National Republican., 1883-03-09

sibilities by exposure, the Associated Chari-
! ties was organized.
Its primary meetings were commenced at
the residence of Mr. A. s. Solomons in April
! 1881, and q constitution was agreed upon and
adopted June z, 1881, but no permanent or
ganization was effected until tho nineteenth
of the following July, When, in the building
known as the bureau of education, the con-
stitution was readopted aud u full corps of
officers elected.
On the sixteenth of January, 1882, GER
tiiiCate of incorporation was duly executed,
and subsequently,, having been recorded, this
association became an incorporated institu-
ton under the name of the Associated Chari-
ties of the District of Columbia.
The central office was opened at No. 1418 +
street northwest, and registration commenced
on the twenty-ninth day of January, 1872,
under the supervision of the general secro-
tary, and it has been open daily Sundays aud
legal holidays excepted) from 10 o'clock n. m.
TO 430 p. M, to receive applications for work
or for aims to consult the officers and mem
bers of the association and other interested
citizens of the district upon the best methods
of conducting the charities of the district,
and working out the problem which has
agi tated not only the people Of this district,
but the civilized ages of the world.
The experience of other cities in the associa-
tion of charities aided us in the development
of our plans
Cooperation, a systematic and thorough
canvass and investigation, speedy and intelli-
| gent relief when absolutely required are the
essential differences between this and the
labor exchange.
DISTRICT DIVIDED INTO EIGHTEEN sUBDT-
l. VISIONS.
The District of Columbia is divided into
eighteen subdivisions, each of which have
well defined boundaries, an intelligent corps
nf pf q efficient
board of visitors, who are ready 10 go where
ever and whenever the occasion requires and
report the result of their investigations for
such record and action as the necessities de-
mand Each subdivision thus far has raised
and disbursed its own funds, with aid in some
cases from the central office.
Each subdivision is furnished with record
book and blanks uniformly arranged, and
each report the data obtained periodically to
the central Office for systematic, alphabetic
arrangement in a journal or ledger of facts.
The subdivisions are in the truest sense
branches and a part of the great whole, work
| ing with great harmony and concert OF action
If case comes to the central Office and it
can be localized and no record of the case is
| there, it is Immediately investigated and
sometimes before the applicant leaves the
room messenger is dispatched and all the
particulars gathered by visitor returned to
! the central office and the whole case is before
|
scious that an investigation is going on then
comes intelligent reference or relief or dismis-
| sal and a record.
THE RECORD A CONFIDENTIAL ONE.
| The record is a confidential one and we pro-
pose to keep good faith in that regard, not
| only at the central Office, but in the various
subdivisions, so that we may contdentially
ask the churches and other organizations to
cooperate with us WITHOUT fear of the eX-
| l1,nt, H..tu N
would be unnecessary and cruel.
This association organized with distinct
understanding that the record should be kept
confidential 1t asked the cooperation of the
churches and other charitable organizations
with that understanding, and that pledge has
been kept faithfully at the central office and
generally at the subdivision.
The registrar is in attendance at the central
Office during the day from 10 to 430, and the
secretary has been there daily from $3.50 to
n the hour of closing
I Most of the subdivisions ceased active opera
tions during the summer months, but the CEN
tral Office was kept open all summer believ-
ing il to be mistaken idea to close it,
1t is true that there is not so much distress
in summer months, but it is good time for
profitable work, preparatory for winter, find
ing employment for those who need it most
and stimulating them to save portion OF
their earnings Tor the winter necessities or q
day ofadycrsity.
INTERESTING INVESTIGATIONS AND REvE-
| la. LATIoNS.
The work at the central office with so great
q variety and condition of persons, and with
reports constantly coming in from every part
of the district with the story of the trained
deceiver, the professional tramp, the dupli
Gator, and the genuine stories of distress, and
the causes which led to it, is interesting and
full of valuable lessons.
The aged widow, whose children are al
dead or too poor to help her, with the little
that was left her all gone; the young widow
with small children to support, and nothing
to support them with, and no opportunity t.
earn livelihood the old man, and the Grip
pied, middle-aged, or young man, unable to dc
a days work, and therefore unable to secure
the ordinary employments which are opei
only to. the able bodied laborers; the mer
and the women, and they are not few
who have been trained to despise manua
labor some from the higher grades of society
and the representatives of sick families-are a
our rooms and wait their opportunity to re
late privately their peculiar circumstances
and distress to the secretary. No one to hea
or to know the details of the circumstance
which have made it necessary to call for aiC
but him-the burdened souls find relief il
an opportunity to relate their trials in conf
dence The world can never know the Ike,
to their abject condition.
NUMBER AND PROFESSIONS OF PERSONS REG
IsTERED.
The number registered upon our books is 1913.
The former occupation is ascertained to be a
follows:
White females--17 teachers, artist, l99 seam
stresses, 96 housekeepers and servants 10 clerk
from departments, clerks from stores, lS nurses.
White males-20 clerks from the departments
81 with trades, such as carpenters, bricklayers
plasterers, and machinists, teacher doctor,
bookkeepers. 9i laborers.
Colored maes-5 caterers and cooks, 10 havin
trades such MS carpenters bricklayers, plasterers
shoemakers, and painters, 93 lab0rers.
Colored femaes-2l9 cooks, laundresses. cham
bermaids, and servants, plain seumstresses, .
nurses
RECEIPTS, ,DIsBuRsEMENTsr-AND LOANS.
The total amount received at the central
office eis.......,,........'..' q, 40
offcc Observation-Disclosures l,l2S q
3 Balance to credit OF the treasury
with which 10 commence an
other ear..'.,........'.....'..' So2 I
The amount loaned TO few persons
whose peculiar circumstances war
ranted 1t, aud generally secured by
collateral, S,..,............,....s. ,sI2
The amount returned is........,..,......',', % Z
,