Evening star., 1948-07-22
.UCS Approves
So D. T.. Units.
For Chest Funds
Housing Association
Booked, As to 80;
New Unit Added

osSodACu Vi SupPNt tAlIOuSH tIIc
United Community Services from
funds raised by the annual cam
paign of the Community Chest Fed
Grafton this fall.
The UCS board of trustees, at a
special meeting in the Departmental
Auditorium yesterday, reelected to
Chest support the same SIS agencies
On last years list and added one new
agency, the Armed Services YMCA.
The newly organized UCS, COM
bining the functions of the Wash
ington Community Chest and the
Council of Social Agencies, is the
Washington member of the Chest
Federation, which includes the
Chests of Alexandria, Arlington and
Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties.
One by 6-Vote Margin.
One agency, the Washington
Housing Association. was elected to
support by a margin of only six
votes. After an hours discussion,
the 86 trustees voted As to 80 to ac-
cept the agency. Two ballots were
declared void because of mistakes.
The association has been the tar
get of criticism growing from its
stand on some matters of public
controversy. Question arose as to
whether any agency supported with
Chest funds should align itself so
firmly on such issues.
Another question involved the
District Revenue Act of 1947 pro-
vision that a condition for tax ex-
emption in charitable and educa-
tional agencies is that the agency
is engaged in no activities to in
fluence legislation.
The previous income tax law had
provided that mo substantial part
of the activities Of such an agency
should be to influence legislation.
The wording of the present act
brought up the question of whether
the tax-exempt status of the associa-
ton. and thereby of the Chest it
self, would be endangered by the
agency's continued support or op-
position of public measures.
A statement of the Washington
Central Labov Union. read to the
meeting by C. F. Preller, charged
the Home Builders Association had
spread propaganda against the
housing agency.
The statement said the home
builders primary objection was that
the housing association advocates
public housing for low-income
groups. whom private enterprise
cannot reach.
IF private enterprise cannot
reach them, how will they be
housed?" the statement asked.
Mr.. Preller stressed the i'm
portance of the preservation of the
planning function of social work in
UCS. He asserted the housing
agency does not compete with any
other group and works to make sure
that health and welfare needs in the
housing field are met. Fact-finding
is necessary weapon against poor
housing conditions, he said.
Distinction Questioned.
Miss Jane Hoey, head OF the
Council, declared that poor housing
is breeding place" for social ills
and questioned the distinction be-
tween the housing agency and other
agencies whose purposes are pre-
ventlve and educational
Louis F. Frick, representing the
Federation of Businessmens Asso-
Citations, said he feels the general
public, because of its lack of educa-
ton on the general meaning of
charity, is reluctant to support
which foster fringe activi-
ties
He said he believes the public
should be educated on the point but
questions whether, at present, it
would not be to the best interests of
the Chest to delete some agencies
for the good of the remaining ones.
Col. Chauncey G. Parker, general
chairman of the 1949 red feather
campaign. pointed out the housing
agency has been particularly a
thorn in the side" of Chest solicitors
for the last three or four years.
Il think we've got to deal in a
practical and sensible way with
these situations" he said Il think
We must consider very carefully the
'fringy' organizations"
The newly adopted agency, the
Armed Service YMCA. is separate
and autonomous from local civilian
YMCA work. It's program was car
ried on during the war as part of
the United Services Organization
and has been continued with residue
USO funds at the request of Army
and Navy authorities here, it was