[MISC. PUBS.] 
 
 Publication No. 1 
 
 A GUIDE TO 
 FRIENDLY VISITING 
 
 BY 
 
 J. AUERBACH LIBRARY! 
 
 PUBLIC AFFAIRS SERVICE 
 
 
 
 APR 21 19J71 
 
 " The only" real pleasure in life is 
 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 another." 3* # tf> |_Q S ANGELES 
 
 I) BY 
 
 THE MUNICIPAL CHARITIES COMMISSION
 
 Foreword 
 
 In dealing with dependent, defective and delinquent families 
 in their homes, no better or more efficient agency has yet been 
 found than a well qualified and organized corps of Friendly Vis- 
 itors. Charity Organizations, Humane Societies, Juvenile Courts 
 and similar Welfare Organizations, employ paid visitors in their 
 investigations of distress, cruelty, waywardness and unsanitary 
 conditions. Through these official visitors, the public is made 
 aware of a number of the existing evils in the homes of the poor 
 that are a menace to society and in many respects even endanger 
 the welfare of the future generation. Their trained eyes discover 
 conditions either unknown or ignored by the general public that 
 if left unchecked would weaken the social structure and might 
 in a few decades reduce the nation from a high state of efficiency 
 to incompetency, weakness and ultimate ruin. 
 
 The number of this class of social visitors is of necessity small, 
 on account of the necessity to devote all of their time and energy 
 to social service work. These few visitors are doing pioneer 
 work in surveying the ground, preparing the way, removing ob- 
 stacles and even erecting guide posts for others that may follow 
 them in the trodden paths. They arc forerunners of the Volun- 
 teer Friendly Visitors who have more leisure and opportunity 
 to study individual cases of dependency and delinquency for the 
 purpose of eliminating the acting cause in the individual case. 
 
 Any public relief society that has not for its ultimate object 
 reconstruction of families and individuals and that gives material 
 aid indiscriminately, often fosters the evil it tries to eradicate. 
 With very few exceptions, material relief should be accompanied 
 by a friendly and personal interest in the recipient and we should 
 demonstrate to them that we are in reality brothers and sisters 
 and that because of this relationship we are willing to devote 
 our best efforts to aid them. In doing this constructive work,
 
 some practical knowledge may be helpful to the inexperienced. 
 
 The following suggestions made by Mr. J. Auerbach in a lec- 
 ture given to a Friendly Visitors' class of the Los Angeles Asso- 
 ciated Chanties, so thoroughly show the attitude of modern re- 
 constructive charity that the Municipal Charities Commission 
 feels that every worker should be familiar with these fundamental 
 points and hence takes pleasure in presenting this monograph, 
 hoping that thereby a better understanding of this most impor- 
 tant subject may be had and better co-operation may be estab- 
 lished between the societies and the individuals working in the 
 field. 
 
 Thanks are especially due to Mr. Haines W. Reed, who kindly 
 defrayed all expenses of this publication. 
 
 THE MUNICIPAL CHARITIES COMMISSION 
 
 OF Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
 
 Friendly Visitors 
 
 The viewpoint of the Friendly Visitor has changed with the 
 great change that has taken place in our conception of social 
 work. The day has gone by for those who solemnly undertake 
 to sacrifice themselves to disagreeable tasks, under the impres- 
 sion that they are thus discharging their duty to the less fortu- 
 nate. Possibly some still enter social work with this attitude, 
 but unless they come to the modern view that the social prob- 
 lems of the day offer a challenge to intelligence, ability and con- 
 structive effort such as few occupations excel they will either 
 be disappointed, or will not continue long in this important field 
 of social service. 
 
 There is not much literature written directly upon the subject 
 of Friendly Visiting, and with the exception of Miss Richmond's 
 hand-book for charity-workers entitled, "Friendly Visiting Among 
 the Poor," I do not know any other treatise that deals exclusively 
 with this line of work. Those who care to read this book will 
 find valuable information concerning the rehabilitation of fami- 
 lies, which is the chief object of Friendly Visitors. In dealing 
 with the subject, the inexperienced Friendly Visitor as a rule, 
 does not care to read much of the technique and the different 
 theories advocated by the various schools of Sociology, but pre- 
 fers to have an outline of the principle that governs Friendly 
 Visiting and the best and most tactful methods of making this 
 principle a live issue. 
 
