The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-07
LOCAL M ATT E r S.
Employment for the Poor.

| Employment for the Poor.
! An adjourned meeting to consider the subject of
employment for the poor was held in the vestry of
the street Baptist Church on Thursday evening,
November LIST. Mr. Ingle took the chair at half
| past seven, and Rev. J. ii. Allen was requested to
act as secretary. After prayer, offered by Rev
| Mr.. Brown, and some inquiries to the steps al
ready taken by the Ladies' Benevolent Society, the
! chair announced that the meeting ready to
listen to any remarks that might be offered. Upon
| this
The Secretary rose TO say that he understood the
purpose of the meeting to be for the ladies to take
counsel with those who have given attention to this
subject, as to bring it in the best form before the
| public mind Two courses open before them ::
one to interfere with the ordinary operations of in
dustry, establishing artificial scale of wages,
and competing with the existing honest trades, the
effect of which would be either to create favored
| class among the laborers, 10 break down in the
effort to cope with the great machine of industry
the other to take in charge the exceptional cases
| real objects of charity-to whom can give the
| benefit OF our sympathy, forethought, and expert
ence-encouraging them TO maintain themselves
| by honest industry, thus relieving them from de-
| grading dependence upon aims This can best be
done, perhaps, by opening new market for labor,
| or introducing some new branch of industry. A
letter was read from gentleman of this city,
strongly urging the establishment of the straic
uCttue WIN tilS view the case was ClteQ
OF the success found in Worcester, Massachusetts,
by introducing branches Of industry among
the poor. And, while ii is the law of nature and
society, that those able to do ii should help them
selves, there cases, of widows, orphans, and
the intirm in health, who need the forethought and
aid Of christian charity. II is much easier TO give
| the relief outright. In England, where the law
! required employment to be given TO the destitute,
as the condition of aid it was found that only one
| twentieth part paid for work." the remainder
! being gratuitous relief This system, proceeding
on a false principle, had operated bounty on
Incidence and vice; so that 1t was lately estimated
that one-seventh of the population Of Great Britain
were receivers of public charity The earliest laws
"a ID. 1888 TO 1870 treated the destitute simply
a nuisance 10 be abated-as sort of wild animals,
| 70 be kept down by stocks, Whips, chains, and
death. different feeling of the duty of society TO
the poor has grown up in later times; but, to adj
minister any form of charity, requires great expe-
rence, discretion, and care.
Rev. MIR. Brown urged, in answer To some of the
secretary's statements, the difficulty Of dispensing
| faithfully any charity, even such as consists in
simply giving money or food; and bore testimony
| TO the fidelity kindness, and assiduity which has
characterized the operations Of the Union Benevo-
| lent Society. He would express the most entire
confidence in that society, and would urge the i'm
portance Of giving not only sympathy and counsel,
but efectua aid, TO those who have volunteered in
thibYork.
| Rev. Mr.. Steele wished to know il the labors of
this society will effect any thing for the suppress
/ success Of similar efforts in Georgetown in sup
pressing this great evil; also at the annoyance
perienced at the public offices from the importantly
of persons who, in the greater number of cases,
| proved 10 be impostors, and who, by imposing
the charitable feeling Of the community, did more
than any thing to discourage the honest and virtu
Gus poor.
! To this Mr.. Brown replied, urging that aims
should, in all cases, be refused and this society
made the almoners of our charity. Nothing but
/ absolute refusal, and the strong arm Of the law,
will put stop TO the great evil Of begging.
Yet the families Of the incorporate have strong
claim on sympathy; and we should seek out
/ deserving objects of charity-the modest, who
| kept back by the bold and shameless.
| Rev. Mr.. Eckard urged collections among the
clerks, that what they have 10 give in charity may
be dispensed through this medium. In Phladel-
/ phia, this method Of giving by the hands Of a
sponsblc society had absorbed all worthy objects Of
charity from begging in the streets. lie would lay
great stress on the suggestion already offered, that
this society should not Interfere with the existing
branches OF industry but be the agent for the cys
charity.
| Inquiry having been made as TO the success Of
the Howard Institution, the chairman stated, that
being conducted on the principle of relieving the
destitute, there certain loss in its operations,
only TO be made up by charitable contributions. II
had existed for more than ten years, and had done
| much good, but became embarrassed, and was left
with debt Of several hundred dollars which there
was neither means nor prospect of'paying. lie re-
| commended that the example Of that Institution
should be followed, by erecting rather than renting
building suitable for the purposes Of this society
The sum Of Sl69 reported having been
\ already subscribed, besides considerable amount
promised in money and goods. On motion of Rev.
MIR. Brown, it was then
ResolUed, That committee of four persons from
each ward be appointed to cooperate with the la
dies of this society in collecting subscriptions TO
promote the objects they have in view.
| The following was announced as the title by
which they will be hereafter known:
Ladies Union Benevolent and Employment Soci-
| ETY.
Resolved That the proceedings Of this meeting
be published in the papers Of the city
Adjourned sine die JOHN P. INGLE,
Chairman.
| J. II. ALLEN, Secretary.
The chairman subsequently furnished the follow
ing names Of gentlemen, who arc requested to act
as members Of the committee appointed as above;
| First Hard-Rev. G. A. Davis, Col ]. l.. Ed
wards, John ID. Barclay, DR.. s. c. Smoot
Second Hard-Rev. Ashbel Steele, Lewis John
son, &. l.. ColtInan, David Munroc.
Third Wdrd-John c. Hardness, George Savage,
| Daniel Radcliffe Seth A. Elliot.
Fourth Ward-Jacob Gideon, Andrew Rothwell,
A. N. Ievey, Daniel Campbell.
| FIN Wdrd-Joseph w. Beck, Rufus Dawes,
Thomas Bagden, J. G. Fitzpatrick.
Sirh Ward- Robert Clarke, John w. McKim,
George Crandell, Capt. VIM Easily
SeUenh Ward-Samuel Byinpton, w NJ Nor.
rison, j. w. Jones, William Bird
WAsmNeroN CoRPoRArIoN.-The CITY Councils
held their usual weekly meeting Monday after
noon. Several private bills we're passed, and
bill from the committee Of claims for the relief Of
John T. Callan from fine imposed upon him by
Police Magistrate Dom, upon the complaint of the
Commissioner of the Fourth Ward for obstrncting
gutter in that ward with straw. The papers in