New York to Check “charity Racketeers” Posing As Rabbis

In an effort to check “charity racketeers” soliciting money in the name of religious organizations–and posing as rabbis or nuns–the Welfare Council of New York City will recommend to the city a law which would require all promoters and solicitors, including those for incorporated religious groups, to be licensed, if they operate on a percentage basis.

An announcement to this effect was made here today by Raymond Hilliard, executive director of the Welfare Council. He explained that solicitors for incorporated religious organizations are not required to be licensed by the Department of Welfare as are all other solicitors. “It costs only $40,” he said, “for several persons to get together and incorporate as a religious organization and thereby evade the licensing provisions of the law.”