 Dr. Hodges stated once that "The difference between the Asso- 
 ciated Charities and the purely relief association is like that be- 
 tween the doctor's office and the drug store." You do not expect 
 to carry away from the doctor's office something in a basket, or 
 in a brown or pink parcel ; you expect to get counsel and advice 
 and perhaps a prescription that you may take to the drug store. 
 But the experienced doctor, in making that prescription, takes 
 pains to prescribe as few drugs as he can. He is afraid of getting 
 people into the drug habit, and the wise philanthropist is just 
 as much afraid of getting people into the alms habit, which is 
 closely related to the morphine habit in that it deprives people 
 of self-respect.
 
 The Friendly Visitor may be likened to the one who has to 
 compound this prescription namely, to carry out this definitely 
 formulated plan outlined for him at the Conference of Friendly 
 Visitors or case committee with the privilege of modifying it 
 or substituting some other way with the full co-operation of 
 the Conference or central office of the Associated Charities. 
 
 Friendly Visitors not familiar with lines of social work would 
 rather have concrete facts than abstract ideas of the various ways 
 in which the task of rehabilitation of individual families can be 
 accomplished, the various obstacles to overcome and, above all, 
 how to gain the confidence of the man or woman with whom 
 they come in contact without the danger of being looked upon 
 as a new source of revenue instead of a true friend in need. 
 
 The first thing a Friendly Visitor must do in order to get the 
 best results is to get thoroughly familiar with the synopsis of 
 the case given to him to start on. Study the details of the case 
 given you and notice the points that appeal to you most. The 
 first impressions should be followed in most cases. Arrange to 
 make the first visit alone and early in the afternoon, just about 
 an hour before children return from school. Keep in mind that 
 you are not an investigator or an investigating committee and 
 that you may be regarded so if you should go accompanied by 
 somebody else, thereby giving a wrong impression. Wait until 
 the older children return from school, if there are any, and notice 
 the attitude of the children toward the mother, and vice versa. 
 The impressions you gather from the general appearance of the 
 children, their greeting at mother's request, etc., will help you 
 to catch a glimpse of the prevailing atmosphere in the home. 
 By all means do not express any criticism ; on the contrary, find 
 something to commend, either in the woman or children, in order 
 to leave the impression of being a person who does see and 
 appreciate good qualities among the poor people. This attitude 
 will help you to make your second visit more free and less re- 
 served. But I hear someone say, "How can I make my first 
 visit without feeling that I am intruding, or running the risk 
 of being shown the door after gaining an entrance?" It depends 
 on the tactful manner in which you make your own introduction 
 whether you are considered a welcome guest and will be con- 
 sidered as such in the future. By all means, if you do not want 
 to make a failure of your visit, do not introduce yourself as a 
 delegate sent by the Associated Charities who comes with the 
 express purpose of giving material help. Have a definite idea 
 of what you are going to tell the family to explain your unex- 
 pected visit. If sickness or chronic ailment is the cause of dis- 
 tress in your particular family, you will surely be welcome if 
 you introduce yourself by name, stating that you heard of the
 
 sickness of one of the members through a friend of yours and 
 you just came to see them. A bunch of flowers may aid you to 
 make your visit more profitable and to gain their confidence 
 more easily. If lack of employment should be the cause of dis- 
 tress, the visitor would be greatly benefited if he were prepared 
 to offer some suggestion as to where the man or woman might 
 get employment. This is not always necessary, but it serves 
 as an excuse to explain his presence. An introduction like this 
 may be helpful : "I learned from a friend of mine that your hus- 
 band has been out of work for some time. I just came to see 
 what he can do. I may be able to help him secure work and 
 would like to have a talk with him," etc. If intemperance is the 
 cause, then the introduction must be studied from the immediate 
 effects caused by the destructive disease. There are numerous 
 ways in which you may gain entrance to a family, without tell- 
 ing them in an apologetic way why and wherefore you are so 
 interested in them. Comment, for instance, on the unusual clean- 
 liness of the room or children, or something about ornaments, etc. 
 This unexpected praise will open a way for discussion of sub- 
 jects upon which you are particularly anxious to be informed. 
 To gain a complete knowledge of a family, be they rich or poor, 
 four distinct points must be strictly studied: 
 
 (1) Social History. This includes names and ages of the 
 members of the family, birth-places, marriage, number of rooms, 
 education, children's schools, condition of relatives and friends, 
 church, etc. 
 
 (2) Physical History. Health of each member of the family, 
 name of doctor, habits, good as well as bad. 
 
