"
Mr.. Butler explained that an ad
missions and review committee /
contemplated to evaluate member
ship applications of Chest agencie
and to make recommendations t.
the Executive Committee of the ney
body. The committee would be aide
by opinions from a social planning
committee and a budget committe
as to the value of the agency.
The councils delegate body vii
meet Monday, and the Chest
Board of Trustees February 20. o.
approval of the plan, an interim
committee of ID, including sevel
members from the Chest and sevel
from the council, will be appointe
to start the new organization.
60 Days Needed for Shift.
1t is expected it would take a
least 60 days to carry out the set
ting up of The basic organization
How soon the plan could be put il
operation would depend on no,
quickly response can be received re
garding agency, community organi
cations and public at large mem
bers to be named to the genera
ASSEMBLY and the Board of Trus
tees, 1t was said.
The planners expect the Ches
and council would transfer thei
functions to the new organization
as soon as suitable machinery wa
setup to take them over.
A committee including the follow
ing members drew up a tentativ
draft for the reorganization plan
For the Chest: Coleman Jenning!
Mrs. Milton King, H. L. Rust, jr
Charles Effiinger Smoot and Nj
Butler, ex officio. For the Council
Col. Campbell Johnson, Capt. Rhod
J. Milliken, Msgr. John j. Russell
J. C. Turner and DR.. Ernest s
Griffith, ex oficio.
Review Committees.