Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-07
Backers Say Racket Bill Protects
Charity Projects and the Public
Changes Made
By Senate in
House Draft

A Senate District subcommit-
tees version Of legislation to
curb charity rackets here today
was hailed as giving full protec-
ton to worthy causes. while
protecting the public against
phony fund appeals,
The measure, approved yester-
day by the subcommittee headed
by Senator Clark, Democrat of
Pennsylvania. made a number of
changes in the House approved
bill to meet objections raised
during and after the subcommit-
tees hearings.
More Protection Seen
David F. Linowes, who headed
the citizens committee that
drafted the measure in its
original form, said he was salts
fed the changes did not weaken
the bill but did give more pro-
lection to those concerned with
civil rights.
The bill. in both the House
and Senate versions, requires
soliciting groups to disclose
their operations in the name of
charity. The groups would have
to register under regulations to
be drawn up by the District
Commissioners and those who
solicit would have to carry
formal identification.
The measure, long urged by
The Star. has the backing of the
major business. veterans, welfare
and civic groups here.
Exemptions Proposed
These are the major changes
written into the bill approved
by the Senate subcommittee:
/. Religious organizations ex-
empted from taxes under the
Federal internal revenue code
would be exempted from the
provisions of this bill. Under
the HouSe-passed measure. reli-
gious groups would have to
register but solicitations solely
for religious purposes or solely
among the membership of the
soliciting organization were ex-
2. The Commissioners, in pub
the results of their in.
vestigations into soliciting or.
CARNATIONS. would have the
power to make public informa-
ton concerning the officers and
members Of the governing board
Of an organization but could
not publish membership or con-
tribution lists. The ban on
publishing such lists was not in
cluded in the House version.
3. Like the House version, tele-
phone solicitations by paid
solicitors are banned but the
Senate version exempts solicita-
tons solely for the American
National Red Cross or exclusively
among the membership of a
agency from this and
some other provisions of the
measure.
4. To provide for small solicit
tations in a neighborhood crisis,
the Senate version provides that
the Commissioners may exempt
solicitations for sums UP to
$500 in a calendar year. This
proviSo was not in the House,
passed bill.
5. Soliciting agencies are pro-
hibited in the Senate version
from using the names of nom
officials of the soliciting organ
ization without the written con-
sent of the persons whose names
are to be used. This amendment
was proposed by Senator Javits,
Republican of New York, a SUBJ
committee member who admin
istered New York's charity
racket law while he was attorney
of that State.
Aids Nom Support Issue
In another action yesterday,
the subcommittee unanimously
proposed reciprocal
legislation aimed at
it easier to collect funds
for deserted families from run
away fathers
This measure brings the Dis
trict into line with the rest of
the country. Because the Dis
trict was the only place in the
without reciprocal nom
support law, it has been called
a haven for men from other
places who deserted their fami-
lies.
Both measures will come be-
fore the full Senate District
Committee at a meeting set for
next Thursday at IL am.