New-York tribune., 1876-12-18
THE DESTITUTE POOR.

WORK OF THE LOCAL RELIEF soCIRTlEs-AP-
PEALING TO THE CHARITABLE.
The police courts of the city have Witnessed
many touching sceues during the past few weeks
Men, women, and children gutess Of any crime, nave
apped 70 be sent TO some public institution last re
sort from starvation The long period OF business stag
nation, which has thrown many persons heretofore
strangers want upon the charity Of the city, has not
yet ended Undoubtedly some OF these people are pro
fessOna vaants; but is exercised by the Jnsees
aud ~ far as possible only deserving cases meet wh
favorable consideration. Men who have always
earned an honest living are not apt voluntarily 10
enter police court and standing among criminals walt
an opportunity state publicly ther condition. and ask
TO be sent TO the wOrkhouse The cold weather OF the
past week has driven many vino lave struggled on,
hoping against hope, until the instinct OF SepreserVa-
ton has conquered the last yestges OF PRIDE 10 ASK
often with choked voices and with streaming eyes ior
succor Homeless frendless, cut of work or unable 10
work. scantil clad in which afford little pro'econ
against the keen winds and frosty air Of Winter their
condition lie pitiable indeed
TIBUNE reporter visited number Of the ponce
courts and asked information in regard to the number
OF teae commitments "On confession OF vagrancy ts
being the term used. At the Washington Place Poice
Court the number smaller than at Of the Others
ita situation in the better portion OF the city, but
here these commitments average nom two To nVe
day While the reporter stood at the desk brightlooh
ing boy came in who said that he IN his fourteenth
year. and had parents friends to care for him. he
asked he sent somewhere 70 get out Of the street lie
was sent 10 the Juvenile Asylum Last week Lille An
dcrson, girl of IL years, native OF the United stairs
seut TO the Amsheuse for six months on eoniesson
Of yeerauey" and Catherine King, little crippled girl
II years OF age was sent 10 the juvenile Asylum Re
beec Martin years old, out Of work, home and no
friends was committed for six months. These arc fair
samples of the which are presented here daily
The Essex Market Police Court Is receiving a very
large number of applications for commitment from poor
people who obtain work, and who ask TO be sent
TO the Penitentary for shelter and bOlrd during the
Winter. Heretofore they had averaged three or four
dy but with the cold weather they Daye quickly multi
piled The average for last week II. The sergeant
expressed n fear that the number would be much
greater even than these unusual figures. These appi-
cants are taNen before the Commissioners OF Charities
a Correction who look into the validity OF the e4ms,
and dispose OF them according to their merits. 1t was
aso stated at this Office evidence of the severity with
which pangs Of poverty being felt that about 80
children Rave been brought there for shelter thus far
during the Winter The sergeant stated that Ia ms pre-
cuct there would be much suffering during the coming
cold season. The precinct embraces the region about
Gr,nst one of the most densely populated portions OF
the city.
Al the Seventh District statiou-house p fy-sevcuth
ST. and Leiugton-avo only eight applications
for commitment have been received since the beginning
Of cold we4ther-a much smaller number than was eX-
pected There is not, however, much desttuuOn III ths
part Of Che ty.
Judge Du1y who is sitting at the Tombs Police Court
said that sending to the wOrkhouse between II
and persons daily. Most OF them were men Who had
been rendered destitute from lack of emplOymest Able
bodied workinymen, he said, ana occasionally me-
chanc would come before asserting their Willingness
10 work but declaring their inability to obtain employ
ment and Begging that provision be made for
them. Some of the men have families but
majority are single men, belonging TO the
large cIass which seeks the city as last resort
thinking that when other avenues OF industry are
closed to thcm the metropolis at least, with Its many
activities must offer work Of some Kind They bring
little money and in many instances soon find them-
scIyee pcnness: they have much setrespe 20 heg
aud frequently tell the judge that they do not want TO
steal and cnireat for terra in the pOOrhouse There
mad been numerous instances OF petty theft, com
mfcd with dirccJ reference to sentence OF two or
three months on the Island Trtmps rule, We're nos
accommodated Ia fact they seldom sought adniitance
10 tho wOrkhOuse.
The drsubuton which exists among workingmen is
very serious among Ilishmcn who have been employed
in the building trades in the excavation and hg IN OF
streets IN the upper part Of the cty and among those
,vr, have Gained u livelihood from OF the depart
peut naer the city government All these branches OF
true are az g stan-s and very few men arc employed
The prospects for the Winter are exceedingly gloomy,
and soo hose who are working ut present expect 70
be idle during the greater part OF the Winter A
walk thrJugh any OF the thoroughfares Of the
CITY will show groups of these men eongre-
p-ted on the corners discussing tho stusuou
some Of these men have praiscworthy faculty Of view
ing their pfUspects in bright light as possible and
look forward 60 new turn OI fortune WHICH VIII
hiring ,hem redress. They are now waiting for the
change ia the government at the end OF the year.
aud hope that the next Mayor will do something to re
licye their suherluSs.
nl wifi q
mon ov Monday and found them the most dsconsOlGte Of
creatures have lived 80 years in This city," said one
man. land have the country pass through several
pans but never until has 1t happened that could
NOT provide my family with food During the last few
wears. when II was thought that the hard times we're
al their hight managed to procure sufficient work
IN keep the family together For nearly four
months past have had work of any
Jc.cIntion and 1 fear that the Winter will
bring little relief" Another man sad that the pr speet
was too gloomy expect much work, but that all that
hc asked was sufficient 10 buy food because II Il fore
conc CONC that the woFingHen cannot pay any
rrn In answer 10 inquiry II their LANDLORDS WOuh
not turn them Out should the rent remain unpaid ne
Ia that ID would do very little good rs the landlord
would ouly t,et the same kind Of tenant again very
few OF the landlords are receiving Their isnts Dut thsy
nr To have their occupied, 40 hat they VIII De
kcpt in good condition. A third man was lOuna VINO VINO
viewed the hard Times IN thei. hio. d rauo
clmes through the Winter. he Thought that ,he 9!sress
men hnpelle,f by hunger to attepspt The pay hat rs
gwen ioT work Is low now said he. that Is lnPcs-
sibIt for a man support his tamly hOnesilJ
Amoag tie ongSUOrcmcn the destituIion Is extreme,
and the men Themselves assert thct their suffering mas
Eeyer been equaled in previous season. Algng te
river fronts the lower part OF The city they collect IN
ia puiuhes ard especially at points where there may
he . change Tor few hours employ ment so great -
toir ubor that the sidewalks OF the river streets nc
noon ire sou.fimes rendered almost mpable ana h'
Tin p,Jcstrir often take the roadway Ia preference 10
nisLluy through tic crowd. The men say that want
1i Cn,uuyIneat is new thing and thit Tor months
n,y az lICm nave been in need Oi the bare neceSsarcS
f fn now The severe weather renders their eOnduon
9nust oIerohies Most OF them have families, ana say
thar M they ask IS enough sunply them with food ana
mel THE minority appear to have homes OF some sOTf,
but have paid no rent for months. lhey express
mn anxiety, however. about rrt, anu say thal "a
Nn. IenAnts Mmnmk Lhem they are all IN