 (3) Work History. Occupations, names of present and 
 former employers, how long and what seasons usually in work, 
 how long out of work, earning capacity of each member, etc. 
 
 (4) Financial History. 
 
 The first three histories do not differ materially from the well- 
 to-do people, but the fourth, the financial history, is very much 
 unlike that of the rich. It does not deal with properties, mort- 
 gages, bonds, stocks, commercial papers, franchises, etc., but 
 with rents, landlords, debts, including installment purchases, such 
 as sewing machines, furniture and even clothes; beneficial socie- 
 ties, trade unions, life insurance, pawn tickets, pensions, chari- 
 table aid, etc. 
 
 By all means do not neglect the man, the head of the family, 
 or breadwinner, if there is one in your particular case. Church 
 workers and Friendly Visitors often deal with women and chil- 
 dren in their homes for years and seldom, if ever, give any 
 thought to the man who, when worthy of the name of bread- 
 winner, should be included in the program, whatever it may be.
 
 If he is a brute, a detriment to the family, then there is more 
 reason why the Friendly Visitor should see that this millstone 
 around the woman's and children's necks is removed, and in 
 doing this humane work, do not let him off without shouldering 
 at least part of the responsibility of support. Make inquiries in 
 a tactful manner about the man's health, habits, skill, capacity 
 for saving and managing; about his likes and dislikes, taste for 
 literature, modes of recreation ; make mental notes of it as it 
 will help you to discover hidden resources in the family which 
 could be made use of to their own advancement. You will gain 
 his confidence and he will look upon you as a friend and not as 
 a charity spy. If you plan an entertainment or outing for the 
 family, be sure to include him in the party if you want it to be a 
 success. Make him feel that he is the head of the family and 
 that the family's welfare rests upon him and that you are ready 
 to discuss with him not only domestic affairs but also economic 
 questions such as strikes, lockouts, the unemployed, or whatever 
 may be the cause of his dissatisfaction or grievance. Do not miss 
 a chance to lead him to a better and fuller understanding of the 
 social and economic questions of which the poor are so much 
 in need for their own good. If work should be found for the 
 man, do not cripple his efforts by letting him feel that he can 
 sit idle and let you as his friend do all the searching and worry- 
 ing. Send him to find work, go with him to special places, if 
 necessary, but do not go from place to place to find it for him. 
 Develop his resources, show an interest in all his attempts and 
 encourage him to renewed efforts. Since we have more women 
 Friendly Visitors than men, I will not attempt to give you spe- 
 cial instructions for gaining women's confidence so they may 
 regard you as their best friend, not for the sake of the material 
 benefit gained from time to time, but for the moral, intellectual 
 as well as spiritual advantage of coming in personal contact 
 with you. Avoid, if possible, being looked upon as a source 
 of revenue, and, therefore, do all you can to prevent the mother 
 and children from associating in their minds your visit with a 
 material gift, such as a grocery order or a bundle of clothes, 
 every time you visit the family. Try to leave the impression 
 that, notwithstanding your social position or any other superior 
 quality you may possess, you regard them as your equals in 
 individual rights and privileges, and while you can advise them 
 for their own good do not seem to force conditions upon them 
 which seem to them unfeasible or offensive. If, in your judg- 
 ment, some personal defects in the woman or children should be 
 corrected, do not speak bluntly of them ; lead your conversation 
 in such a way that the woman may recognize and admit these 
 points in herself or children without being told directly of them,
 
 and it will give you a chance to gain your point without being 
 regarded as meddlesome. 
 
 To improve the living conditions through efforts with the 
 woman at home is primarily the work of the woman Friendly 
 Visitor. After this is accomplished to a certain degree, the 
 task of transforming the family from dependency to a self-re- 
 straining and self-respecting state is considerably lightened. To 
 accomplish this most important transformation, the Friendly 
 Visitor must, of necessity, lend them her brains instead of her 
 money. I suppose some of you are familiar with the admoni- 
 tion made by Goldsmith in his novel, "Vicar of Wakefield." 
 you desire to rid yourself of your relatives, lend them some 
 money." Why the lending of money should have a tendency 
 to mar, and even destroy friendship, I do not intend to discuss ; 
 suffice it to say that for a Friendly Visitor to lend money to a 
 family in which she is interested at the first few visits, will in 
 most cases mar, and even destroy, the confidence and friendly 
 relations she has gained through hard work. Therefore, when 
 this lending proposition comes up in the case of temporary em- 
 barrassment or visionary schemes on their part, instead of lend- 
 ing them money, lend them your brains, and if yours are not 
 sufficient to meet the emergency, borrow some more from your 
 friends. Give them new ideas and show them that there are 
 more ways than one to solve perplexing problems the only dif- 
 ference is that one may be more tedious than the other. By 
 using the best .qualities in us in dealing with the poor, making 
 their troubles and difficulties our own troubles and difficulties, 
 we are enabled to put them on their feet and change them from 
 tax-eaters to tax-payers. The sooner we realize that we can 
 do more good by leading the poor people to help themselves than 
 by all our alms-giving, the nearer we come to grasping the true 
 spirit of modern philanthropy. 
 
