Sec. 215. 

The Social Service Department shall have the power and duty:

(1)  To investigate and endorse charitable or philanthropic corporations or associations dependent upon public appeal or general solicitations for support, as provided by ordinance.

(2)  To enforce the ordinances of the City regulating or supervising the solicitation of money or other valuable property for charitable purposes.

(3)  To encourage the formation of private charities to meet needs not already provided for and to foster all worthy charitable and philanthropic enterprises.

(4)  To disburse all funds set apart by the City for charitable purposes.

(5)  To study and suggest means of improving the conditions producing the need of relief.

(6)  To promote cooperation among all charities in the City.

(7)  To receive gifts, bequests or devises to be used for charitable or philanthropic purposes and to administer any trust declared or created for any such purpose in accordance with the terms of said trust.

(8)  To investigate misstatements, deceptions and frauds in connection with the solicitation of alms, food, clothing, money or contributions within the City of Los Angeles for charitable or philanthropic or purported charitable or philanthropic purposes; to give and obtain publicity to the results of any investigations made by said department of any such misstatement, deception or fraud; and  by all lawful and proper means to prevent and cooperate in the prevention of the making or perpetration of any misstatement, deception or fraud in connection with any such solicitation aforesaid.

No person while serving as an officer or director of any corporation or association coming within the purview of this section shall be eligible to serve as a member of the Board of Social Service Commissioners.  (Sec., Added 1925.)

A municipal ordinance, to the extent that it gives a commission established by the municipality the absolute and arbitrary power to forbid any person from soliciting private charity, regardless of his character, worth of fitness, or from selling goods donated by such charity, is unconstitutional and void.

Re William Dart, 172 Cal. 47.