Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-04
Aid for the Poor.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CITIZENS RELIEF CON-


The Citizens Relief Commission held meet
ing this morning in the parlors OF the Y. M. q.
A. building, VIM. Stckney in the chair.
Mr. Moore, of Georgetown, returned his thanks
for the liberal construction of the law that the
committee had made, so as to include the poor
of that city among those entitled To receive
benefit from the Center Market fund.
Messrs. Moore, OF Georgetown, and Hall, Of
the county outside the city limits were appointed
to NIL vacancies on the executive committee.
RULLs OF ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT
OF the commission were submitted by the execu-
tive committee:
LIST. The officers of the commission shall con-
sist of a president, vice president secretary and
treasurer, who shall severaliy discharge the
duties ordinarily appertaining to their respective
Offices.
I'd. An executive committee of seven mem
bers, TO be appointed by the president, shall
direct and supervise all purchases and disburse-
ments made, and shall have immediate charge
OF all the work OF the commission. They shall
appoint a general agent, who shall serve without
compensation, whose duty it shall be to sign all
thorough investigation to be made into the cir
cumstances OF each applicant, before relief is
granted. They may also employ, at a compen-
satiOn OF not exceeding S. per day each for each
day actually employed, q clerk, visitor, and
such temporary assistance in case of an emeI-
geney az may be required. The general officers
OF the ssion shall at all times be privileged
to attend the sessions OF the committee.
Sd The general office OF the commission shall
be at the City Hail, at which applications for
relief may be made between the hours OF 10 a.
M and p IN. each day except Sunday; and the
executive committee shall hold a session daily
to act upon such applications, for which purpose
three shall constitute quorum.
4th. A record shall be kept of the inyestipa-
ton made in regard to each apple alton, with
the relief, If any granted, and the general agent
shall see that an exact account is kept OF every
lit IN OF expenditure, and that the books are
losted, so As TO enable the committee to ascer-
tain the exact condition of the fund at their dis
pOsal at least once a week.
9Th. No money shall be drawn from the treas
ury without the approval i'm writing OF the chair
main OF the executive committee and OF the
president OF the commission, and in his absence
the vice president.
9th. The executive committee shall make ar
rangements in writing, where practicable, with
dealers in fuel and Otlier supplies at convenient
points in the District to deliver to applicants for
relief such articles as the general agent NAV
order care being taken to see that the prices
paid are as low as the articles can be furnished,
anG that the quality and quantity delivered are
such az contracted Tor.
eth. At shall be the duty Of the executive COM
mittee, in each case Of destitution reported to
obtain employment, ii possible, FOR any such as
are able to werk, and In every way practicable
to enc ourage and assist the parties in providing
for the mseiyes, and to discourage professional
begging.
Sun. The executive committee shall make full
report OF their action at each meeting Of the
general committee.
9th. The general committee shall be required
"
10 a. M, at the office of the commission.
The report was taken up by sections and
adopted.
POLICE COOPERATION.
MIR. SOlomons offered a resolution, which was
adopted, " that the Superintendent of Police be
requested TO direct his force to report promptly
to the general agent all cases of extreme desti-
tuition or illness which may come to their know
ledge"
MIR. Hall wished to know whether there should
not be some action taken for the relief OF stran-
a. m a 1..-ri fIIf.a
The chair informed him that under the law
The funds could not be applied for such a pur-
pose.
The meeting then proceeded to the election
CT a
VICE PRESIDENT,
and Mr. John Hitz was chosen to fill the office.
MIR. Stlckney stated that he had a consulta-
ton with the Governor, and it was his opinion
that the commission should act only in extreme
cases, as portion OF the fund would be trans
ferTed TO the charitable institutions of the city,
and by them dispensed as might be required
PLAN OF OPERATIONS.
Mr.. Hitz offered a resolution, which was
adopted: THAT q committee Of three be ap-
pointed to investigate the various systems
adopted and the results attained by corporate
Authorities in providing for the poor, and there
upon report a plan of operations for recon-
mendation to the Governor of the District of
Columbia, calculated permanently to meet the
wants OF this community"
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT RELIEF FUND
MIR. Solomons made statement from the COM
mittee appointed to wait upon the Secretary of
war in regard to an unexpended balance in his
hands appropriated by Congress TOR the relief
of the poor OF the District. They were referred
by the Secretary TO Col. Geo. Bell, depot COM
missary, who sand his plan of operation was to
dispense coTnmeal and coffee every ten DAYS in
sufhcient supplies; also, coal, coke and wood.
He has an ulexpended balance of $1,000, and
has been supplying the wants of the poor since
May last The committee were furnished with
blanks to he filed out by the visitor OF the COM
mission, who reports to the general agent and
he to forward the same to Col. Bell; but all re-
lief from thi source can be furnished only to
persons fifty years OF age and upwards.
Mr.. Cook aaOyed that in accordance with the
above report the executive committee be in
structed 10 furnish relief to those cases where
the applicant is over fifty years.
The commission then AL Ourned.