 Since our Friendly Visitors must be recruited from the various 
 social strata, it is natural that they represent different viewpoints 
 on social as well as domestic relations. It is, therefore, of the 
 utmost importance to have the General Secretary of the Asso- 
 ciated Charities, or chairman of the Conference of Friendly Vis- 
 itors, study the characteristics of the Friendly Visitor, as well 
 as those of the family intrusted in her charge in order to accom- 
 plish the best results. They must guard against misfits in tem- 
 perament or religious views and, above all, against over-senti- 
 mentality. The positive and negative must meet to make a 
 harmonious union. While Friendly Visitors representing a spe- 
 cial church may influence a change in the moral and spiritual 
 views of their respective charges, they ought never to try to 
 proselyte them and induce them to change church relations, if
 
 they have any. Never make light of their religious views, even 
 if they seem queer to you, but you may try to lead them to a 
 clearer and broader understanding of religious principles and 
 their queer notions will disappear of themselves. 
 
 The sympathies of the Friendly Visitor are often aroused so 
 that they feel that something definite must be done at once, in 
 the form of a sudden change, such as hospital treatment, re- 
 moval to a country farm, sanitarium or asylum, but the visitor 
 must be careful not to let her sympathies run away with her 
 judgment and not display an over-anxiety to make the person's 
 last hours pleasant and providing for them in the most comfort- 
 able manner. 
 
 It is needless for me to mention that the Friendly Visitor 
 should not neglect the welfare of the child in all its ramifica- 
 tions. Get familiar with the condition of the child's health, its 
 aptness for studies, the causes for backwardness, if there are any, 
 its good as well as bad tendencies, its opportunities for recrea- 
 tion, kindergarten facilities, child labor, and any other points 
 that may help to develop new or better methods for improve- 
 ment in the family in which you are interested. 
 
 Friendly Visitors as a rule differ widely on the question of 
 material relief. To one that knows the needs of the poor, the 
 relief of suffering by gifts of food, fuel and raiment, seem only 
 a small part of the work of charity, but the fact remains that 
 the majority of mankind is still little moved by any needs that 
 are not closely associated with hunger, cold or nakedness. If 
 we relieve these visible manifestations of poverty, believing 
 that our gifts in themselves carry any blessing to the poor, 
 we are taking a grossly material view of human life. If, on the 
 other hand, our knowledge of the mischief done by reckless and 
 indiscriminate giving makes us morbidly skeptical of all ma- 
 terial assistance, we are losing a valuable tool, for relief at the 
 right time and given in the right way may be made an incentive 
 to renewed exertion and help to a higher standard of living. 
 
 When a visitor is able to develop the family's own capacity 
 without resorting to material aid from either her own or other 
 sources, she is very fortunate, but very often relief from out- 
 side is a necessity, and it depends largely on the way in which 
 this important function is performed. 
 
 As I have previously intimated, it is wise for the Friendly Vis- 
 itor not to give material relief in her first few visits, but if relief 
 is necessary, to procure it either from the office or other sources, 
 except in rare emergencies. In low-grade families the giving 
 of material relief by Visitors leads to deception and misrepre- 
 sentation of actual conditions, and retards, or even makes im- 
 possible the process of reconstruction, while in high-grade fam-
 
