Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-15
The r elief Of the Poor-Meeting OF IN. ID.
kectars of the Hrokidrni All Sncieix-


The Relief of the Poor-Meeting Of III. ID.
rectors of the Proyident Aid Society.
A meeting Of the Board of Directors of the
ProvIdsnt Aid Society, organized a few weeks
since for the purpose of smeliorating the con-
ah0n Of the suffering poor of this city, was
held yesterday afternoon AZ the Council Cham
bsr, City Hall. at which there were present
hCn. Peter Parker, president: Rev. DIR. Hall,
wee president; A. X. shepherd, treasurer. IL.
H. ShnemetZ, secretary; MayOr Wallach, j. g.
Dulln, G.. r. Quick, W. IL. NaIley. w ".
Walsh
The meeting having been called TO order, the
Thar (Mr. PaTker) laid before the Board a let
Ter from Mrs. NJ. 4. Hart of the Home Commit
tee OF the Industrial Home Assoc. .tion. stating
nat the Home was row open for the reception
Of friendless children and asking that sdCh
children should be- sent 10 that Institution.
hr Shepherd moved a vote Of thanks to the
association, and that the address of Mr. Hart
BE- published in the directory OF the society.
Also, n letter from Gen. q. n. Howard. say
ing: 81 have the honor 10 inform YOU that
have this day made arrangements 70 furnish
during each winter month ,OoO pounds of des-
sIcated vegetables and c-OoO pounds of fresh
beef 20 the sOup-houses under charge of the
Prevalent Aid Society. l would respectfully
suggest that instructions be given to the direc-
tors OF the sOcIety 10 receive orders for soup.
which may hereafter be issued by the superin-
fndenIs and visiting agents appointed for the
Investigation OF cases of restitution and for the
diseurss ment of the special appropriation of
$4,000 for the relief Of destitute colOred people
Of the District OF Columbia. (See enclosed cir
cniar.) As the appropriation nearly ex-
haustsd, we have decided to discontinue az
fCrdlng any and from that source except as done
through your soCiety-"
Mr. Shepherd moved that Gen. Howard be
Informed that the agents of the society would
honor the orders of the visitors appointed by
the BUrsau.
Mr.. shepherd. Treasurer, reported that up TO
This time he had received $500, which had
been from time TO time acknowledged in the
papers, and expended from Sl.41 TO S1.5(I
The amount of $3.50 appropriated by the Cor
poratiOn for the relief OF the poor in each ward
had gwen out. The refuse wood, from Lincoln
Depot (Col. BlOunts donatiOn.) was nearly
exhausted, and s1uO IN each ward for groceries
had been expended. IL would be impossible
for him 10 distribute fuel out of the funds of
She Society. The expense of the soup-houses
was Sl2t per week IN each ward. The amount
conditionally donated by Gen. Howard would
rather increase the expenses. a. the applicants
for relief 20 the Bureau are also turned over TO
the care of the Society. He suggested that Gen.
Howard and the President ask of Congress an
appropriation Of S2O,OU0 S2j.UoU, for he was
convinced that without some such help the So
Cisty could not meet the demands upon il for
one month. He moved that the balance of the
cltys appropriation (abOut SICJ for each ward)
Tor fuel. be placed in the hands of the Treas
ursr 10 purchase coke, and that the tickets be
distributed IN the wards, and suggested that
e~fore certificates are given that the appIicant
shall satisfy the distributor that ne or she is
actually m need, stating that he had heard of
some cases where three loads of coke Were is
sued TO one house
DIR. HALL have heard of a case where wood
was emptled az a door and the carts Were hardly
turned around before IL was sold
Mr.. Slower suggested that many had not
stoves 10 burn coke, and asked If portion of
this amount could not be used To buy wood
Mayor Wallach suggested that coke would
go 20 much farther than wood.
