Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-02-22
m|gnte Atahftatsr.
FRIDAY MORNING. FEB. %. 1878
Local
THE POOR.

THE POOR.
| CONFERENCE OF THE Y. NJ. C. A. DIREC-
ToRY-woRKING MEN OUT OF WORK
DESTITUTION-THE Relief COMMIT
TEE ENLARGED.
| &C., &C., sc.
| There was full and important meeting
of the Y. M. G. A. Directory last Monday
night. Present DR.. r. S. Hamilton, Pres
ident, J. E. Guy, Secretary; John G. Scott,
Treasurer; Messrs. H. D. Peck, j. W.
Todd, A. M. Simpson and Geo. P. Baker,
| Vice Presidents, and Messrs. J. FL. Skin
ner, G.. q. Gooch, H. M. McIlhaney. VIM.
A. McCue, VIM. J. Nelson and T. g. Nor
ton, Chairmen of the various standing
committees, only one member Of the Dl-
rectory, Mr.. Heber Ker, being absent.
Mr.. Todd, chairman of the Relief Com
mittee reported that several cases OF dis
tress had come to his knowledge. One, an
apparently deserving young man, stran-
ger in the city without means to subsist or
get away, had been furnished by the COM
mittee with work which he had performed
well and SO procured some money to take
him to neighboring town. A lady in ex-
IRENE want had also been furnished with
supplies for her family which were pur-
chased by the committee. Mr.. Todd
thought there was much restitution which
had not come to their knowledge.
DR.. Hamilton said that from his official
position in the association he had probably
better opportunities Of knowing the extent
of restitution prevailing in the communi-
ty than perhaps any one else. Quite
number had applied to him in many cases
for only meal, in others, for pecuniary Or
other aid. He had helped such applicants,
when deserving, as far as he could, but Of
ten had not been able to do anything, hav-
ing no fund for that purpose. He found
the restitution and want in the communi-
ty was very great.
Mr.. A. M. Simpson had been told by an
elder in the Presbyterian church that he
had never since his official connection with
the church here had SO many applications
lOI dSSlSUdlCcs A1 ~ uiulCC1l huCW VI a.
few cases of extreme poverty and want.
Mr.. McIlhaney stated that large build
er had mentioned to him THAT as there
was no building under contract his firm
had discharged their outdoor hands, and
owing to the burning Of the Staunton Pla-
ming Mills others had been thrown out of
employment, and he feared that some Of our
most Industrious and worthy mechanics
would be severely straitened for the neces-
saries Of life, and that the suffering would
become greater than last year at this time.
Various measures of relief were sugges-
ted, among which was soup house, after
the plan pursued last year; but member
stated that the city overseer of the poor
told him he hoped they would not adopt
that plan again, it being Objectionable in
some respects. After further discussion
a resolution, offered by Mr. Morton, was
adopted, to the effect that the standing
relief committee, consisting of Messrs.
Todd, Cooke & Bagby, assisted by the
president of the Association and three
other members of the Directory should
take the whole matter in hand and report,
at meeting to be held on Thursday night,
as to the most feasible and effective course
for the Association to pursue under the
circumstances. The president, under the
resolution, added the following gentlemen
to the committee: Messrs. McIlhaney, Peck
and Scott. Tie Board adjourned until
Thursday night, to receive the report Of
the Committee on Relief.
WHAT OvERSEER KURTz SAYS.
The Overseer Of the Poor says that there
are great many needy poor in the city.
and number really destitute, but there
is not as much suffering by any means as
there was last winter, and besides, the la
dies of the city are more active in private
ly relieving the poor than they we're last
winter But yet there are large number
of persons who will not apply to the prop
er authorities, nor to any one, for aid, and
who suffer with. as much severity, but
with no complaint. This class can be bet
ter gotten at by other agencies than Of
6cials.
PLAN OF THE Y. NJ. C. A.
The Directory last night adopted the
plan of relief which, however, will only be
held ready for use in case of necessity, 1t
not being considered that there is suffering
enough in the city to warrant putting it
in operation. The main points are-di-
vidiEg the city into districts, and appoint
ing, for each, a visitor to the poor; any
person knowing of case needing help
may report 1t to the committee of the Y.
| NJ. e. A. who send their visitor for the
district to enquire into it, the visitor,
if he finds the case deserving, to give an
order on some designated grocery store OR
| fuel depot for articles to relieve immedi-
ate necessities. The plan is not intended
to relieve the church poor, az the various
| oL,,,alo, houa q sspoor fundD for c,,oh