Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-08-31
THE SUFFERING POOR.
Meeting Of the Cftizens' Relief Com.
misfee - Some Practical Sugges.

l2st evening meeting Oh the COulhlieecO
appointed at the meeting on Monday night
TO takes measures looking to the relief OF the
suffering poor of the city was held at the
rooms OF Consul General Hitz-present,
Messrs. 7. b. Bryan, chairman; Simon Wolf,
secretary; W. G.. LIE Due Commissions oil
Agriculture, II. a. Willard, A ;. Sotonons,
r. u. Mussey, G. c. Cox, John Hitz, >. a. H.
MARKS, and Matthew q. Emery.
MR.. A. 3. SoLoNoSs -
said that from his association win tne ult-
know led ge on the subject. The market-house
company in their charter had sum OF
$40 fcO set apart for charity, but The legisla-
ture reduced the sum, so that the District
Commissfoners now have only about ss 600
at their disposal for charitable purposes.
One OF the modes of expenditure has been
through the lodging house, which was a.
lowed so per month, where place 20 sleep
and two meals were provided. The relief
commission in the past had done considera-
BILE good. Last year they had a large amoInt
of money TO ex pend, aud while they thought
they were doing the best possible the com
mission were satisfied now that they did not,
ard If TO 60 over, different course would be
obs erved, for II encouraged pauperism in
stead OF decreasing IL. Very little was oaid
for services, as the churches provided this
elsss OF assistance, and nearly all the money
Mr.. HITZ DIsAPPRovED OF GIVING AIMS
IL il could be avoided. and favored furnish
ing work. He thought the lodging house
good, but believed labor exchange better
There must be introduced some system by
which men could gel work; then If hey
would not do it, they should be got rid OF,
them In their pauperism. There are plenty
OF men Idle and unwilling 10 work. Drive
them out and make room for those willing TO
labor. He thought they should not be sup
piled with groceries, but cooked food, place
TO battle and work to do. system of this
kind had worked well in Philad elphia. He
proposed the organization ola
SOCIETY FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF TIE
POOR.
ard their instruction, with officers, board Of
directors of fifteen men and fifteen women,
and committees; q store house where the
poor could buy groceries; not have them
given TO them. for that should only be done
for the sick. The poor should pay for their
food, no matter how small the amount a
labor exchange where applications could be
received and labor provided; a home, dis
pensary, physicians, counselors, &c, should
be provided and operated by com alittaes.
Mr.. Hitz said he had formed his ideas from
observations of the working of the home on
Catherine street, Philadelphia. a board OF
charities should receive and disburse ali the
funds coming into the bands of the District
authorities TO be used for this purpose. After
the establishing OF this board any person
seeking aid on the streets and refusing 10
labor should be sent to the wOrkhOuse, and
the police should arrest all beggars on the
street. Work should be given TO the laborers
and mechanics of the city first, in order not
TO encourage visitors from q distance. and
married men should be given the preference.
These ideas have been tried, aud the societies
are working well, especially the one in Phil
adelphia- He wanted 10 see these people
work, and then he was willing to feed them,
but he would not encourage Pauperism. If
they knew that they must work, then they
would do ii.
Mr. Solomons thought the plan of Mr. Hitz
q most excellent one, if IL could be put in
operation, and when that was done he
thought that the millennium would be near.
II almost took his breath away to consider it
Mr. Emery thought the plan was too ex-
tensive for this place, and was of the opinion
that soup-houses would WORK better.
BRYAN ON THE DAYS WORK
SYSTEM.
Mr.. Bryan remarked that never before was
there such restitution in this city as now.
The number OF unemployed people is simply
appalling. Stalwart men are begging for
one days work to get food for their families.
He thought the plan commended itself as
done 10 provide food for those In need-what
can be done to provide work for men and
women now starvl3g? III they could con-
ceive OF some plan which will furnish an
avenue of work Immediately, that they
light say "Here is work; come aud do it,
MIR. Emery asked IL ii was not in the power
of the Commissioners to give out work by
the day.
Mr. Bryan replied in the affirmative.
MIR. Emery asked why not stop contract
work and give 1t Out by the day?
Mr.. Bryan replied that there are reasons
why that cannot be done just at present. The
matter has been under suggestion, aud the
Commissioners are trying to devise some
pan by which it can be done. AT present
The District is impecCniOus and has little
moi ey 10 use. The appropriations are small
(. nd Congress did not give the District one
fourth Of what was asked for. Had they
appropriated what WAS needed and Justly
due the District, the Commissioners could
have furnished much work for the laboring
classes.
THE MARYLAND POOR LAWS.
MI. Massey said the poor laws OF Mary
land were handed down 10 the District, aud
there was power TO compel paupers aud vag-
rants TO work. He had heard some property
to pay for street inn royements In front OF
their residences ard he thought by inquiry
much of this kind of work could re found,
and il would supply work to the neely
sUGG ESTIoNS BY THE COMMISSIONER OF
AGRICULTURE.
General lie Due said that until he came
here he had not seen man who wanted
bread and could not get IL; moi man willing
to work for his food who could not get it.
He had resolved to do his mite to furnish
relief, and hao had an interview with Gen.
city, TO which he had added the labor ex-
change. II rested with the property holders
and those having interests here 10 start this
movement They should not let any politi-
clan, CfficehOlder. or preacher have anything
TO do with 1t. Two preachers would make
quarrel, and three fight. They had too
many Jealousies and heart burnings. As
soon as they permitted politics and religion
10 come in, that moment they introduced the
elements OF dlscOrd. He babe them be up
and doing. There was a sword of Damocles
hanging over them, and they would be wise
TO heed the warning, and avoid It's descend
ing blow.
RLLIEF SOCIETY AND LABOR EXCHANGE.
Mr.. Wolf said that the Provident Aid So
ciety had no trouble of raising S15,C)O or
SO, eco, and he did not think if Immediate
sid was required any man OF means would
refuse 10 contribute if the proper kind OF q
committee were TO walt upon them. He
thought under the present eXigency they
would furnish their mite TO afford relief TO
the needy. Theie was class OF colored paO-
pie In this city who would not work and
who must be provided for. They must go to
Congress and try and prevail upon them 10
do something towards aiding the distressed,
He suggested the extending of the system
being carried on by the Hebrew and Swiss
societies OF the city, which had worked very
p-, Cox thought the plans suggested rather
pointed to q permanent organization than
Immediate relief. They only saw poverty
on the surface, but those of his profession
went into the very shrine. He had never
seen such distress In this city as existed now,
and the time had come for immed late action.
II was time that something was done.
General lie Due informed the committee
that Mr.. James WOrmley had offered his /
street house, free of rent, for an Office, IL
some body would only take hold and furnish