The morning news., 1888-10-16
RELIEF WORK.
Excellence OF the System Adopted by
the Committee.

"ACoiIeuce OF the system A0opCeo Oy
the Committee.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Oct. IS. - The
system adopted by the relief committee for
the distribution of rations is most perfect
and complete one and furnishes every check
imaginable to imposition and fraud.
Throughout the city seven sub commissar-
les have been established. They are presided
over by chairman, generally
minister of tie gospel. Every
applicant for rations in that district is fur
nlshed with ration card giving the num-
Der, date, name and residence of the appli-
cant, and signed bv the chairman. Around
the outer margins Of this card are numbers
from one to ten consecutively, denoting the
ten weeks during which the applicant will
be supplied.
AIDED BY DETECTIVES.
i found necessary, when this card is pre-
sentei at the sub-c0mmiss }ry, dective is
sent 20 the address to ascertain the condi-
ton OF the applicant, number in the family,
their age, etc. If everything is found to be
correct, he SO reports, and when the appli-
cant again presents his ration card
he is supplied with the follow
ing provisions for one week for
each full grown person in the family: Three
pounds of bacon, ten pounds of grits or
meal, ten pounds Of -four, one quart of mo-
lasses, and the quantity of such articles as
beans, potatoes, ETC., is averaged. To each
child in the family One-half Of this quantity
is allowed. Wnen the applicant is furnished
with these supplies hole is punched in the
corresponding number on bis card.
A CENTRAL STATION.
In addition to these su1-commissaries,
there is established central relief station tor
furnishing supplies to invalids and conva-
lescents, from which are distributed articles
of a more delicate nature suited to such per-
sons. These are sent out IN wagons
to the homes of the destitute and
by the relief committee. A thorough
system of espionage is established
to see that none but worthy and deserving
persons are supplied.
Up to within the last week there was also
in operation restaurant, from which was
sent out cooked victuals for families who,
by reason of Sickness were unable to do
their own cooking. This restaurant was
also originally designed to furnish meals 10
nurses, until the establishment of the bu-
reau of nurses and medical aid and the pro-
curing Of commodiOus quarters and accom-
modations rendered this unnecessary. This
restaurant is now discontinued.
SCHEMES TO DEFRAUD.
OF course it is hard matter to be able to
prevent entirely imposition. The use of
forged orders, the giving of wrong ad-
dresses or names, and various other
methods Of deception, have been resorted
to, but upon the whole the working Of the
system has been as satisfactory as could be
expected, and mas much as many worthy,
deserving and indigent sick and needy
ones have been afforded relief, the system
has done all that could be expected and that
which it was destined to accomplish. Since
the establishment Of the commissa-
ries there have been issued 4,64S
ration cards. OF these there have been
recalled 1917, leaving still outstanding
1881. These, Of course, represent families,
and the last report sent in by the central
relief committee shows that they were feed
ing at this time 9,252 people. OF this num-
ber are many in the outlying suburban dis
trict not included in tie city proper. These
people are looked after by special commit
tee of Duval county at large, with Fly.
Robinson as chairman at the present time
SIX sUB-CoMMIssARIEs.
There are six sub-commissaries, including
one at South Jacksonville, in the county,
together with the central station. from
which only delIcacies are distributed to the
sick and convalesceut on doctors certif-
cate. The number being fed has been
brought from 10000 wa to 5000. The
good work of the committee of relief in cut
ting down the free distribution of
rations is already being demon
strated not only in the Increase in
applicants. but in the increased number of
men put to work earning their own means of
subsistence. This resolve was put into prac-
tical effect none too soon. The great need
of the continuance of sanitary work was
apparent on all sides, and though at the
commencement of the epidemic the city
was put in tolerably clean order, it was OF
vital Importance that this condition of
things should be maintained.
WORK OR STARvE.
Whom it was found that the committee
was determined in their purpose and the
number of tickets for free rations were cut
Off, men found that they had to work or
starve Last week there were employed in
the city proper upward of $500 men en-
gagged in grading streets, shelling the public
drives and in general sanitary work. They
were employed on an average of five days
a week. There was paid out for lator
alone last week S7,204 "A. In addition
to this there was employed in the company
something like $50 more men. The laborers
are paid 81 per day and the bosses or super
intendents of gangs $50 per month.