Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-30
Provident Aid Societr.

Prevalent Aid Society.
meeting OF The Drec'ors OF the Provideut
AId Society vas held on Saturday afternoon
NJ four o'clock, in the Council Chamber, Oity
Hall, Hon. Peter Parker in the hsir and II.
ID TlIley, Esq secretary pro tenn.
The Chair stated thai it was necessary for
the Board of Directors 20 take action relative
10 be recent appropriation by the Corporate
sUtsoriues, and Tx npon plan OF action "a 10
suangsrs. ron-IesIdsnts and freedmen re-
Ssising aic from the BuTsau.
The resignation o. DIR. r. A. Boswell, Secre-
Sry OF the Society, was received and accept
ed ard ID. h. ii. Srnemsiz chosen to nil the
vacancy.
Mr.. A y. Shepherd, treasurer of the society,
said something mnst be done to remedy ths
evil OF furnishing orders 10 persons not IN
wsDt Mem oeIs OF the committee would give
an order upon the treasurer before making a
proper eXsm nation 70 ascertain II the appti-
ssLt Uas really u want MI 3 said he had
received an order endorsed by prominent
and highly respected citizen, stating tina. the
applicant was in 8 suffering condition. The
speaker went TO the house, and found the per
sen applying for relief a healthy man, at
WoTs, hrs wife al work, good fire, Children
Playing about, Christmas tree arranged and
eNsIythiDE very comfortable. The family
mitht ne poor, but n certainly vas not suffer
ing II care was no; taken, that class OF per
sons would E-t all the benefit of the society
Mr. Shepherd said ne was compelled 10 rsfuss
IN many cases, and hereafter orders must come
endorsed by some one who had examined, and
kneW ne applicant TO be IN actual want and
men Oers OF the committees and d.
fectors sbould visit persons before giving them
orders on The treasurer, otherwise the whole
Object OF The society would be q failure
MI John r.. Arrson thought IL advisable to
employ VlSifin0 agents az small compspss-
hon, WI hose duty II should be 10 ind ont the
poor and those In want. II volunteer agents
were 10 De depended upon, there would De
grear imposition.
Mr. e.. - Noyes suggested that the best
course 20 prevent imp OsitiOn would be 10 en-.
gsse me services Of The sanitary police. The
vol inf Or mad in
eases ofreal dsstitutiOn, and could m ore readily
detect cases OF imposition than members OF
committees, who. for the most part had not
nne 70 examine into the merits of applica-
lions. police cfficer had informed BIN hat
ne tcOk occasios TO follow a load of relief
weoo 10 us destination TO see If all was right,
ARD found mat the beneficiary was abund-
anily supplied with fuel in his yard and pro-
sislors o. all sorts in his house. Mr. n
thought 5etsil Of two sanitary Off GERS in each
ward could examine into all reported cases of
imposed upon.
Mr.. Shepherd rsouyht the services of thu
charity adya "a geOuS. anu ne had hopored he
requlsitions OF the chief of the sanitary force
MI y. Is. Hines SAID he had been through the
fust Ward, and found some who represeutad
themselves IN want who were not actually
suffering. In some esses two families resided
Ls one nonse' sno De then gave soup tickets TO
mr. Slower thought directors shouId 60 To
ne houses, and ascertain If persons We're in
ME. Sloven wanted all TO be under The con-
troiof the directors, or some person who could
issue the orders
mr.. Shepherd said lie had gwen much time
and labor TO the work Of the society ana
while ne was treasurer he did not intend thai
ne society should go in debt or have the
funds THROWN away. Prom one hundred and
nifty 10 two hundred ana fifty orders uera
presented every day. Aldermen, Counc,lmen,
and Others outside OF the society gave orders
20 persons bseausr they had not courage TO
refuse, and In MANY instances the orders were
70 persons not in want There was now in the
treasury OF The association about - 900. excIu-
ment Probably arAiher si.ooo Womb Se en1-
Jectec- and care must be taken as 20 distrib
aiing the same. or the money would last suta
short time The committees and directors
should take an interest, and give ordsrs 20
hose IN want ONLY
Rev. Dr G. H Hall thought the suggestion
as 70 having the sanitary officers certify VINO
were in want good one. and might he triad
IL vas the du'y Of ali members to be careful
IN spending the money. and see tnar il be
applsd 70 those sciually suffering otherwise
he charity vo1ld not De acceptable 10 God as
ne had endowed ali with power and intslIj-
gence 70 hnd oot and relieve the needy, and
rot throw The money away.
