The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-25
HERE AND THERE,
Tho Bureau OF Associated Charities
Work Of the FriendlY VfaitOrs.

On this Christmas morning, when many have
cause to rejoice and others to sorrow, review
OF our Bureau of Associated Charities will per-
haps be both appropriate and profitable.
Associated charities, as experimeuted with IN
nearly all OF the larger cities OF the Union. are
at best only an imitation, or, rather, an out
growth of the Elbefield plan, system now in
general use on the European continent The
purport of the Elberfeld plan can be summed
up in two sentences: First--To afford relief to
the needy and deserving poor Second-To pro-
tees the willing giver and the deserving taker
against fraud and imposition.
TO accomplish these two objects q city IL
divided into districts, which, in turn, are
divided into sub-districts. A sub-district,
seldom exceeding a block or two, is given in
charge of visitor who resides in that special
sub-distriet aud whose name and off cial posi-
ton appears on card ON his residence door.
and to whom all poor apply for relief. and
whose duty ii Is to Immediately investigate
every case reported or referred to him and re-
port the result OF his finding and his recon-
mendation to the central bureau
These visitors are not voluntary officials. The
Elberfeid plan believes that Ii il as much part
OF a municipal government TO take care of
worthy poor and protect the city against impo-
sition as IL is to clean and drain the streets.
Therefore IL Is part of the duty of ward alder
man to nominate for his ward as many poor
visitors rs In his judgment ia needed to properly
cover the ground. These nominations are sub
1eet to confirmation or rejection by the council.
AS rule the nominations are confirmed. The
nominee is then informed of his selection and
required to come before the mayor and be
sworn in, after which he Ia a part and parcel of
the city government, subject to punishment for
neglect of duty and subject to honorary promo
ton Tor its proper performance Usually the
most prominent and ablest citizens in each sub
district are selected visitors. Destinations
hi hat n "a
have to pay a fine.
Dr. Peabody, writing in this months (Decem-
ber) Forum under the caption show Should q
City Care for Its Poor" tells us of many in
stances where the most prominent public men
have been selected to serve their respective sub
districts as visitors. and none have declined the
honor and duty. Each visitor must report his
case with ali German exaetitude to the central
bureau, where an exact record OF every case is
KEEP. and an attempt at imposition Is at once
detected. Every visitor is given discretionary
power TO relieve immediate need, and the cen
trai authorities are usually guided by his recon-
incubation. The whole proceedings are under
city control. Private charities are not checked
or hindered On the contrary, they are aided in
using their funds to the best possible advantage.
Tho authorities having discovered a worthy
case OF charity it is referred to the proper pr
yate Charitable equalization, which is thus as
sured that every cent expended goes to its right
place.
1t would be folly to expect SO elaborate, 80
punctilious asystem in our rapidly growing
and busting American cities. Yet in treating
upon associated charities az in vogue in this
country it is we'll 10 have its prototype in view.
II is of the Seattle bureau in particular that
wish to speak.
The Seattle Bureau of Associated Charities
was orgaui zed in February, 1892, and for the
first six months did the best it could. but made
no successful attempt at systemizing matters.
In August its present superintendent, Mr..
Dooiey, took charge OF affairs and ser to work at
once at organizing and systemizng things. At
present all municipal and private charities work
in harmony with the bureau.
The bureau divides its work in three classes
Glass No. are those that are able-bodied and
apply for either work or charity. They are dis.
missed, as the bureau has but little work to give
and no charity for able-bodied men not encum.
bered with large and sick families. Glass No. 9
are those whose poverty and worthiness are so
obvious that no investigation is needed, and
they are at once referred to the proper charitable
organizations for relief and record of them is
kept Class No. are those whose cases need in.
vestigation. These are preliminarily fnyesu.
gated by the superintendent and their wants
are Immediately relieved il they are found
worthy and in need. and they are then referred
to their proper channels.
The income OF the bureau is from its members
=
to $40 Its expenses are rent, telephone, express
and messengers, about $50 per month; superin-
tendent's salary. $50 per month; total, $780,
The most important part of the bureau-in fact
the only charitable part there Is to it, because
no matter how ever much investigation may be
necessary 1t never appeascs hunger-is the
board of friendly visitors. That board was Or
eanzed several months ago, and it grew rap
idly until 1t now has about ninety mem bers.
Mrs. Charles f. Fishback IL its president
and the following ladies its vice presidents:
Mrs Bailey Gatzert, Mrs. Wallace Nutting, Mrs
John Leary, Mrs. G. III. Hebron, Mrs. L. F.
Blaine, Mrs. w. r. Ballard; secretary, Miss Eve
Ign Ayer.t.
The duties OF the friendly visitors are to take
charge each of one or more cases of poverty and
sickness and do all in their power to alleviate
suffering as far as possible. These ladies soon
found that hunger won't wait, and the cry for
an emergency fund became louder and louder
until the Ladies' Musical Club gave an enter
tainnent and realized $425 from the benefit
That money was placed in the hands of the
emergency fund committee, consisting OF Mrs.
W. H. Fl. Green, Mrs. E. F. Blaine and Mrs.
Jerome Catlin.
Every member of the board is allowed to ex-
pend a small amount for immediate want, and
the outlay il refunded on the approval of the
board at its meeting, which occurs every Mon
day. At present the board has Sill on hand. the
balance having beeL expended in the last two
months
An idea of the committees work can perhaps
best be furnished by mentioning what they
have done this week as a special Christmas ef-
fort They have procured and carried presents
to 900 poor children and to many adults 1t il
also well to state and state it at the request OF
the ladies, that the most pleasant task that 10
usually connected with the procurement OF
gifts has been almost entirely obvaeed by the
extreme generosity OF our citizens. All re-
sponded with unstinted hands to the request to
give. Aud as a result seven dozen pairs of
stockings have been filed, and over 800 PACK ages
of fruit, nuts and candies have been distributed
These bundles have been carried by the ladies'
to the houses Of the poor, and mGny a heart has
been gladdened more BY the kind words of the
earnest workers than the presenta / cannot
help but quote Mrs. Green's remark, who, after
telling me OF various troubles and experiences.
said "After all we are fully repaid for our work,
for this"-poinsing to the many bundles and gen
erai confusion of packing and bunduling-",s
true happiness" And she Is right would Ike
those OF my readers who gave not, who are in
capable OF thinking OF anything beyond SELF. to
ask themselves today when they are >harpeniny
their knives 10 carve the turkey: "Why should
eat q better dinner today than eat every day
What right have / to celebrate the birth of
Christi Am / q ChristanP Are my actions
Christlike?" Nay; not even human like, I'm
fortunately gluttony in many instances has
torn out the big American heart and replaced IL
with a large. diseased, dyspeptic stomach. How
ever, let'us be thankful for what the ladies have
done Tor the poor OF our city.
Clothing seems to be the great hobby with