The New York herald., 1876-12-24
A Poor Christmas for the Unemployed
Thousands.
Coal Not Yet Distributed by the Charity
Commissioners.
RESOLVED TO GET WORK
A Serious Movement Among the
Idle Men.
WHERE THE CHARITABLE CAN HELP.

WHERE THE CHARITABLE CAN HELP.
To-day 10 q bleak Christmas Eve for thousands Of
poor workingmen's families in this city II is dismal
and hopeless for the majority Of them. With the cold
charity Of the world for the support Of themselves
and their families how else could IL be? Men full OF
strength and who willing and able to WORK have
10 walk tho streets idle and pennIless, begging the
bread they cannot get chance to Men have the
heatendhg sight before their eyes Of their wives and
children suffering from hunger This is perhaps the
most fororn Christmas that the majority OF the work.
ingmen have ever experienced. Month after month
they have been paradng tho streets vany looking for
work, SragRling about from shop to shop, always
hearing the story that there is no work How many
poor families will be without cheerful re
side i, is easy to imagine What gloom will be
spread the homes OF these idle can be con-
jcctured from what all OF US conceive 10 be the
abode Of poverty. and, in very many instances, Of
sickness added The private charities religious and
secular supply the families OF half the
poyed as much as q Christmas dinner, even II the
channels Of their labor led them tothese homea
TRUSTING TO CHRISTMAS TIME
The idls homeless mon. In tho average numbers,
applied during the past week at tho police courts for
in extreme desttuton. Those out of work who could
at all remain in tho city have done until after
Christmas They naturally trust to the generosity Of
tho weltodo for at this of the year.
when everybody is urged be brotherly and sympa-
thetc toward the Not for many years has there
been such stern call for help upon the rich as there
10 SO far the poverty, which is SO widespread,
has not received the full of charity needed
but this season. when most people allow their better
nature to have It's way tho help given 10 the distressed
and suffering will bring to some, at least, Of the help
less unemployed share OF tho good things usually in
dulged in at Christmas time. The homeless them
selves to think SO, for otherwise the numbers
seeking shelter the Island should be much larger
than the records show.
THE DEPARTMENT. OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION.
Al tho Department OF Charities and Correction yes
terday Mr.. KelIock had quite large number Of men
applying for assistance but not many tho pre-
vious days OF the week. 1t was the old story with
all OF them-neither bread nor shelter. OF course
they turned away without anything. The action
OF the Board Of Apportionment In refusing TO grant
the appropriation Of 100000 for the outdoor poor
has taken away all chance Of meeting the petitions Of
applicants in this department The result is that
hundreds OF people daily have to wander around the
without food who might funds were here at
tho disposal Of tho superintendent, be released from
applications about the usual numbers thus showing
that the families Of the poor generally have not yet
begun feel the generosity OF the rich in their Christ
charities As usual, many Of these poor people
in the greatest need but at all events they gain
something by calling Mr. Kcllock, ho gives them
Information to how best they havo chance OF
being relieved by Of the charitable societies
The petitions for coal are the most numeroua the
women seeming to think that they werc entitled TO
that ut least.
TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN JANUARY.
In former years coal was distributed every winter,
and will be this winter, early In January The dis
among the working classes this season. however,
has driven thousands OF people TO apply for It earlier
than in former years necessary, even for those
ordinarily dependent IT, Yesterday the Charity
Commissioners advertised for proposals for 5000 tons
Of COAL to be distributed among the outdoor poor the
contracts TO be awarded at early day after January
4, 1877. The coal must DO the best white
ash stove COAL each ton weighing 1000 pounds,
and well screened the city Will DC divided into ds-
will be made separately for each district The first
district IRON tho Battery TO Forteth street. will re-
ce.ve 700 tons the second, from Forteth street TO
the Bridge (the Twelfth, Nnetccnsn and Twenty-scc
ond wards), 1900 tons; the third, comprising tho
Twenty third aud Twen wards 100 TONS The
probability being that before the winter s the
great distress OF this will become more extern
sive IL 10 the intention VI Commissioners sup
pcment the amount or coal named above by still fur
WHAT COMMISSIONERS BRENNAN SAYS
The reporter inquired from Com mmissioner Brennan
yesterday how II intended 10 get tho funds neces-
sary purchase the tons OF coal advertised for
and he explained that the Board OF Apportionment
had refused to grant the appropriation asked for IL
would now be necessary 10 cut down tho expenses In
%ee the outlay for The coal Ths further
stated that It was error 10 say that II tho Comms-
soners had got the money asked for IN the estimates
any considerable part oil II would so in salaries Of
officials employed In distributing II. Last year the
Commission employed NO ono extra 70 attend to the
outdoor poor aud the only founuaion thcre could bc
Tor such statement was that In previous years
fifteen men were employed for three months at
salary OF $50 a month each II the money had been
granted this year and fifteen agents employed
PLAIN that the expenditure salaries would be
a mere fraction Of the whole sum apportioncd II was
the intention Of tho Commissioners, he said, 70 make
the charitable societies servo as agents this year,
aud through them tho coal would reach the poor. In
TO and relieved tho Commissioners were ready TO act.
THE woRkINGMEx's ACTION
The leaders OF the workngmen are in consultation
still the best way put the at work and
lieve them in their poverty. They do not intend,
stop until all danger Of famine among the working.
removed. Several pans are under considera.
tion; but tho foundation OF them all Is that the idle
men must be put 10 work. The new year will see some
action done behalf OF the idle mechanics,
as she feeling has gone abroad that the wealthy
classes would let 10 death II
ally driven into helping them. The leaders say that
the workinemcn mus, rely on themselves and on
themselves alone tnis well evory other cmer
gcncy, and they tnkc tho present distress as
proof OF the fact. Who, they nsk has como
TO the help OF the thousands OF idle during tho
past monthsy They express themselves feeling
very bitter the refusal vi the Board OF Apportion
give the 500 600 10 the outdoor poor, up
preparation ifesty needed this winter This
iusai they say, PLAINLY shows that tho Board Of APP
portionment does not believe that there Is At this
moment general distress amoug :he working classes
for the Excise money would cot be than sui
ficent for lis ordinary uses. Very likely aftcr New
Years. there will be Of meetings ncld by
the workingmcn ia furheraucc OF whatever plans tho
trade leaders may determine on at their meeting next
Tuesday evening.
GET WORK.
Among the mechanics there Is growing feeling OF
discomfort at the prospect Of dIencss during the win
ter months. which Will not require much TO have IL
tako open defiant form. These men, the vast ma
ory OF them, will not 60 to the Island undcr any
cumstances They not bclieve that such should he
their tate, and they will not acknowledge any cond
t0n OF affairs to be sufficient why work should
he Inv