Evening star., 1948-07-22
|UCS Adds New Unit
In Approving 56D.C.
Chest Fund Agencies

Fifty-six District health, welfare
and recreational agencies today were
assured of support through the
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
special meeting in the Departmental
Auditorium yesterday, reelected to
Chest support the same IS 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 margin of only six
votes. After an hours discussion,
the So 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. 6F8
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
agencys continued support or op-
position of public measures.
A statement of the Washington
Central Labor 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
builde3s' 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 a breeding place" for social Ills
and questioned the distinction be-
tween the housing agency and other
agencies whose purposes are pre-
ventive and educational.
Louis F. Prick, representing the
Federation Of Businessmen's Asso-
Citations, said he feels the general
public, because of its lack of educa-
'tion on the general meaning OF
lcharity, is reluctant to support
causes which foster fringe activi-
ties"
He said he believes the public
} should be educated on the point but
, questions whether, at present, II
would not be to the best interests of
!. the Chest to delete some agencies
. for the oo0d nf the rema lining 0nAs