The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-24
THECHARITYBUREAU
A Large Meeting Hears Its
Work Explained.
HOW lMPoSTORS FLOURISH.
The Bureau . Means OF Helping the De-
serving and Exposing Fraud
Popular subscriptions.


Bureau of Associated Charities. The audience
was composed OF the best people in the city. aud
those engaged in charitable works.
Rev. d. c. Garrett called the meeting to order,
and the Plymouth church quartette opened
with an anthem. Mr.. Garrett, alter brief state
ment of the object of the meeting. introduced
Senator Squire as chairman.
Senator Squire urged that charitable works DC
not neglected, but said he had learned from re-
Liable sources that not more than per cent Oh
the applicants for aims were really deserving;
hence the necessity for some institution COM
posed of people skilled in the work TO investi-
gate each case and ascertain the true condition
This was just the work the Bureau OF Assoclsteo
Charities was performing. He had reilaoie
Information that in New York city luo,U00 lam
lies had their conditions permanently I'M
proved by the judicious distribution
OF aid through similar institutions. He thought,
however there was little need OF strong, able
bodied people standing in need OF aims IN TINS
country. Temporary aid might be necessary at
times, but what was needed was aid in the Ill
rec,ion of securing opportunities to WORK.
This was the best feature OF charitable
institutions. But when il became really
necessary to give aims direct, those able
should be ever ready to DO SO. TIC
thought the Bureau of Charities should be
given something more substantial than mere
Endorsement.
Senator squire then introduced superintend-
ent f. T. Dooley, of the bureau, who gave re-
view OF some of the work the institution HAD
done. citing several touching cases OF actual
distress it had been instrumental in relieving
permanently He commended Fred Gaseh, OF
the board of county commissioners, and Maj.
W. V. Rinehart, OF the board OF public works,
for their many acts OF charity and their vaiu-
able assistance to the bureau. He cited a num-
Der OF cases which had proven TO be frauds on
investigation, though the applicants had told
stories that would have convinced any person
not familiar with this class OF people OF the JUS
tice of their appeals.
Mrs. W. J. Grambs then sang a soprano SOLO
and Mayor J. T. Ronald was next introduced
He said he had been converted 70 the Bureau OF
Associated Charities by experience with I'M
| posters. He considered its work to be more III
| the line OF securing employment than The CIV
ing OF aims direct He related several instances
| IN which fraud had been attempted or himself
, and other officials, and III some cases they had
] been n.pped by reason OF the fact that they
| could no. make the necessary investigation
/ One case referred to was that OF a family con-
| sisting of father mother ana ten children
| all sorely III need. On investigation. one OF the
! children, boy, was found TO be u years OF age.
! one girl 20 and another IL all well and able 10
! work, but prcferring to live on charity. An
| other was that of man and his wife going ont
| to his house crying because they had nothing to
| live on. He sent note TO the board OF public
| works requesting that the man be put to work,
/
| been complied with he was informed by Chair
| man Riuehart that the man had just been Paid
| off by the city, receiving something like
! months salary. In explanation OF his conduct
| this applicant for charity told the mayor he
| needed that money to pay his fare East, and
| wanted something on which to keep his wife
| while he was gone. He therefore knew the
| necessity of an institution to fully investigate
| all these cases. and gave his hearty indorse-
| men. to The Bureau of Charities. He said he
| did not mako a practice OF bothering himself
| with people seeking charity now further than
| to hear their story aud refer them to the bureau
| Fred Gasch followed in the same vein rs
| Mayor Ronald, giving some of his personal ex-
perieuces in the distribution of charity for the
| county. He read from some bills which the
| board of county commissioners had received for
goods purchased on orders given people who
were supposed to be suffering for the necessaries
OF life. Among these items read were large
! quantities OF eggs in one instance. apparently TO
| breed chickens: candy In another; and canned
! peaches, canned chicken, strawberry jam and
| tobacco in still! others. One woman had taken
| her whole Sc order out in butter of the highest
| quality. He learned By these experiences the
| necessity for thorough investigation in each
| individual case before granting aid and only
| those skilled In the work can get at the bottom
facts. For this reason he now turns every case
| over to the bureau and is guided By its report
| The result is a great saving to the county, and
\
Mai ". V. Rinehert followed with his ex-
periences in the dispensing of charity as a mem
| Der of the board OF public works. He said he
| was rather tender.hearted when hs went in
there but after being blked several times he
began to get over it, and now he felt that every
case ought to DO reduced right down TO q prac-
teal business test before aid is given. He citcd
nm instance where woman had applied
to the board for help, claiming that she
was really suffering for the accessories of life.
An investigation led to some doubt, hut 1t
was finally decided to give her $50 The check
| was drawn bus Just before she received itit Was
| learned that her husband was working on the
! new opera house for SIS per week and both OF
! them went or a spree every Saturday night. lie
| afterwards learned that they had previously
| worked the board of county commissioners sue
! cessfulIy He presented some figures 10 show
| that the bureau OF charities was actually saving
| the city large amount OF money by thor
| oughiy investigating each application for aid
| before relief is granted. He called attention 70
the fact that many people came here from the
| East penniless. expecting to find wealth on tneil
arrival, or at least generous public to care for
| them. These ideas had gotten abroad by i'll
| jucicious advertising, AMI they were really in
Turing thu country. THE speaker set the
audience in by referring to instances
! in which foreigners who were really Unmarried
had borrowed some mans wife and children tC
appear before the board OF public works with
MIN anu pieHI iiids Llc nc sifch WIZ Ah-s " at
due to the fact that the board had made 1t
practice to give employ TO married in pre-
ference TO single men.
Aquestiou regarding a reported disagreement
between the Ladies' Relief society and the bu
reau was explained by superintendent Dooley
The report was 10 the effect that the bureau
wanted 10 absorb the Ladies' Relief Society. Mr.
| DooIey denied this and said all that was desired
| was the cooperation OF the society. just tn,
same that OF the heads OF the public depart
| ments OF the civ and county and the variou
| churches and charitable institutions. He pai'
| the Ladies' Relief Society high tribute for thu
| assistance Il rendered the bureau.
| Rev. Wallace Mating was down for an ad
> | dress. but instead he called on Joseph Shippen
t George r. Affair, : J. Crawford, Or. T. c. Xii
! bourne, A. F. Burwe.i, f. T. Blaine and NJ u
| WIpstock 10 pass around blank cards which
! were 10 be filed on: and signe
by each person. pledgiug tie paymea
| OF certain amount monthly to the supper
l | ot the vureau. voluntary contribution wa
also taken up. which netied neat sum. In