Springfield Weekly Republican

CHARITY PLANS IN PHILADELPHIA.

A large meeting of Philadelphia citizens, recently held in St. George's hall, heard the report of a committee appointed by a similar meeting last winter to consider the need of a better regulation and co-operation of the various civic charities. A thoroughly competent committee of 30 was appointed to report a plan to regulate charitable relief and to put down street begging. This committee and its sub-committees have been over since at work, meeting about twice a week for three months back. It recommends a general board of directors to supervise the charitable work of the city at large and to control the finances. They are to district the city and provide, either in each ward or in co-operating wards, an office and a superintendent. These district superintendents will be in constant communication with a central superintendent. Thus it is expected that there will be formed a body of intelligent and efficient experts, in complete mutual understanding with each other and with all the existing charitable societies. But a more important body still will be a large corps of lady visitors, who are expected to exert an influence both sympathetic and disciplinary upon the needy and worthy poor; to guard against the habit of leaning upon help unduly; and by all possible means to inspire the disheartened with hope and self-reliance. This corps of women visitors will be so large as to put but a small and convenient number of cases under each one's personal care, so that the visits can be frequent and efficient.

The greatest merit of the plan is, that it relies the least possible on mere machinery and paid proxy work, and most of all on personal and sympathetic intercourse between the needy classes and those who help them. The meeting in St. George's hall secured the sharp and discriminating discussion which was requisite for a clear understanding of the plan, and, what is better, it was cordially and generally approved, and the whole scheme placed in the hands of a commission fairly representing the best judgment and executive ability of the citizens, as well as the existing charitable societies. The progress of the matter will be carefully watched by all interested in our most difficult social problems.