 ilies the giving of relief on slight acquaintance may be resented 
 or misinterpreted, losing by it the real object of your interest 
 in them. Friendly Visitors are human and are easily moved by 
 apparent needs. It is so much easier to give than to be forced 
 to use our ingenuity to find other and better ways of helping. 
 Many of our Visitors start out with the best intentions and are 
 tempted to give relief each time they visit a family. First it 
 may be clothing for the children, then rent, then groceries, then 
 more clothing, and the family's needs, strange to say, seem to 
 increase, and finding their advice unheeded and perhaps part 
 'of their munificence wasted, especially in the line of clothing, 
 they either terminate the friendship or are erroneously impressed 
 with the idea of how the poor are constituted. To administer 
 relief wisely one needs special training and inexperienced visitors 
 will do well to consult older ones that have had previous ex- 
 perience in administering relief and know the standards of liv- 
 ing of that particular community in which they are interested. 
 It often happens that through an unwise or injudicious relief- 
 giving, you may incite false hopes in the poor neighbors of your 
 particular family and run the risk of injuring the very reputa- 
 tion of your client. 
 
 When relief is needed, it should be given in the home with- 
 out any publicity and with the full knowledge and consent of 
 the breadwinner. Do not encourage the family in sending notes 
 of appeal for aid by their children. Juvenile offenders often 
 begin by child-begging with or without notes. Avoid appeals 
 to numerous sources of aid. Natural sources, such as relatives, 
 friends, former employers, benevolent organizations of their na- 
 tionality, etc., should be first resorted to, and if it is necessary 
 to divide the burden of expense, try to have it administered 
 through one source only. 
 
 There arc numerous ways by which we can minister to the 
 poor without making them more dependent, and each visitor 
 must learn this art by herself. The aforesaid principles are only 
 guide posts on the way of friendly and helpful visiting. 
 
 Experience has demonstrated that a Friendly Visitor should 
 not take more than two or three cases for permanent care. 
 Two families of opposite types are preferable, for many reasons. 
 It gives the Visitor a better chance to grasp the principles that 
 govern Friendly Visiting, by comparing the contrasting circum- 
 stances that may surround these families. She will also notice 
 the points common to both and this similarity will help to stim- 
 ulate her to heroic action in devising plans for betterment by 
 applying the same or similar remedies. 
 
 I do not need to admonish the earnest Friendly Visitor not 
 to give up her cases after once taking hold of them. She will
 
 soon realize that the subtle law of compensation is active in 
 this field of human endeavor, and perhaps more so than in any 
 other range of our activities. She will soon learn the beneficial 
 influence exercised upon herself and the broadening-out in sym- 
 pathy, as well as in knowledge, that she could not have gained 
 in any other way, with the result that she will not give up visit- 
 ing her families even after the immediate needs have disappeared, 
 but will watch with zeal the steps of progress made by the family 
 during each successive visit. She will soon learn that she her- 
 self will receive benefit in proportion as she administers to them, 
 and will be glad to continue to add the richness which such 
 contact brings to one's own life. Besides touching so many of 
 the most interesting social questions, it gives one a taste of real 
 life which will seem deeper and fuller of real pleasure and in- 
 terest than any other of the so-called joys of life, so eagerly 
 sought after and so often missed. Then, I believe nothing else 
 brings a deeper belief in the underlying good in every one than 
 a close touch with, not "the slums," but our brothers and sisters, 
 and it will eventually mean more to you than to the family you 
 visit. It will broaden your whole life; it will give you work to 
 do when a personal sorrow claims your thoughts, and you will 
 gain loyal friends among the, poor. 
 
 Thus far, I have been giving suggestions pertaining to the in- 
 dividual families in their homes, pointing out ways in which we 
 can be helpful in improving the standards of the home, by making 
 the breadwinner feel more and more his responsibility toward 
 his family and become a better provider. In a tactful way, teach 
 the woman to become a more efficient home-maker and make 
 the home more attractive to the husband as well as the children, 
 and see that the children have all the opportunities possible for 
 physical development. But the work of the Friendly Visitor 
 would be incomplete if she did not try to improve and elevate 
 the undesirable conditions and moral tone of the neighborhood 
 in which her family resides. With this end in view, the Friendly 
 Visitor must become acquainted with conditions in that locality. 
 Know all about the helpful social organizations, the kindergarten 
 and playgrounds in the neighborhood, also hospitals and free dis- 
 pensaries, and see to it that the family makes proper use of 
 them. Note especially the undesirable conditions in the neigh- 
 borhood, such as defective or inadequate sewerage, over-crowded 
 dwellings, unsanitary back yards, and similar conditions that 
 tend to affect the health and morals of the community. Bring 
 definite facts to the Conference for discussion with a view of 
 remedying same. 
 
