New-York tribune., 1874-04-27
ORGANIZED CHARITY.
BRIEF REVIEW.

The months during which the greatest
amount OF suffering ia experienced and the generous
charities OF NewYorI most largely dispensed came
to end with the OF March, but, contrary 10 the
custom the several societies, reduction In
expenditures made this year at tho beginning OF
April, for the that there seemed then to be al
quite desttuion in the poorer wards as
a any time during the Winter The excess Of laborers
seeking employment seemed as great as ever while the
revival OF trade with the industrial branches was so
slight reduce very much the ordinary increase In
the demand fer laborers. Had all the charities to the
outside poor therefore. ceased at that time. there
might have been expected the same distress
ing stories OF suffering and want which were
heard at the beginning OF Winter There was nothing 10
be done but to continue in operation all the measures OF
relief thus far employed, trusting TO the generosity OF
the public meet the expenses. Most OF the organza
tions adopted this course until the middle of the present
month while some Of them win not close their doors
before May What has been done during the WINTER
and well 1t has been done, be judged by exam
lining the statistics Of few OF the foremost societies
Probably there has before been 80 lavish expend
either through the organized In general
channels The professional beggar population has ever
before suffered little Inconvenience. More than few
housekeepers who have previously refused per
sistently TO hear the plteous wall OF the street
beggar, had their sympathes awakened early I'D
the season and began at once to distribute
food at their doors indscrminately much to the salts
cert and high livers This class In the community
have become quito fastidous through the influence OF
this njudcious treatment, aud many instances nave
been recounted in which In various ways they have
shown their disgust for meals which lacked the
requisite degree of warmth variety They could get
poor meal at the soupkitchens and II they TOOK the
pains to visit a brown-stone front, they naturally
enough wished to have it profitable.
The system with which the societies do their work en-
ables them to guard against these people, VINO nave
great extent that IL is of no use for them 10
apply for aid. They try the organizations, how
ever where there is better chance OF success, untll
system OF visitation is adopted, when they are In
danger Of being discovered, and prefer TO adopt
other means Of pursuing their trade. The eharl-
table organic ons have had different part OF the
community TO deal with this year than usual, ana one
which, in ordinary years, makes no appeal 10 the pupc
for aid. This class of persons are not accustomed 10
anything like extreme poverty and have been brought
TO straits by lack Of work sickness In the family Be
lore applying for help they have in most cases pawned
everything that could be spared from the house In the
shape OF wearing apparel or furniture An example OF
this class was that OF an educated and refined lady who
visited the rooms OF the Howard Relief OF whom 1t was
aterward that she had sixty tickets when
she made application and had nothing left on which she
could raise money. The officers Of the societies state
the of this class Of applicants TO be large
and have constantly increased as the Winter advanced
The Commissioners OF Charities and Correction have had
hands full OF work during the past Winter. During
months egnnng with December they extended
relief TO total Of 3C2 families, consisting OF 1926
persons, 33n families and 1882 more persons
than during the same months the previous year. They
have expended in the time 09 Al, and disrib-
ued 3252 of coal against $32438 and 1905 tons OF
coal year. 1t is required OF the benehcares that
they shall have been in this country at least Ave years,
and unless NewYork is home they advised to
20 where they live. Visitors are employed in every
section OF the city, and no help is given without a
thorough inquiry into the circumstances OF the case
The Commissioners usually limit their distributions
after the OF April to Of sickness, but this year
have not been able abide strictly by their rule.
The Association for Improving the Condition of the
Poor usually discontinue general relief the goth of
March, which time notice sent to their visitors In
structng them 10 withhold relief from all persons on
their lists or may thereafter apply for aid efespt
ing such as temporarily sick or dsapleu' anu he"
cases of special distress which need only temporary ana
Tic notice was not sent tine year. until March 80, and
since the visitors have found IL lpossioe W
the order. families under their care pelng IN no PEI
ter circumstances than the middle OF inter, WIe
many others who have held their own through the WIN,
ter have since been Obliged 10 give up anu Ovin & nop
from some quarter one visitor SAID that ony lnIee PS
sons in his district had, Of their own accoTH T WIZ
penGitures Of this association for December, Janu-
ary February, and March Aggregated sSaCa 70,
or only $40 less than for the entire year OF lSSs et
the remarkable money crisis OF the previous year. anu
against about $4,000 for the corresponding ias
Winter while il is 1900 more than Tor the WnOe OF last
year During the summer months the society does NOT
|
cessy For time, however, this year the general
work must be continued 10 much greater extent tnah
usual The aggregate number OF families reneVeddur'
inc the same months reached 223J against 1900 for
the previous Winter, and 1900 for the IL months pre-
inrfR of tme in The history of the association. tho
numbers of families aided in the Winters OF dSo9 anu looo
being considerably less In the Nineteenth ward where
the Commissioners of Charities had an oice ana where
there was a ward organization as well as Two OF more
first three months Of this year was nearly 5000 In the
Seventeenth Ward, where there were soup-kchens,
relief and landlords organization, the expenditure Tor
the same time was s5,7S, and in the Eleventh Ward
.5oS The officers think that the tendency OF the soup
kitcbens i'm these wards rather increase than TO
diminish the demands upon the organized charities.
The receipts OF TINS nay oeen bae ser s e as
greater that considerable debt has been incurred
nearly all danger Of mpOsture upon the Society, and
the aim give reef without encouraging paiipersm
fuel and garments cash being seldom II ever gwen 10
The Howard Relief Association have done a very i'm
portant work, which Is now being brought 10 close
The majority Of whom lodgings and meals have
unable 10 obtain employment. The lodging-h house in
Leonardst. opened on the 18TH OF December,
between which time and April H. lOl so meals and 81 sH
lodgings furnished, and 1,l0O families were re-
lieved The receipts have amounted 70 tSsto IN easn
of about 81 600 The number OF dodgers in single night
reached al time $780, but for the past few weeks has
The Bowery branch of the Young Mems Christian
Association has hOd Of its In all Its charitable
70 Improve the spiritual condition OF the workingmen,
work directly indirectly 10 this result The superin-
tenden instance believes that has better effect
upon poor mans morality for him to pay something
for his food so long he has money even though
tbe charge be very slight. For the meals therefore,
which the Association provide consisting Of wholesome
soup and bread the charge Is FIVE cents IL man has
no money and is sober and not a profession no
payment is required. No one who Is worthy IL ever
turned away In the four months, beginning with De
cember 975 meals sold the premises Beside
tnis NUMBER 5OO VI the tickets Issued for the benefit OF
charitaby disposed business men ana others and sod
af fen cents each, redeemed. And, IN the same
time % 600 free meals served In the lodging
house m sprng-st., which Is Jointly managed by the