The New York herald., 1876-12-11

lOuseS, hnVIDg Dtcn put OUT Dy IHHuIUTus OH
account OF not being able TO pay. or course
those families TO which refer will have probably TO
move again this month for the same reason How long
this method OF procuring rooms to live in Will con-
tInue know not, but this do know that the number
OF the houseess will this month be increased BY tnou-
sands II the landlords choose TO demand the rent II
do the landlords very little good in the end act
mercllessly for tho tenants coming in viii be Just as
poor as those going out and cannot pay IN advance.
BY lcnency and dealing these grasping prop
erty owners would make more money in the end.
However, far this they will not see the mat
what l know 20 be the undercurrent OF
feeling among thousands OF the Idle mechanics,
that the workingmen OF this city are not going TO
starvc this winter they gong to be shcltcress
and see their children dying OF cold and hunger either
In aimshouses or IN the streets Patience ceases 10 DO
virtue at some point and the workingmen OF this
CITY have exhibited tor three years exercise OF
that virtue unparalleled the history OF great com
mercia cities IL will be terrible DAY TOR New York
when the workingmen grow desperate. But what Is Il
that drives men to desperation II II Is not hungery Is
II not plain that unless some relief comes TO The men
the next three months 100000 human beings
workingmen, their wives and ch,idren-daily
will IL como in such way that the men
will not be Illuminated to tho lowest in accepting II
VIII they be thrown u to make them feel that they
must at consider themselves TO be paupers?
This would be bad. The class of men idle are not
the same that needed so much the great help they got
a couple oil winters ago. The necessity now strikes IN
among the families oi WHO, but few years since,
well TO do and had com lortabe homes who were
sturdy aud Independent, and were proud OF their
iuness in the community feel persuaded that when
the wealthy come 10 the conclusion that u Is good to
help tho unfortunate mechanics, the appreciation OF
that help would DO vastly Increased IL as FAR as possI
ble the workngmen were themselves allowed TO oe
the judges OF where II was most needed,
such tickets or orders for food as the money
bestowed would warrant. ! know that this trust
would not be abused By the men, and that thoy tho n
selves wouli bo tho first to expose any attempt at
fraud IL would be easy to arrange the details that
would this II twenty wealthy men IN the
community gave 5000 each tho slo0 900 obtained
would long toward relief this time. III the
continued other wealthy men might supple
mcnt that amount with as much as was needed
come down TO hgurcs because IL is either money or
starvation all hope OF work is gone. There is no
prospect of getting through the winter without some-
ment ought to made before Christmas The ordinary
charity OF tho approaching season could nos at all
would not reach the persons OF whom have been
speaking"
SUPERINTENDENT KxLLocK's OBSERVATIONS.
Mr.. George kelock. superintendent OF tho Poor
under the Commissioners of Charities and Correction
was called and converscd relative to the present dis
tress IN the city
ls the poverty prevailing in the city, Mr. Kellock,
especially marked this season 2"
mot in number OF years there been such dis.
tress among tho people as soc every day Indicated
here before me. Not since the panic Of 1857 mas the
same class OF people been so poverty stricken That
signs Of want from which | Judge have been just as
marked, ana among the same honest, industrious
class too. have had many fifty applicants here
in day for outdoor relief, and these people were
plainly members Of workingmen's families" ),
.'rhe funds would soon get run out at that rate"
''Thc trouble is that we have no funds at all The
most can do when poor nangry
man or woman comes here Is TO give an
order for meal. But to funds 10
meet the distress among the families suffering have
none. The Commissioners asked this year for sepa-
rate appropriation OF Sl00O00 Tor the outdoor poor;
but when the estimates came before the Board OF
Airport the OF 500 900 was merged in the
total and she total was cut down by some couple OF
subsequently reinserted slOO 600 the outdoor
poor, but whether tho Board Of Apportionment will
grant that separate money or not am unable 70
say"
II presume You tell at glance whether the ap-
plicant here is deserving or Otherwise? 2"
eyes; can easily tell that numbers OF the women
who have been recently coming here the wives OF
workngmen. They como In sheer desperation for
some money or food for their families who evidently
be suffering terrible privation. have also had
number OF mothers here asking that their children be
sent 30 Randals Island until tho times would get bet
ter. This shows how hard pressed these poor people
must be- But | cannot send the children to The
Island as 1t is expressly against the law Here 10 the
law OF 1875. which is in force-
lon aud after January 1875 It shall not DO
commit any child over hres AID under six
county poorhonse Of this state for county supern
sneS cnd as psape TO such paorhoass support
unless the child anse.chabIe idiot spisp.ic
render it unfit for family hut such justice Of
county sapernsendent or overseer OF The poor
shall commit send such child children above
fcrnatory institution. a provided for by law.
81 believe effort will bc made next session OF the
Legislature have this law repealed amended The
children now IL the parents wish part with them,
must be formally committed TO other institutions, and
then the parents lose the option OF having them re-
turned whenever they please.
..whas, in your opinion, ought to be done to meet
the present emergency"
The distress is daily increasing The season Is very
exceptional. These poor people are all honest and
would be industrious do not see how they are to be
helped except the rich will help them"
.sYou consider there occasion for an exceptional
demand OF the part Of the working clnsscss"
IL think say everything when repeat that not
since the panic 1857 has there such OF
poverty upon US as this Is certain TO be-"
WARDEN QUINN oS THE SITUATION.
The reporter called on Warden Quinn ut the Tombs
ascertain tho humber OF workingmen who had bcen
sent TO the Island during the past few days and his
that Monday last to yesterday there had not
been so many applicants from among the workingmcn
the cold weather again brought them In. Yesterday
there wero some eighteen or twenty men committed
by Justice Duny, at their own request, TO the Island
This was nt The Tombs alone, and Harlem and Essex
Market courts sent also their respective lists.
..Do you think, Warden Quinn, asked the reporter,
.'that those men will continue 10 come 10 you In IN
creasIng numbers the season advanccs?"
II feel sure OF It. do not see what else they are
going to do understand that at the present timc
there about 900 OF these able bodied men on the
Island"
..Do you think there ought to be public relief
afforded the workngmen and their families at this
timer"
Certainly there ought Tho Commis issionors OF
Charities and Correction should have unds Al their
disposal help the very beginning OF the distress
But understand the last annual Appropriation was so
cut down that they have money win which TO give
any assistance believe IL is uncertain still whether
they will get anything specially appropriated IN
estimates now before the Board OF Apportionment
The distress can scarcely be relieved except BY the
wealthy classes, who may contribute some handsome
sums OF money TO meet tho difficulty"
..rhen you believe IN having a fund raised for the
benefit OF the workingmenr Have you any plan by
which the rcct could be distributcdy'
II favor relief by opening soup houses in different
districts in tho city have hoard objections urged
this the assumption that IL would humiliate the
workingmens families 10 become the petitioners IN
such open, public way. cannot see how a work.
pcman, In the present condion Of AFFAIRS need feel
In any way ashamed - go to a soup house 10 carry
home food Tor his .smilv The number OF the idle Is
great and the poverty toe widespread 10 make II
appear disgrace iof aworsingman not 10 have money
food ] have seen vast amount OF good doro by
soup houses. and am persuaded they are the best
method by which great distress like that which pre-
walls can be most satisfactorily relieved II would be
easy give such other financial aid 10 tho family as
,rpld ha abs el z