Evening star., 1948-02-07
Community Chest Criticism Repeated

paid advertisement by D. j. Kaufman, Inc,
reproducing a letter by Daniel w. Bell presi-
dent, Community Chest Federation National
Capital Area, responding to criticism directed
at the Chest
Mr.. Bells letter, and previous editorials in
The Star, together with number OF articles
which The Star ran to emphasize the shortage
of funds experienced by some agencies, would
seem to convey the idea that the community
had fallen down in its obligations; that things
we're not as they used to be. Quite sol
The Community Chest Is not the Community
Chest any more. Purposes for which the Chest
was organized are not exactly the purposes for
which the Chest is used today. With the
coming of the First and Second World Wars
there have been added units which do not prop
erly belong in the Community Chest, today.
Mr.. Bell, and his associates on the various
voluntary boards, which he mentions, are sim
cere, hard-working well-meaning citizens, and
are entitled to thanks from the citizens of
the community. But it takes more than good
wishes and good will to break up system
which seems destined to wreck the unified
contribution system known as the Community
Chest
Certain money spending units should be
rooted out of the Community Chest system,
works, but because they do not belong with
any group which needs free and public dona-
tions of money to exist. The one absorbs the
funds sorely needed by the other
When one considers the many reviews" and
checks" by the several "well-known and repu-
table volunteers" who make up the various
boards mentioned by Mr.. Bell why should
there be large money consuming organiza-
ton like the Council of Social Agencies.
Why did not Mr.. Leahys committee, earlier
in the year, root out the organizations about
which the citizens urgently complained?
The disturbing fact is that no matter how
many protests have been made, or will be made
as to the eligibility of units which partake of
money contributed to the Community Chest,
by reason of the nature of the control now ex-
ercised over the Chest by the council, no re-
form may be expected, because these protests
will be labeled "misinformation" or "misunder-
standing" as to the activities of the fund.
Specifically let us mention here three units
to which the Southeast Council Of Citizens
Associations Q3 associations) have objected
emphaticany, frequently, and with reason:
The Washington Housing Association, the
Washington Urban League, the Social Welfare
Department of the Washington Federation of
Churches.
Protest was made against these associations
for reasons based on known actions by them
which could not be considered worthy of unit
which expected to subsist on public funds.
What does the report of the Committee of
Citizens say on these units? I cite the minor
ity report of Federation of Citizens Commit
tee on Survey of Washington Community
Chest.
Washington Federation Of Churches: Out of
$9353 received in 1916, $s;40s is devoted to
salaries and the balance to rent and adminis-
trative expenses; ut appears that this organi-
zation Is but social unit of the Federation OF
Churches, and that its only purpose is to refer
cases from individual pastors to other units OF
the Chest which are organized to help under
such particular circumstances as the case
may present" (Of course, the poor pastors
would not know to whom to refer the cases..
Washington Housing Association by its own
admission, performs no basic charity, such as
furnishing to needy people food, shelter, cloth
ing or medicine, and received f. ON the Com
munity Chest during 1916 $15,s14.64 of which
$1,000 was devoted to salaries and the re-
mainder to the cost Of operating its Office
What for? The admitted purpose is to i'm
prove housing conditions CWhat Is the National
Government spending millions forO
Washington Urban League, by its own ad-
mission performs no basic charity and in its
budget to the Community Chest for 1947 has
requested $l6,236 of which $l1 900 Is to be
devoted to salaries, and the balance to the cost
of operating its Office.
The amounts mentioned above are relatively
small when compared to the whole appro-
priation to the Community Chest, but there are
many other units which have the same salary
proportion; some, perhaps, higher; at least II
we're mentioned by the Federation committees
report.
Functions of Council Questioned.
Now, as to the Council of Social Agencies:
During 1916 "ths council received for itself
and subsidiary, the Social Service Exchange,
the sum of 500 ,6s8, exclusive of the s55,00o OBJ
tanned for survey purposes all OF which was
devoted to administrative expenses and sala-
ries including the pay OF number OF social
workers
What does the Council of Social Agencies do?
We are told something like this: To encour-
age and develop cooperation OF social and
civic agencies Zone would think these social
and civic organizations would not cooperate
of their own Accord To increase the efficiency
of social agencies and social work generally in
this area. OF an agency is not sufnciently
eficient from its own efforts, it should not be
entitled to consideration for donations). To
study social problems in this area, etc. One
finds it difficult to pin down definite and spe-
cific service which is not already being per-
formed by other Chest units or by the District
government
The people should be informed, but specifl-
cally. not in general terms, as to who's who
in the Chest Omit the window dressing
flashed by the long list Of trustees" Good
fellows, they are but let them chip in their
contributions and let one efficient admins
traitor boss the job. Let those now in charge,
If they have the nerve, WELD sharp knife on
the list of agencies which are receiving bene-
fits from the public donations, and return to a
Community Chest made up of units which
serve those who cannot serve themselves. and
eliminate all those which cater to organiza-
tions which serve employed and well-paid