The Omar said party had applied TO him
Tor reT1ef ard upon inquiry be found the party
was out OF employ ment because he vouId not
EerE for $50 per month
Mr.. Shepherd said the by laws provided for
ayislung com mittee OF five in each ward but
he was sorry TO see that some OF the wards had
Y,
a funds were getting low, persons before send
Ing orders 10 The treasurer should be satisfied
OF The actual want Of the applicant.
After some further debate as to The mode of
distributing fuel. &c Mr.. Shepherd said he
would be glad 10 give the directors In each
ward credit OF Nv o hundred dollars tor wood
Al some place In the ward, and have them
make distriou ions; which plan was agreed
upon-
The Char stated that Dr. Rsyburn. OF the
freec mems Bureau, was present. aud re-
qussJeo that be give some Information as 70
the Tehef commission of the Bureau.
pT; keyonrn said the appropriation OF
>25.tU, made by The last Congress for white
and colOred. had been distributed and the
special appropriation Of sI5,OGO made for the
eoloIed people of tins District was now being
distrlbOted- BY The act of Congress this fund
was confined 70 the colored people alene
About four thousand dollars yet remained and
De would be glad 10 cooperate with the Prov.
not receive from the Society and Bureau both
MAYOR Wailach stated that refugees from
ne south frequently applied for money TO
take them home. and asked il the Bureau Ais.
IIou'ed q fund 70 refugees
Dr. Rey burn replied that refugees could be
relieved out Of the Bureau fund. proper
hr. Shepherd said in the list OF needy per-
sons handed IN by Superintendent Richards a
large majority were colored. Arrangements
should De made 30 that those colored persons
receiving sId from the Bureau should not re-
reIye sDS from tbs society.
Mr.. slower moveS that com mitte- OF three
b. eprointsc % set with br. Reg burn, ana
Al u
rsau shOnld not receive from the society:
which motion was adopted, ard the CHAR APP
pointed as be committee Messrs. A. *. Shep-
herd, W. II slower, and VIM. Dixon.
Dir. Shepherd said hat Gen. Grant. through
Gen McEeTran, hsd donated fifty cords OF
refuse lumber 10 Be distributed as fuel TO the
poor. The hanks OF the Society were ten.
otred 70 Generals Grant and MeFerran.
DR.. Hall. from he Committee 70 establish
coup Houses, said the soup house in the Firs,
Wafd was II running order, ard on Friday
last 20 GuaTcs OK soup and loo lOayes of bread
were distributed. The number of applicants
was on the Increase, and II was thought IL
would require from SI2U 10 $50 per wesx 10
run the same.
In the Second Ward, Mr.. y. H. Steinmetz
ESQ established soup house on I4th, near r
street.
In The Third. Fourth, Firth, Sixth and Sew
snih WARDS they would be opened in the
course OF enc or two dsys-the one IN the
fIfth Ward N The barracks on East Capitol
sueei, ard. in he Sixth W ard ON 9TH street
between q and streets.
In the Seventh Ward. Rev. Mr. Hoimsad
e~ing sow a resident OF rhs First Ward re-
slfned on The SOup-House Com mi,tee and Mr.
Csmm1ck has been appointed. The house
would soon Re an readiness
MT Shepherd urged the members To exert
themselves 10 collect funds. None OF the
wares had been caDvassed, but in the Fourth
Wsrd >~tO had been raised from a few mer-
chants on the avenue: nearly ALI the balance
- rEga h. 49,