 By JOSEPH AUERBACH, 
 General Secretary Los Angeles Associated Charities, 
 
 10
 
 ORDINANCE NO. 27,510 
 (New Series) 
 
 As Amended by Ordinance No. 27,878 (New Series). 
 
 An Ordinance creating a Municipal Charities Commission and pre- 
 scribing its powers and duties. 
 
 The Mayor and Council of the City of Los Angeles do ordain as follows: 
 
 Section 1. There is hereby created a commission of the City of Los 
 Angeles to be known and designated as the Municipal Charities Com- 
 mission. Said commission shall consist of five members who shall be 
 appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council. The 
 term of office of each of said commissioners shall be for a period of four 
 years and all of said commissioners shall serve without compensation. 
 
 Sec. 2. That upon the appointment of said commissioners they shall 
 meet and organize by the election of a President and a Secretary, and 
 such other officers as may be necessary. Said Commission shall hold 
 such meetings at such time and place as it may fix by resolution. 
 
 Sec. 3. Said commission shall have power: 
 
 (1) To investigate all charities dependent upon public appeal or 
 general solicitation for support and to endorse such of them as meet 
 actual needs of the community, attain a reasonable standard of efficiency 
 and are so conducted as to insure the public of the wise use of funds. 
 
 (2) To encourage the formation of new private charities to meet needs 
 that are not already provided for and to foster all worthy enterprises 
 of a philanthropic nature and to give assistance thereto. 
 
 (3) To collect and preserve statistics relating to charities, conditions 
 of life, unemployment and delinquency and to suggest means for im- 
 proving the conditions producing the need of relief. 
 
 (4) To maintain a constant survey of the field of charities with regard 
 to the need and the work being done in connection therewith, and to 
 secure intelligent co-operation among all charitable and social agencies 
 in the city to the end that a comprehensive and economical plan in 
 philanthropy may be attained. 
 
 (5) To disburse all funds set apart by the city for charitable purposes 
 and to make a report to the City Council of the work done in connec- 
 tion therewith. 
 
 (6) To receive donations, gifts or bequests to be used for charitable 
 or philanthropical purposes and to administer any trust declared or 
 created for any such purpose in accordance with the terms of said trust. 
 
 (7) To establish and maintain a bureau for the purpose of providing 
 employment free of charge to persons applying therefor, to furnish in- 
 formation concerning any vacant position, situation or employment which 
 may come within the knowledge of said commission, to keep a register 
 containing the names and addresses of persons who make application 
 for employment, together with the names and addresses of all persons 
 who are seeking help and to keep a list of all positions and situations 
 filled. 
 
 Sec. 4. That the Municipal Charities Commission be, and it is hereby 
 authorized to appoint the following employes at the compensation herein 
 fixed, to wit: 
 
 One Investigating Agent at a salary of $100 per month. 
 
 One Record Clerk, at a salary of $75 per month. 
 
 II
 
 FREE LABOR BUREAU 
 
 One Superintendent, at a salary of $125 per month. 
 
 One Record Clerk, at a salary of $90 per month. 
 
 One Clerk, at a salary of $100 per month. 
 
 That all such persons shall perform such duties as may be prescribed 
 by the Municipal Charities Commission. 
 
 Sec. 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance 
 and cause the same to be published once in The Los Angeles Daily 
 Journal. 
 
 I hereby certify that the foregoing ordinance was introduced at the 
 meeting of the Council of the City of Los Angeles of April 29, 1913, 
 and was passed at its meeting of May 6, 1913. 
 
 CHAS. L. WILDE, City Clerk. 
 Approved this 6th day of May, 1913. 
 
 GEO. ALEXANDER, Mayor. 
 
 ORDINANCE NO. 28,255 
 (New Series) 
 
 An Ordinance prohibiting begging in the public streets, or places, and 
 regulating the soliciting of alms and contributions for charitable purposes 
 in the City of Los Angeles. 
 
