Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-16

"morning-call" tramps to the oentra
agency, with perfect confidence that If re
lief should be given, it will proceed to thu
object through the proper channel, ant
that if the applicants are those who per
sistently live upon the aims of others, they
will be certainly detected and cut short il
their career of imposture, and marked a
| frauds to the uttermost corners Of tn,
State. The giyers of funds to charity so
cieties will increase their bounties, for the
will feel assured of their proper and di
rect application. They realize now that ;
large per cent. Of aims is actually thrown
away, because of unworthy applications
They know that many worthy cases of SUI
fering go unrelieved. These givers, unde
the new system, will soon understand tina
their aims will be used not only for allevi
alton of genuine present distress, but to pre-
vent future want and to put men on thei
feet permanently. Indeed there is scarcely
any end to the cataloguing of possibilitie4
that could flow and ought to flow and re
suit from such efforts. OF course such or
ganization must be based upon the bro-d
est humanity, the most liberal sentiment
the most unlimited trust by the societie:
in their created agency and implicit reli
ance upon its judgment, which, however
will not and cannot interfere in hedomes
tic concern of any contributing organiza
ton, or limit or impair the local, religious
confraternal or other work of the severa
bodies.
But if State organization may not al
once be effected, let US see how the "nev
idea" would operate if applied to single
locality. Let us suppose the helpful and
charity organizations of Sacramento united
on the plane indicated, and limited simply
to Sacramento as a field of operations
With common central body, controlling
single salaried official of shrewd, keen
bold address, with plenty of backbone, but
plenty of heart and soul and humanity and
kindliness and sympathy. Let him be
publicly located, and all the societies de-
cline to act on application for relief in any
cases where there exists any possible doubt,
except on report of this central agency.
Let its ability be directed to obtaining ac-
curate knowledge of every human being in
the city in want and of all the conditions
surrounding them. Let this agency become
depository of information concerning all
the charity wards of the city, and of any
and all cases of distress or need. Let it
become, as it would, possessed of accurate
knowledge of every cause of misery. Let
it frequently report to each member of the
organization in detail all facts in its knowl-
edge proper to be reported. Let its certifi-
cate of worthiness be a carte blanche to
whatever organization the applicant may
be sent. Let it give the people to under
stand that no aims whatever should be dis
bursed to tramps or street beggars, but that
all such should be referred to the agency,
day or night. Let it inform itself of the
grand army of travelling beggars and
charity livers. Let it keep the Supervisors
posted as to the worthiness or unftness of
all who apply for aid to that body-and so
on.
Is it not clear that very shortly that
agency would become the focal point for all
charity effort, the associations acting indi-
vidually as heretofore, but using this COM
mon head and heart and intelligence for
guidance ard warning.
The idea is not merely theoretical; in
modified forms it is in operation now in
New York, London and other places. 1t
is growing in proportions and usefulness
1t is certain, sooner or later, to take into
its embrace all charity labor without one
whit detracting from the independent, per-
sonal and domestic work of single organ
lied factor of the system. On the contrary,
the individual societies will find them
selves relieved of vast labor, of great
doubts, and host of obstacles be removed
from their path, while the scheme of their
work will be enlarged and bettered, and
greater and nobler results accomplished.