Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-09
HERE is HIS STORY
Mr.. kruse Explains His Way
Of Doing Business.
HOW He INVESTIGATES CASES
Where He Can Be Found When Qua Of
His O6ioe---The Tale the Books
Teli---A Reporters Error.

kruse's door are the words: bmcc
hours. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday. Friday. from s a. IN. til Il.
Saturday, II TO l." During the hours
stated he is supposed TO bs ia hrs Office
to receive those who apply for help.
The remaindeg OF the time he ''lnyessl-
gates cases. The number of depend
ents is about the same the year round.
Occasionally there is one or Two added.
How thoroughly does Mr.. kruse inyes-
tigate? The chairman of the commit
tee on poor. Ed o'Donnell, has tried TO
prevail upon the director to accompany
him upon q tour of investigation, but
has, with one or two exceptions, met
with refusal. 1t has been we'll
known fact that, when the poormaster
was wanted he could be found either at
the 'Court Exchange" saloon
owned by Charles Kalkbrenner on
Kent street, the saloon OF Peter kruse,
his son, on West Bridge street,
or his own clothing store with Jos.
kruse" on a sign over the door at No.
"a West Bridge street. Al these places,
II is said, he Investigates most OF the
cases. His method of investigating -
given in n story which he tells himself.
al noticed III The HERALD that men
ton is made of a case in which treated
woman shamefully. The candidate
for relief in question, II is stated, was
referred to me by = prominent Mon
roe street shoe dealer l remember
the case well. ! refuse TO give the
woran's name, but will tell you the
circumstances.
How He sInvestigates-"
She came here for help. / told her
10 furnish proof that she had been a
resident of the city one year. She said
she was in destitute circumstances and
wanted little temporary relief, but
would not give il to her. She told me
the name of her landlord where che
rented, and told her didn't care 10
hear her say any more until had in-
vestigated. The next day her little
girl came into the Office and said that
her mama and the children were very
hungry ard that they must have some-
thing to eat. See, che said, she must have
it. Actually demanded IT. asked her If
her mother had receipt Tor the rent
she had paid Dhnd she said she didn't
know, but guessed she had. told her
TO go home and tell her mother to
come here and bring the receipt. The
next day the woman came, but did not
have the receipt with her. asked her
why she didn't produce it and she an
swered that she hadn't received one,
and wanted to know il wouldn't take
her word. / wouldn't accept her word
aud she went outthe door crying"
She never received any help. She
did not have documental. proof that
sne had resided one year IN the city.
though she told the director repeatedly
that she had.
Questioned by the Herald.
MIR. Kruse suppose person applies
for relief for the first time, do you not
help them temporarily until you can
look up their caseg'
"No. sir; do not"
mot when they tell you they are
starving and dcstitute?'
"No, SIR"
Mr.. Kruse then referred to q case
printed in the THE HERALD In which
il was stated he had used insulting lam
guage to iadv who had lnterceded for
q worthy person. Heopened one OF the
books and pointed to a page. The leaf
was covered with an itemized account
OF what May Balls. No. l6l Lincoln
street, had received. THAT women re-
ceives as much as any one else, and yet
she kicks. You can see that she has
been allotted the same allowance other
people has. ] didn't use insulting Ian
gnage TO the LADY, 'dn't think 70
anyhow. II isan established precedent
that each applicant gets so much. ]
! don't intend to have people dictate TO
me what am TO do. DR.. Smith says
in another case that didn't help Mrs.
sawtcile. did. as you can see 10y the
book
The book showed that on January
the woman in question had received a
supply of wood and provisions.
In regard to the Bullis case II is said
| that because some cbaritably disposed
ladies' spoke In her behalf that kruse
wanted to drop her from the list. She
is frail creature. Weighing about ~
pounds and has dependant upon her a
mother, aged Is years. and little girl.
| She is unable TO work and deserving ci
allsthe help she can get.
| Mrs. Sawtelle lives at the corner oil
Mason and North Ionia st:cets. Hei
| Husband receives pension and she u
confirmed IN the habit of eating gum
| opium. with which Dr. Wright has Otter
supplied her. II is clsisned that sbt
disposes OF the supplies she gets for al
cohol and opium.
| The Reporter Lied.
"were you quoted correctly in The
Democrat yesterday morning." wa'
| asked of Mr.. kruse.
"No. / nkver sad anything abou'
TnE IIERAIp being an lnsigniii
| cant sheet. That might have bsci
| wha; the reporter raid, but il WASH
what said. When he quoted ne ~
giving expression TO any such Language
he falsIiied."
THF IEEnsLp reporter, during tb'
conversation. looked through the sup
| ply hook. His attention was attFaetes
| bv the accounts o. two dependents
/ The first was that If Mrs. G.. III. Priest
| No. Ia South PrJsfiect street. and to-
/ otler that cs T.. ModdefBsan, No. IL
] Logan street Mrs. Priest is on th'
book as being deaf and dumb. thougi
she Is eniy partially SO. She has beer
| fece wing help Tor years. Her hns
! hand = Ia canada and has been en
/ dcavorlng % induce hss vile 80 enm
! there. obe "a a healthy, rohgs
! wemsn aFsd q practical dressTue fer
! Shc Is kent sslsy as her sraEe. and !
! rerteetiv shse ts support herself Thf
woussn = AL alone. yet receives as rruci
hep a. the Aodderman family Of seven
TIE fatllsr - 3 cbr11ic conzHns re
ard ine wlfe's entire ssEae y occupse.
| IN caring Esf five small children, age.
n. 8. =. ?. ard /. SIZE ls not stroas
enough - soTk or even perform II
necesssFy isaeswafk.
4