 The Mayor and Council of the City of Los Angeles do ordain as follows: 
 
 Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any person to beg, or practice 
 begging, in or on any public street, or in any public place in the City 
 of Los Angeles. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or asso- 
 ciation to solicit alms, food, clothing, money or contributions within the 
 City of Los Angeles, without first securing a permit so to do from the 
 Municipal Charities Commission of said city. Provided, however, that 
 the provisions of this section shall not apply to properly accredited 
 solicitors of established churches of said city soliciting for purely reli- 
 gious purposes, but it shall apply to the various institutional works carried 
 on by said churches in like manner as other persons, firms, corporations 
 and associations. The permit from the Charities Commission above re- 
 ferred to shall consist of a written certificate issued by the said com- 
 mission certifying that the object of said solicitation is worthy and 
 meritorious, and authorizing the soliciting of gifts and donations there- 
 for; said permits may be revoked by said Commission at any time. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit or collect for 
 any charitable or philanthropic organization, without first obtaining a 
 written permit so to do from the Municipal Charities Commission; said 
 permit shall be revocable at any time in the discretion of said Commis- 
 sion, which may adopt such regulations regarding the soliciting and 
 collecting of funds as its judgment may dictate, and it shall be obligatory 
 upon the holders of such permits to abide by such rules and regulations. 
 
 12
 
 Sec. 4. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or asso- 
 ciation to give or promote any entertainment, fair, bazaar or benefit in 
 the name of charity or philanthropy, without first obtaining a written 
 permit so to do, from the Municipal Charities Commission, said permit 
 to be revocable at any time at the discretion of said Commission. 
 
 Sec 5 It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or asso- 
 ciation to solicit funds, within the City of Los Angeles for any ethical, 
 evangelistic, religious, missionary or charitable purposes without haying 
 first obtained an endorsement certificate from the Municipal Chanties 
 Commission Provided, however, that the provisions of this section 
 shall not apply to established and recognized churches or other religious 
 organizations in the City of Los Angeles. 
 
 Sec 6. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or asso- 
 ciation to sell, or offer for sale, any clothing, household goods, or other 
 goods, wares or merchandise which have been solicited or donated for 
 charity or philanthropy without first obtaining a written permit so to 
 do from the Municipal Charities Commission, said permit to be revocable 
 at any time at the discretion of said Commission. 
 
 Sec 7. That any person, firm, corporation or association violating 
 any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a 
 misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine 
 of not more than one hundred ($100) dollars, or by imprisonment in 
 the city jail for a period of not more than thirty (30) days, or by both 
 such fine and imprisonment. 
 
 Sec 8 That in order to properly regulate the soliciting of aid for 
 charitable or philanthropic purposes and to prevent fraud and deception 
 from being practiced by soliciting for such purposes, this ordinance is 
 urgently required for the immediate preservation of the public peace, 
 health and safety; and the City Clerk shall certify to its passage by a 
 unanimous vote, and cause the same to be published once in The Los 
 Angeles Daily Journal, and thereupon and thereafter it shall take crt 
 and be in force. 
 
 I hereby certify that the foregoing ordinance was introduced at the 
 meeting of the Council of the City of Los Angeles of August 15, 1913, 
 and was passed at its meeting of September 13, 1913. 
 
 CHAS. L. WILDE, City Clerk. 
 Approved this thirteenth day of September, 1913. 
 
 F. J. WHIFFEN, Acting Mayor. 
 
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 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 405 Hllgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which It was borrowed. 
 
 KEC'D LD-URL 
 QLOCTH 19. 
 NOV111996 
 
 JUL 161998 
 
 DUE 2 WKb r-KUM LJKit HhCElVED 
 
 UCLA U 
 
 REC'D LO-URL 
 
 PRINTSHOPO
 
 Do You Know 
 
 That if every employer in Los Angeles of cither male or female help 
 would co-operate with the Free Municipal Employment Bureau, many thous- 
 ands of dollars annually which heretofore have been extracted from the 
 salary and wage earners by the Commercial Employment Agencies could be 
 saved? Don't you want to feel that you have a part in helping every work- 
 ing man and every working woman to find employment without the payment 
 of a FEE, which frequently amounts to 25 per cent, of the first month's 
 salary? The temptation on the part of subordinates to receive a part of this 
 fee often exposes the worker to frequent dismissal without cause. 
 
 Men's Department, No. 208 Franklin Street, Phones A 2865 Main 6940 
 
 Women's Department, No. 422 California Building, Phones A 2815 
 Bdwy 7407. 
 
 Friendly Visitors should never forget that the one cure for unemployment 
 with its consequent train of privations, is employment, and usually the one 
 who most needs it has 'east lo pay for it. 
 
 NOTE : A class of instruction for Friendly Visitors is held in the room 
 of the Associated Charities, No. 121 Temple Street, every Wednesday at 1 
 A. M. FREE to the workers of every recognized society. 
 
 University 
 
 Southei 
 
 Librai