Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-13
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
sIr. L. 5. Emery's Answer to superintendent
Warmers Memorandum

Mr.. l. 5. Emery's Answer to Superintendent
Warmers Memorandum
Mr.. l. s. Emery. the secretary Of the Asso-
ciated Charities. has prepared the following
answer TO the memorandum of Superintendent
Of Charities A. G. Warner relative to the allot-
ment of 81 600 to this organization from the
poor fund, which he will submit to the Com
nissioners at a hearing which has been ar
ranged to take place at the District building to-
morrow.
II has been my fortune to be connected
with the organization for the relief OF the poor
in this city since 1S66-twenty- years con-
stantly-from time when the stand-and-de-
liver unfortunately system prevailed through
all the varied systems of reform and improve
Iaents up to the present, when q careful dis
criminate process prevails.
From time when extra appropriation
OF $4,000 IN one year was found necessary to
meet the demands for outdoor relief to a time
when the ordinary appropriation ID ample to
meet all demands.
From a time when special meetings of citi-
zens we're considered necessary to raise funds
for emergencies in the cold and inclement sea-
sons to "a time when our careful discriminat-
ing and deep penetrating system has rendered
such extra meetings unnecessary.
From time when street and door-to-door
begging was a sad commentary upon our beau
tiful capital city to tine when you and we
can boast of il as a model city in that respect
with satisfaction and pride.
From q time when there was no record, no
distributing central point to which you could
send doubtful applicant from your residence
or place of business for information as to
whether the case was genuine or a fraudulent
one, and from which you could obtain informa-
ton to satisfy your conscience and relieve your
selves from the responsibility of determining
bether to give or to hold from giving without
setriment TO yourselves or to the applicant; to
O time when there Is such record and such q
place open and accessible. where you can OBJ
tain the information and relieve yourselves in
common with the citizens of this city of the
responsibility of giving unfortunately and
harmfully upon the streets. at your place Of
business or at your home.
We keep a record of the applicants first upon
q daily record and then filed away in alphabet
ically arranged order, the name address, the
dependent ones in the family, the habits, the
places from which the applicants come their
profession or trade, If any. where they have
been employed, why they have left their en-
ployment. what the cause of their dependence
Is, and then confer with them as to what they
can do and then put them, if possible, in a way
to support themselves If immediate relief
seems proper we administer that with words of
advice as discreetly given as can We assist
In getting such belong elsewhere to their
kplace, We cooperate with homes and hospitals
'sending this one here and that one there. We
tide over by furnishing sometimes permanent
and sometimes Temporary employment and in
every way seek to put every applicant in as
self-supporting condition possible.
The result has been that there are not TODAY
one-half as many dependent people in this oity
as there were five or six years ago and those
that are dependent and in distress by reason of
sickness, or misfortune caused by circum-
stances over which they had no control are
better cared for than ever before. The CITY in
practically relieved of its street begging. the
citizens feel relieved from a consclousuess
that there is Associated Charities to which
they can send these applicants to be ca-ed for
intelligently and heipfully. and the time has
come when this Is one of the best, if not the
best. disciplined city in that respect in this
country.
While the Associated Charities has not &C.
complished all this reform. it has been largely
Instrumental IN accomplishing it.
We have found employment for over loo
persons; we have inspired confidence and self
respect to many who had weakened and be-
come respondent; We have been a menace and
check upon the lawless impostor and saved
many a citizen from becoming q victim of mis-
placed confidence and sympathy aroused by
manufactured stories made ND for the occa-
SION; We have saved ard are saving the tax
payers of this city thousands of dollars given
heretofore publicly and privately and we have
entered the homes of hundreds and admins
tered relief where no other agency would have
found II to relieve. and we conscientiously sub-
init that the Associated Charities have won for
itself confidence and strength by its steady.
quiet and persistent efforts along the whole
line and during its existence of ten years
For the last six years there has not been a
ripple OF discord- The board Of managers is
composed of the most thoughtful and discreet
people. independent in thought. but all seeking
the highest and best good that can be accom-
plished for the poor and the citizens of our
city.
That We should now be disturbed for while ia
depIored. We have combined theory with prac-
teal methods and that purely theoretical idea
should be injected by young and inexperi-
enced man to the detriment of our progressive
and practical work in this commul tty and by
one whose interest is in nowise common with
ours, but whose ambitions have induced him to
stoop TO undigniied and unyarranted iusin-
nations Is TO be deplored We never were
IN better shape to move forward, improv-
Ing constantly In the light of experience.
than few months ago, and We sim
cerely trust that the honorable Commits
sloners, the president of which is the president
Dot our Associated Charities and every member a
member Of our own board will not by any act
curtail our facilities for doing in our Masters
name what We are now doing for the Door of
this District and the common good of our be-
loved city. The allotment will not iniure ma
but will aid U.s.
From Stafford Coppsv