Mr.. shepherd said that the greatest good
should be- done TO the greatest number, and that
the coke could b. burned in a Fireplace
me motion OF Mr.. Shepherd, placing the
balance of the appropriation in the hands of the
treasurer 10 purchase coke. was adopted
Rev. DIR. Hall said. ON behalf of the Soup
COMMITTEE, that they had been directed to con-
tid'r ana report a plan for making the soup
houses permanent All the committee could
40 was 10 receive orders. and when poss IbIe tn
cut them down. AT the sOup-houses they had
looked over the crowd. and Were ready to give
UP in despair He did not see that they c0uld
provide a plan 10 economist; IL had been sug-
gpsted thar inferior flour could b. used. but
little could b. saved by that In the Third
Ward the expenses Were below other wards
because OF the generosity of the green grocers
and butchers The committee had fixed ON
$40 per week as the expense of each house
and he desired that the directors would fix the
limit The committee could only fill the or
Gers. but the direct rs could instruct the ward
committees how 10 act in order TO keep the ex-
should resign chairman of the Soup Com.
mlitee, and tat an officer BE- appointed who
could give has entire time ard attention TO the
matter, a. was the case in Boston
h. Chair (Mr. Parker said that such n
Course was absolutely necessary. and that the
SoCiety. without some such officer WAS like a
watch minus ITS main spring. He stated that
Ne had received several Damphlets from North =
frn associations explaining the systems adopted
tlSew here, and read clause of the constitu-
1ton OF the Boston Society, as 10 the duties of
the agent.
Mr.. shepherd urged that this course was very
necessary. and stated that already more of his
time had been taken up than was taken mn nv
ms legitimate business in this work The
only dlmculty he could see was in selecting a
person with the proper qualifications IT
would be more difficult 70 find person with
Gnahheauons for this position than that of
President Of the United States
IL was suggested that Rev. Mr.. Pitcher was
the proper person, but il was stated that Ia.
would not accept H. Mr.. Bennett's name was
suggested, but II was stated that he could not
give his entire time 10 n
Mr. shepherd moved the adoption of an
article providing for the selection OF an agent
VINO snail nave general supervision of the
operations OF the society, who shall keep
central office. &c; which was adopted.
MAY or Nallach. from the committee TO urge
mat TIE work of demolishing the ola peniten-
ti'iTy be done by the day, 20 "a To give employ
Hi'Et 70 many now suffering for want of work
reported that they had had several Interviews
with General Dyer. and that officer had in
formed HIM by hitter that he had referred the
after 10 General Ramsey He had also hagn
shown q letter from the sureties of the con
tractor who had failed To perform the work
king that the work should De done in m.
manner suggested
Mr.. shepherd moved that the Chair Mr.
ParEer-l The Vice President, (Dr. Hall.) and
Mayor WallaCh. be- a committee to confer with
General Howard IN reference TO asking Con-
RTess Tor an appropriation OF $4,000 or S25WO
10 aid in relieving the suffering. Mr. - said
that the citizens had responded nObly to the
appeals which had been made. when we re-
member that nIne-tenths of thos.. now receiving
RELIEF are those " no have been brought here by
H' peculiar circumstances of the past five
y-ars- Many Of them are freedmen. and others
have been here on Government work and have
Den recently turned out of employment Ii
would b" emInently fit and proper for Congress
10 aid them. Last year that body made. an
appropriation OF S25OO. and there was NOR.
suffering this wear than last
Mayor WaIlach said that the action of Com
prsss had brought many of the suffering poor
h"re- Under the old Maryland laws Tn. mas
rsrs OF slaves Were compelled to support the
Old and decrepld, but no law Of Congress had
provided for the care Of these. and since the
rmSnC ipatlOn proclamation many of these peo-
Bl~ had been brought from MARYLAND and
cropped IN the streets. Senator'S Fessenden
and 1rum bull had assured him that some pro-
1Ision would be made for the support of these
people He had called the attention of the mill
fary authorizes during the war TO the fact that
~ would not b. Just TO support such people in
the aims house. and lengthy correspondence
tnsuec, when the matter was finally referred
10 President Lincoln, who decided that he was
night.
Rev. DIR. Hall said that if they accept the Of
WNN