The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-06
LADIES' RELIEF SOCIETY,
An Answer to Certain Criticisms @
Its Methods.

An Answer to Certain Criticisms of
Its Methods.
At the regular meeting of the Ladies' Relief
Society yesterday afternoon the following 70
port was read and adopted:
To the President. OGicers and Members Of the
Ladies Retief Society: In view OF recent criti-
cisms OF our WORK and methods, fair statement
OF our objects ana aims with a showing of the
means at our command, is not inopportune
Our organization is a voluntary one, and the
time and labor OF each member given to 1t is
free. Not one cent is spent upon the machinery
OF distribution. The amount of work dore in
Investigating cases brought to our attention is
very great, and we must be CAREFUL owing to
our limited means.
This work also has to be done by those having
their own home duties, and though we try to
give immediate attention 10 all relief calls, it is
sometimes impossible to do so.
We have home for poor children under our
charge and its expense betrayed out OF our
means.
In this home we shelter upon the average
thrty-six i56) children, who are attended by
matron, a cook, and in the winter months
man to attend to the furnace. The average
monthly expense of this home Is sl5I63. This
is the money outlay: no estimate eau be made
or given of the kindly and constant contrlbu-
lions of provision, fuel, clothing, etc
The expense of this home is, OF course. def
mite and certain burden which must be met and
provided for. Our income is secured 10 us in
part by the interest of fund, in amount s. Jos.
invested in county scrip in the investment OF
which We have the kind and gratuitous assist
ance of one of the foremost bankers of the city.
III 10 iIlls iunu ineuiHcTeHlp uueS OF
81 per annum afford a source of income. Out
of membership of 155 however, but seventy
have paid for 1891, aud some of the eighty de-
linQusnts owe for two years.
OF the thirty-siX inmates OF the Home, some
ten are provided for by the county, leaving the
expense of the remainder to be borne by the
society, saving an occasional payment
made by parent or friend, which has
amounted in the past seven months
TO sl3S No child Is ever turned away
because no one would vouch for the expense of
Its care. Where there is a parent or friend able
and willing 10 pay. promise OF such is accepted
and occasionally received.
With this sacred charge in our keeping and
these little helpless ones 40 much less able 10
combat misfortune than the ordinary run of un-
fortunates, il should not be expected that we
would trench upon our one certain source OF in
come, our invested funds, small and inadequate,
even though We spent IL all, to provide for Seat
ties poor. and ii il Is so expected we shall have
to sorrowfully disappoint such expectations.
We consider this Home, its establishment and
maintenance as our best work and only hope 10
leave 1t enlarged and better equipped to our
successors.
Outside OF the expense of this Home. our re-
cords show the name and address OF 10 people
given aid during the past seven months. some
few of these have received a regular allowance,
Others have been assisted number of times.
In conclusion, we would add that our secre-
tary and treasurer have record of all receipts
of the society and the advisory committee an
itemiz,d account Of all money spent with the
name and address OF all those helped, which is
open TO the inspection of all members of the
society. FANNY KING,
MARTHA W. FULTON,
MARY L. PUMPHREY,
HARRIET +. TAYLOR