The New York herald., 1875-12-01
THE OUTDOOR POOR.
THE PRESENT SYSTEM or RELIEF ABANDONED
AND SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED.

/. AND SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED.
The FIRST meeting Of the Of the Board OF United
chtrtes Of New York held yesterday morning, in
Me rooms Of the State Charities Aid Association, at
To- 81 East Twentieth street, Representatives were
PRESENT from all the charitable societies Of this city
mong them we're Theodore Roosevelt representing
tie State Board OF Charities; Willy Walach, Of the
Grman Society; Rev. Dr. Kramer Of 81. Luke's Asso-
cision Of Grace parish Rev. John Dooey Of the Bow
cry branch Of the Young Mems Christian Association;
Allah Wlswel OF St Johns Guild; Robert Gordon, Of
S. Andrews Society; Valentine Hammann, Of the Fra
ternas; Henry Rice Of the United Hebrew Charities;
Henry f. Pellew, OF St. Georges Society; Robert j.
Livingston, OF the Chdren's Aid Society A. Y. Dar-
burton, Of the Helping Hand Association; Mrs John A.
Kennedy, OF the Ladies' Union Relief Society; Miss
Danan OF the School of Industry; Miss Schuyler
OF the State Charities Aid Association; Mrs
Dunnng, of the Providence Biblo Relief So
ciety; John Taylor Johnston, +. A. Stout
Arthur J. Peabody Philip Sands and Professor joy
Robert Gordon presided and Henry Il. Pellew acted as
Secretary After the reading of the minutes Of the last
meeting, held in April last the Secretary read the re-
port of the Executive Committee recommending for
the present the abolition Of the system Of registration
that prevailed last year The report also stated that
during the summer available information had been OBJ
tanned, whereby it was found that iftwo char
liver to deserving poor at 81 less than asked for IN the
regular retail way.
HON THEODORE ROOSEVELT
offered suggestions TO substitute system for the
present mode Of administering outdoor relief He said
1t win be generally admitted that the best way OF helping
people is by helping them to help themselves But 10
carry out this plan IL is desirable to deal with those
who require assistance, individuals and single
families and certain minute knowledge of
the circumstances Of each case becomes necessary.
Relief given in money too frequently undermnes the
sefrespect of the recipient and besides interfering
with the laws which govern wages and labor fosters
spirit OF dependence opposed TO that OF sesupport
The knowledge required in such scarcely be
obtained by official visitors in crowded cities or in
widely extended districts, and when administered in
ignorance of the circumstances must degenerate into
ndiscriminate aims giving, than which nothing
tends moro to degrade the worthy and TO encourge
imposture and vice.
A NEW SYSTEM PROPOSED.
Mr. Roosevelt then proceeded TO sketch plan, which
would take the place OF outdoor relief, of which the
following the principal features The city should
be divided into small districts, each district having
corps OF volunteer VISITORS central Office or head
quarters in charge OF paid male official, who should
keep record of the work done, assist the visitors
and be always on hand to give necessary
information The visitors should report weekly
to district committee meeting at the headquarters.
There should be one central committee TO which all
district committees would be responsible and all re-
ports made and which each committee would be
represented. These suggestions would be summarized
as embracing the following points,
FirS-That visiting must be searching, frequent and
intelligent
Second-That relief, when given, should aim at the
velopment of their resources
Third-That the visitors should not dispense relief
their own responsibility.
Fburth-That a centralized and cooperative system
of relief in which all societies and persons may take
their part under direction, is essential Tor the complete
development of the plan.
This plan has received the approval OF the out
door relief committee of the State Charities Aid Assoc
tion and 1t is expected will be ndorsed by the ma
jority of the private charitable societies
Mr. Roosevelt said that
THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND APPoRTIoSMENT
OF this city had aside the OF 500 900 TO be disr
buted among the outdoor poor. The Board OF Alder
men are endeavoring to have the increased TO
$l50,0O0 Two years ago. while he was chairman OF the
Bureau of Charities investigation made into the
system of distributing outdoor relief and II was found
that three fourhs of the money expended actually
wasted or spent among friends of politicians The
present Commissioners Of Charities have expressed
their willingness to unite with the Board of United
Charities in distributing aims They have agreed
to submit all appointments of visitors to HIM (Mr
Roosevelt least week before they receive their
appointment in order that their characters may be
investigated and their fitness tested The great diff
distributing aims. There is lack of volunteer help
command but there is no well planned system TO
utilize the help
Upon notion the plan suggested was adopted and
committee appointed W arrange details. Mr. Roosevelt
urged the committee the necessity OF Immediate
action in consequence OF the prevailing destitution.
Rev DR. Kramer asked whether there effort
heing TINS cIty give
UNEMPLOYED LABoRER
an opportunity OF procuring work Mr. Wallach said
that the German Society have Tor time past been
making an effort to induce unemployed 10 inn
migrate the Southern States where their labor could
be utilized The farmers of the South say they would
gladly receive willing to work and give good
wages, but notwithstanding every effort very few
be induced to go.
The Board adjourned subject to the call Of The chair