The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-11
LADIES' RELIEF.

The society that fiourishes in Portland
under the above caption has lately been
the recipient of some candid criticism
in the Oregonian, which some Of the Of
heers and members are endeavoring to
explain away, thus far with Indifferent
success. It is our humble opinion that
one woman of well-known integrity,
who should open a home for the home
less, and appeal to the public for patron
age upon her own responsibility, giving
monthly financial reports to the public
through the papers, and retaining for
her services a fairly remunerative sal
airy, would do more TO protect the needy
aud provide occupation for those willing
and able to work, than any organized
band Of helpers now in the city. At the
Helpers Home, where we have had
considerable acquaintance with the
workings during the past year, We have
found the matron, herself an unsalaried
worker, compelled to submit 90 so.much
red tape, in order to work under society
authority at all times, as to seriously
delay the influence Of the organization.
This society, despite the efforts of its
Jealous and really charitable members,
only barely lives from month to month,
and yet we are sure that the matron,
were the whole thing in her own hands,
could not only sustain it through the
munificence of our citizens, but could
vastly enhance its usefulness. And so
with the Ladies' Relief Organization
and cooperation have been necessary to
complete the work of both to their pres
ent standard; but it would be far better
now for each to be leased for one year,
or term of years, to competent women,
who would not be compelled to waste
the time and energy needed to relieve
the poor in cutting red tape.
The other day a destitute woman
came to US, as they do almost every
week, in search Of employment for her
self and young girl. We promised to
see what could be done, and in the mean
time directed her to call upon the presi-
dent Of the Ladies' Relief to get her
babe, boy Of two years, taken care Of
at the Orphans Home. In a few days
she returned, and, with the assistance Of
the matron at the Helpers Home, a sit
uation was procured for her daughter.
But the president of the Orphans Home
would not agree to receive her baby IN
less she could pay ten dollars per month
for its keeping. So, while she has
tramped the city in search Of wages
from day to day, we learn that that lit
tie child has been left at home, alone,
in a shanty in the suburbs, without fire,
and almost without food Up TO the
time Of going to press we have not
learned whether or not the mother has
secured place where she can find work
that will enable her TO pay the Ladies'
Relief, this benevolent institution, for
keeping her child, and yet there are
hundreds Of dollars in its treasury.
We think the matron Of the Home
should have discretionary power in all
such cases. A woman who accepts a
position as matron is always herself so
80 PU~e'4oNo % ~ oS aiAail " eAosuLlle
any responsibility, lest she lose her
place, and long experience with such
institutions teaches US that she gener-
orally does lose it as soon as she has
worked it up into sufficient popular IA
vor TO excite the cupidity of some
seheming and equally impeeunious Of
fiee-seeker, who may happen to have a
friend in authority that wants a place
for her favorite. The Ladies' Relief So
eiety has done and is doing some good;
But It is not doing what ought to be and
could be done by one honest woman,
untrammeled by the others.