The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-31

on The evening OF the 9TH January last, the iot-
loaeing annua report was submitaed and adopted,
insludinQ statement of the receipts and expen-
ditures RON LIST November, l849, to LIST No
vcmber, 1850, amounting To the sum OF $3.50. 10;
WAsHIsGroN. Nov, IL, 1850.
Since the last annual meeting Of the society.
the plan of operations adopted for employing
the poor, by providing them with work, has
been carried into execution, and with every
prospect OF success. But few applications,
comparatively speaking, for pecuniavy aid have
been made, yet at all times individual cases ut
distress have existed among certain classes OF
the poor known to us from actual observation
and by personal inquiry into the state Of their
affairs, we have found it necessary to appropriate
pecuniary aid, endeavoring ut the same time to
avoid imposition and fraud. The managers Of
the society have observed with much pleasure
the tone Of Independent feeling that appears to
exist among the poor women generally that apply
for work, exemplifying the true spirit Of our
republican institutions, by feeling the value OF
their own resources, the pride OF noble effort in
behalf Of their families, and the proper apprecia-
ton Of character and standing in society.
Numbers apply for work that we are CON-
PEELED to deny, owing to the very limited state
of our funds and the rather tardy sale of our ar
bled to furnish from sixty to seventy women
with constant employment, and most Of them
are widows and orphans A few days ago a
poor woman called ut our saIe-room for work,
and on learning from our superintendent that
she could not be supplied, exclaimed, with tears
streaming from her eyes, "what is to become
Of my six orphan children oh, how am to put
bread into their mouths If cannot obtain some
thing to do!" Our worthy superintendent en-
eouraged her to call again, and consoled her
with the hope Of employment soon. One Of
our working women, widow, who has been
employed by our society since its commence
ment, expressed to one of our managers her
earnest desire that the efforts of the society
might be sustained, remarking that the proceeds
of her labor hitherto had boon appropriated ex-
clusively to the payment of the funeral expenses
of her two sons, deceased some time ago, and
that she had nearly accomplished the mournful
duty; '.for" said she, 81 am now paying the last
ten dollars due, and have no other prospect of
earning my bread, except by the work that l
procure from the Ladies' Employment Society;
on this alone depends my hope of support the
coming winter: constant employment is all that
| ask or require of the world."'
Our community are deeply interested in this
subject; the employment of the poor is esse n
tial to its peace and safety. Street begging
should be suppressed; it has become great
and growing evil, and is daily practised in our
midst, frequently imposing on the most obscrv-
ing. Imposters also Of higher order have
often practised their specious frauds upon the
credulity Of the public ear, and not unfrequently
assume the name and recommendation Of some
distinguished individual as cover to the fla
grant fraud The name of benevolent lady
of our society has been used in this way by one
of these imposters, upon whose repute she OBJ
tanned considerable funds. This is one of the
instances to show the necessity Of some eff
cient plan being adopted by which the commu-
nit may get rid # such impositions, by sus-
tanning the efforts of this society, in giving en-
ployment and examining into the wants of the
meritorius poor. The public will do the society
the justice to acknowledge, t ut, since the com
mencement' Of its operations they have been
witness to less of distress among the poor in
this city, and the Introduction of employment to
their industrial habits and wants has tended
further to relieve the public sympathy.
From this brief review, it is fair for the So
ciety to expect the support of generous pnblic.
1t will be absolutely necessary for the society
to increase lis liabilities, to meet the benevolent
demands Of the community. and TO meet these,
be broughtinto requisition. The plan proposed
by the society, is the annual subscription and
payment Of a small sum by each person and
family in the city, which would amount to little
more than what they have to contribute yearly
to the personal wants of the poor appvnig to
them for relief. Instead OF their giving in this
way in common charity, often with hesitation of
the merits of the applicant, the amount would
be paid into the society's funds, and the relief
would be afforded by the society under the re-
commentator of the donor In this manner
more effectua relief would be afforded the poor
than by individual effort, as the prospect Of
profitable employment would offer beyond their
immediate wants.
During the period of the society's operations
in affording employment to the poor, upwards
of fifteen hundred garments have heen made up,
exclusive of private orders,) most of which
have been disposed of, and the work done very
creditably to the operatives. Such has been The
OF the business transacted by the 30
ciety in the purch Sc of goods, cutting out gar
ments. giving out the same to be made up by
the poor. milking sal' of these articles, and re-
peating the same operations, when required to
renew or replenish the stock. that to this period
of the society's business transactions balance
remains to its credit, after all its expenses are
paid.
The society in the close Of its yearly labors
have the satisfaction of announcing its freedom
from debt, and with the confidence that a gener-
GUS public will afford more liberal means to en-
able the society to carry out more fully the
active benevolence which characterizes its OPP
erations.
All which is respectfully submitted by the
board of managers.
Reports were received from portion of the
collecting committees appointed at former
meeting, and upon motion of J. p. lnge, esq, il
was resolved that further time be extended to
these several committees to carry out and effect
the purposes of their appointr ent, and that they
be authorized in their discretion to increase their
number and fill vacancies
Mr.. Brocchus submitted the following resolu-
ton:
Resoired, That the managers of the Ladies'
Union Benevolent and Employment Society de
serve the thanks of the public for the faithful
manner in which they have discharged their off
cia duties during the past year, and TINT the so
coiety merits more liberal support and en-
couragcment for the future.