Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-31
CHARITY THROUGH THE POLICE.
How 1t Is Accomplished and the Distribu.
ton Made Since New Year.

How 1t Is Accomplished and the Distribu-
ton Made Since New Year.
I'm the course OF twenty-four hours the police
In the District Of Columbia come in contact
with 25,OOO or more people-the good, bad and
indifferent, the rich and the poor-and it is
but reasonable to believe that they become &C
quainted with nearly all cases of poverty and
want said Chief Clerk Sylvester Of the police de-
partment to a STAR reporter yesterday. Those
families or individuals in want whom they do
not learn of are those who are too proud to
make their conditions known. For some years
a small proportion of the amount appropriated
by Congress for charitable purposes in the Dis
trict has been set aside by the Commissioners
to aid the suffering poor reported by the po-
lice This amount has never exceeded $4,000.
and IN latter years II has averaged much less
than that Within the past year and half. in
addition to the allotment from the congress-
sionai appropriation. the interest on the CEN
tennial inaugural fund chat sum of money
which was donated by the last inaugural COM
mitteeJ has been applied to the same object.
CHARITABLE SYSTEMS EIsEwHERE.
This work of charity is not generally incum-
bent upon the police force of different cities,
they generally having charitable organizations,
conducted without expense. which look after
the unfortunate. For example, st. Louis has
its Provident Association conducted by
a board of charitable gentlemen
who give their time and services
to carry. out the purposes the name
would indicate. When the winter season comes
around they call upon the charitably disposed
merchants and others for contributions for the
poor and the response comes in the way of pro-
visions and money. They have ware
house in charge of an attend
orders for what they may need. The citizens
generally are supplied by the association with
tickets OF a convenient size to carry in the
| pocket. and when family or individual asks
! for aid upon the public street one of these
! tickets is handed the applicant, and it answers
| as an introduction to those having the disposal
| OF the funds and stores of the asso-
citation. wood yard Is conducted
where contributions of fuel are hauled, and
mau in want. if physically able, is paid for half
| a days or a days service in saving and split
ting the wood. which is afterward sent to dis
tressed families. All demands made upon
the police are likewise referred to the associa-
ton for aid.
THE POLICE METHOD IN THIS CITY.
'In this city," he continued, 'the police de-
partment is the only institution which fur
nished assistance to the poor without cost for
distribution. The method pursued is perhaps
not generally understood by the public. 1t Is
this:
If an officer while patroling his beat dis
covers an unfortunate in need he makes thor
ough examination Of the case and then reports
to his commanding lieutenant whether it is de-
serving or not. and if the report is favorable an
order is then issued on a convenient grocery or
wood yard for what may be required, the total
amount not exceeding a dollar or two. accord
ing to the conditions surrounding the case.
The following is copy of the order:
mo. As WASHINGTON, d. c.,
February z, 1891.
''Mr. .. Please deliver to Mrs. Smith
or bearer groceries to the amount of 81, resi-
dence. .......,.., and charge to the Fourth
Metropolitan Police Precinct.
This is signed by the lieutenant. and upon
delivery of the articles that may be selected by
the applicant the order is receipted. At the
end OF the month the merchant renders
count. which is substantiated by the orders he
has obtained, to the police department, where
1t is paid from the charity fund and then for
warded TO the auditor Of the District and the
treasury Of the United States for final adjudica-
ton and settlement.
DIsTRIBUTIoN SINCE JANUARY I.
''Since January 1. 1890, 1,345 orders of this
character have been given to the poor by the
police ieutenants, $40 individuals have been
furnished small cash donation. relieving in
the aggreg gate about ., 991 persons at ex-
pense Of -, 927, S327 Of which was contributed
in the winter of 1880 and s200 in the winter Of
1891 by public-spirited citizens Of Washington.
The period covered by this expenditure was
one year and three months.
1T Is fortunate" concluded the chief clerk,
''that the season of the year has come when the
demands for charity comparatively cease, as
the funds available are about exhausted, and to
extend further relief another appropriation
will be necessary. unless the superintendent Of
the department furnishes it from his own
pocket, as be often does in extreme cases"