Evening star., 1953-08-30
Plan IsDrafted
ToCurb Racket
Charity Drives
Discussion Is Set
For Wednesday on
Tentative Measure

enf0tIVe measure
A tentative draft of possible
to curb charity rack
cts in the District will be dis
cuSsed at meeting at 3 pm.
Wednesday at United Commun-
Ity Services, 1101 M street NV.
The legislation would require
detailed disclosure the character
Of charitable solicitations from
the public and would be ad-
by the District Com
The word charitable" was
used in the draft as meaning
religious, patriotic philan-
thropic. social service, welfare.
benevolent, educational, civic or
fraternal. either actual or pur-
ported"
Proposed as the District
Solicitation Act, it
would require registration GER
tif1cate from the Commissioners
for soliciting contributions from
the public.
4 Months in Preparation.
The suggested draft resulted
from four months work by a
subcommittee of the Committee
for Regulating Solicitations for
Charitable Purposes, which held
it's first meeting last March.
David Linowes, committee
chairman, in announcing the
committees meeting Wednes-
day, noted that citizens of this
community have expressed real
concern about the operation of
charity rackets' in the District
and the amount of money being
solicited by and given to these
racketS by uninformed citizens"
All organizations seeking
charitable contributions from
the public, including the Com
munity Chest. would be re-
quired to obtain the registration
certificates.
Excepted would be established
religious or chartible groups not
operated for profit if their So
llcltations were conducted only
among their own members or
at their regular meetings or
services.
To Seek Public Opinion.
Ferdinand v. Grayson, exec
utive director of United Commu-
nifty Services. stressed that the
community would be given ample
opportunity to express it's views
and suggest changes before any
proposal is made to the Com
miSsioners for suggested submis-
sion to Congress.
Under the tentative draft, ap-
plication for the registration
certificate would contain this i'll
formation:
Name, address or headquarters
of the applicant.
Names and addresses of the
principal officers and managers.
if the applicant is not an indi-
vidual, and a certified copy Of
the resolution, if any, authoriZ-
ing the solicitation.
The purpose for which the So
licitation is to be made, total
amount of funds to be raised,
and the use to be made of the
receipts.
Names and addresses of those
who will disburse the receipts.
and those who will have charge
of conducting the solicitation,
and names of promoters con-
nected with it.
An outline of the methods and
cost of solicitation and when it
would begin.
Expense List Sought.
Amounts of wages. commits
sionS and expenses paid, with
names and addresses of persons
receiving them.
A full statement of the char
acter and extent of the charitable
work being done by the appli-
cant in the city.
A statement to the effect that
a registration certificate, il
granted, will not be used as con-
stituting an Endorsement Of the
solicitation by the District.
On receiving the sworn appli-
cation, the Commissioners would
make an investigation. They
could require books and records
and could inspect any premises
of the applicant. The city heads
could hold public hearings be-
fore refusing an application, and
an applicant could then appeal
to the United States District
Court for the District Of CO.
lumbia.
Effective for Year.
The registration certificate
would be effective for a year. and
could be renewed. But the reg
istrant would have to file a re-
port at the completion Of each
solicitation showing receipts,
costs, expenditures or disburse-
mentS.
The Commissioners, on prob
able cause to believe that there
had been an untruth or conceal
ment of material facts in the
could suspend GER
tif1cate already issued. hold a
public hearing and on an ad-
verse finding, revoke 1t.
A Charities Advisory Commit
tee of not more than nine mem
bers would be appointed to assist
in the enforcement of the act.
It's secretary could be public
welfare employe and paid for
his work.