The Portland daily press., 1883-02-06
Begeary and Charity.

Portland is an aims giving city; its charities
are prompt and abundant; its benevolent So
ciet'es are numerous, stre ching out their hands
to many classes, and DESTROYS that nobody
should suffer. The result has been much in.
discriminate giving; the sun of charity has
shone on the evil and the good alike, and it's
rain has fallen Oh the just and tho unjust.
There is poetic and generous side to this
trustfui bounty, to this unique stioning aud
quick relief of the fictitious as well as of the
real mseries that % from door to door. Bat
there is also most mischievons and dangerous
side and that is the making pauperism pro-
ntable and beggary paying profession.
Where the carcass is there will The eagles be
gathered together" and when the carcass is
never lacking the GA les become an unInaHage-
able Nuisance
The wise and tbosghtful distributors of
aims, and the founders of helpful societies,
have seen this danger aud have tried to avoid
II; but among SO many independent charities
1t has been easy for frauds to slip about updis-
covered, or if discovered in enc place TO do an
active business in other quarters, and whole
families have given up honest work aud lived
entirely on their dividends from the bene-
VIOLENT societies in which they have invested
their lies and abject appeals for help. Various
attempts have been made 10 induce all CHART
able bodies t. report at central office III the
city bu lding, Where'a register of applicants
should be kept, and means taken to sift out
the cheats and 10 help promptly aud effectual-
y ali the honest poverty that has come by
misfortune or sickness. IL cannot be too
strongly stated, that there is abundant and
willing help, both public aud private, for
those who deserve it, and that al attempts to
SYSTEMATIC charities have for their object not
the lessening of gifts, but the bestOwal Of them
where they are needed; where they will help
aud encourage, instead of where tn ey will in
crease vice, where they will benefit the indi-
vidual and the community, not where they
will demoralize and pauperiZe.
District visiting is a step in the right direc-
ton aud this year renewed interest is being
awakened in it. By this means the case of every
applicant for charity is investigated aud help
obtained fr those who deserve it by procui.
ing the cooperation OF the public authorities,
churches, charitable agencies and individuals at
the Same time exerting An influence to prevent
begging, diminish pauperism and encourage
haDlts of thrift aud seif-dependence.
The Associated Charities has dill ect commu-
nication between its central Office in the City
Building, where the register is Kept, and every
part OF the city, 80 that no person in real want
need suffer on account of time being reqsired
to investigate his case. The associatioIt If
charities is NOT intended in any way to break
up the church and special societies, or to make
one great treasury for charitable funds; it is
simply TO place trustworthy information with
in reach of everybody to whom beggars apply
Information that will enable people to give
to those who need it, and save them from
wasting, or worse than wasting, their gifts. If
this plan can he carried out, and this hearty
cooperation accomplished, charitable work
will attain the best possible results, and
pauperism will cease to be the burden and dis
grace that it is to the city.