The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-14
WORK OF SCIENTIFIC CHARITY.
Tho Bureau Aims to Help Real Need
and Discourage Paunerism.

Tho Bureau Aims to Help Real Need
and Discourage Pauperism.
T. R. Fleming, acting for the directors of the
bureau of associated charities, has addressed
the following statement the public, giving an
explanation of scientific charity and ans wering
some objections which have been made to the
methods of work of the bureau:
Scientific charity demands: First, the thor
ough investigation OF all applicants for relief;
second, that the relief given shall not tend to be
a cause of continued pauperism third, hearty
cooperation OF every relief-giving agency,
which is made possible only by registration OF
every application in q central office; fourth, the
volunteer work of friendly visitors, keeping
watch over poor people to guide and help them
to self help.
This plan OF organization is in active opera
ton in over eighty cities in the United States,
causing great reduction of pauperism. So eff
fective have been its results that the time will
come when pauperism will exist only as a re-
cord of the past, SO it is predicted. The past
few years this method has reduced pauperism
in Buffalo one-half, for example.
Objections TO the bureau coma entirely from
those uninformed as to its aims According to
their idea there Is but one form Of charity and
that is relieving starvation, or clothing the
naked. They do not know that all authorities
agree that this Interpretation of charity has a
most demoralizing and pernicious effect; that
1t fosters and increases pauperism instead OF
decreasing it. Unframed, impulsive aims be-
slowed without investigation by 'charitably
inclined people make begging far more profit
tific charity advises all to absolutely restrain
from alms-giving unless work Is given in
turn, or where the conditions of destitution are
absolutely known. The evil of impulsive aims
giving may be illustrated by citing a case, one
OF many, known to the directors OF the bureau.
Several kiud-hearted people in this town are
giving small coins to an old man OF remarkable
intelligence and cunning, one who has seen
better days, but who has degenerated into
dead-beat of the very worst type. For ten years
he has been professional tramp; has been
trpn fad Inv has ro-
turned. The evil in giving this beggar aims lies
in the fact that he has family struggling to
take care of itself which he is continually perse-
cutting. Last week the family of four were
obliged to leave their home and hide themselves
from him.
ii the people get into the habit Of refusing to
understand the importance of maintaining an
office where all cases can be referred and In
vestigated.
Another objection made is: "Too much red
tape; while you are investigating, family may
be starving To illustrate. a man rushed into
the office very much excited to report a case Of
actual starvation. When be was told that it
would have to be investigated before relief
could be given, he went away angry, saying he
would not support such an institution. We
learned that the family were chronic beggars,
adopts in arousing sympathy and providing for
themselves have looked up the records of ex-
perience regarding these "urgent cases." and
the conclusion is that starvation cases are
more likely to arise where We have trained the
poor to look for instantaneous help than where
they rely on their own forethought"
The directors of the bureau find their labors
no sinecure. They devote one afternoon each
week to the work. 1t is their effort to make the
relief given as permanent and remedical as
possible With the active cooperation of the
city board of public works and the mayor work
has been given to many laborers with large
families, W no have been either on the verge OF
starvation or actually receiving aid from chari-
table agencies. The directors are convinced
that it is Of vital Importance that the churches
cooperate with the bureau in order that more
intimate relationship be established with the
needy and dependent and in order that effective
and permanent benefit will result. 1t is not
money that is so much needed. it Ia woodwork
undertaken by a combination OF workers,
guided by the desire to promote the welfare of
humanity. The PosT-INTELLIGENCER published
last sunday letter from DIR. Parkhurst upon
this subject which should have wide reading.