With the new scheme for cnordinating the work of charitable societies in Shanghai in order to. prevent overlapping and exploitation of the societies' benevolence by the undeserving there will general sympathy. The experience of the' members of the Special Relief Committee of the Associated Charities is undeniable and on that account alone the proposals sponsored by them demanil confidence. Yet it seems unfortunate ihat the present time of specially acute distress should be seized upon to make the elimination of the undeserving beggar so Prominent a feature of the committee's activities. Whether the times are hard or good the undeserving beggar remains the same undeserving.. The danger lies in giving the public an impression that cases in need of assistance have to run the gauntlet of more than the usual prudent inquiries which discriminating philanthropists ought to make. It is difficult to resist the conviction that the committee's issue of identification books will merely discourage recourse to the Associated Charities by men and women deserving unobtrusive, sympathetic and time y help. In some hands identification books will be looked upon as licences to beg. In point of fact no one should give way to the importunity of any casual caller but should firmly Release Under Amnesty Act
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.