Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-10-02
CHARITY ORGANIZATION.

HOW Ger efRN GH9oh OF P0unorfsm
are Dealt WAth-The Excellent
Method of Treating the Tramp EIe-
ment.
Pursusnt 10 the sending out Of oirou-
lars by the committee Of last spring upon
organised charity, meeting Was held
Monday night In the Opera House lecture
room to consider the systematic reduction
Of pauperism and the organized assist
anoe Of the deserving poor. The meeting
was called to order by William M. Candy.
Daniel W. Taylor secretary.
Being called upon, Mr.. Lea Pusey
clearly stated the action OF the last
meeting, showing that the action II lie
hoped to undertake is not something I'M
tried, but something that has been put
into practice and proved most effective
and valuable.
DR.. James W. Walk, general secretary
Of the Organized Charities Of PhilRdel-
phia, was then introduced to explain
oonversationally rather than In a set
speech the system now 80 successfully In
practice In that city. In order to do this,
he gave an account Of the ineffective but
well.meant Efforts several years ago Of the
sailors along the Jersey coast 10 rescue
the lives and property from all manner OF
boats that were wrecked on that coast
Too often not only were the wrecked
but the would-be rssouers lost.
Now, however, the work Of these men
hiss been organized, and the Effective
ness Of the present life saving service has
been wonderful. The efforts made are no
greater than before but these .tforts are
disciplined. So 1t Ia with the organised
charitable work In the rs cities where II
has been adopted In this country. The
work Of the pstrolmen who are
fighting pauperism should reach
from city to city and thus
morslizstion. What we want, said the
speaker, is united, disciplined and intel
ligent action. Philadelphia covers 1872
square miles and includes between
100000 and 100000 people and 81
wards. These 81 wards, by sometimes
grouping two together, are divided into
az subordinate societies with distinct
geographical boundaries. Each district
has q superintendent, who Ia assisted by
board OF directors who have charge Of
the finances, and by corps Of visitors,
mainly ladies, who see In their homes
the families OF those helped. For the
general administration Of the whole city
there Is central office at 1902 Chestnut
street, having q board Of 81 directors.
To this central office, where four persons
are employed, all the reports Of the dis
triots are brought for the exchange Of in
formation. To show the working of the
system, DR.. Walk took several imaginary
cases which were so realistic that
ut times his hearers could not
refrain from smiling audibly. The first
applicant said, ~ am laborlng man.
Since stopped work on account Of sick
neps at such time and place, have
been unable to get work" At this point
he is asked his residence and II he Ia In
the wrong district, he Ia directed to the
right one, otherwise he continues ~
have three children, aged 8, s and 4
years. My wife makes little money by
sewing" He Ia then asked with
what religious body he Ia con-
nected, not to make any Sec
tartan distinction, but to learn whether
he Is receiving or may recsive assistance
from that source; also whether he Ia
member Of any beneficial society. II he
has been member he has generally Loaf
1t from the non.payment OF dues. He
must next be questioned about his rela-
tives in order TO learn whether any
assistance may be extended from that
direction. AS result 1t is learned he
has no friends in Pbiladelphis, he
Is two months behind In his
rent, owes grocery bill and
has no resources. Then after his office
hours, the superintendent personally
examines into the trutbiulness OF the
mans statements, ard If he is found
| deserving he is at once helped. There
are $50 benevolent societies in Philadel
| phia and upon these the superintendent
| Ia thoroughly posted. He probably gives
| the case to one Of these or else he must
give out Of the funds Of the society. A
| lady visitor then calls at the house,
| teaches the wife about the house keeping,
| In which she is 30 often 30 deficient,
| helps get the children into school, aids
| in securing work for the father,
and brings into play that moral, prscti
cal and social force, which seems the
only means OF lifting such people from
what is often q state OF degradation.
| The vagrant element is dealt with at
the central office, where an additional
! man takes charge Of this work. The
secretary decides about the CASES. Only
about one tramp IL 10 goes to the central
office when he Is 30 directed.
DR.. Walk gave complete ex,
ample Of how an out-ot-town tramp
case ia dealt with. Suppose the man
lives in Baltimore. He is asked his ad-
dress. Then without his objections show
he is fraud, his wife, u grocer, physi.
oian or merchant near by Is telegraphed
to, and II found worthy he is helped.
How effective this method Ia Is shown by
the fact that all but less than so OF such
cases soon showed themselves undeserv-
ing and less than 80 kilograms had to be
sent. When trsmpis helped, II physi-
oal!y able he Is put to work To
pay for the expense incurred. The Way.
farer's Lodge is an important feature Of
the system In such city as Philadelphia
One part has accommodations for 20 mer
by crowding, aud another for l5 women
and children. Any begRsr can apply
there before 8 O'Clock at night. No mar
is ever turned away, except he, be deao
drunk in which case he comes under the
care Of the city police. An accepted
applicant Is taken charge {
BY the superintendent of thu
lodge. II the lodge is full, applicants art
sent to other lodging houses and the ex
pense paid. The man is at once Obliged
to remove his clothing, which is put il
an iron receptacle and subjected to super
heated steam. He is then taken to tn
basement where he has good bath
Afterward he is given a garment for tn
| night. In the morning his clothes ar
returned to him, and he has very plail
but ample breakfast. To pay for tn
comfort he has received, he ia taken to tn
wood yard where he outs certain
amount of wood, the time required belnI
, from two to four and halt hours, de
pending upon the workers. ability. Dr
Walk said only about half dozen ont q
. hupdreds of professional tramps, afte
i such treatment refused TO out the wood
| This wood is delivered by two wagon
? each drawn by two horses and the de
1 mand cannot bs fully supplied.
l Many persons are forwarded to thei
8 homes, q man Is never shipped ava
9 without there Is some good reason for II
euch as comes from communicating wit
Trustworthy parties.
Mr.. A. D. Warner asked about such
system for Wilmington. DR.. Wal
q thought one central office would be q
that was needed and that there should |
i q strong central body made up OF u
= best people In that Office there shout
ha a lzdv or gentleman In thofOuR