Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-13
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
PUBLIC AID TO TIE UNEMPLOYED DISCUSSED
IN COUNCIL, LAST NIGHT.
A Message From the Mayor on the Subject Which
ProYOkss Long Discussion and Plan
Of "How Not to Do It"

In the First Branch Of Council, last
evening, His Honor Mayor Caldwell,
after the regular business had Teen dis
| posed Of, made an address to the mem
bers, calling attention to the wide.
spread distress among certain classes OF
worklngmen and poor people generally
throughout the city, and concluded by
submitting a message upon the subject,
in which he set forth, as he said, in a
somewhat hurried and crude manner,
such plans as had suggested themselves
to him for the relief Of those actually
in want.
The matter at once attracted the
earnest attention Of all present, and
was the subject Of long debate, end
ing in the adoption Of resolution,
offered by Mr.. Richards, by vote OF
two ayes and and no noes, authorizing
the Mayer to appoint special Com
mittee Of sixteen to call mass meeting
of citizens to consider the prevailing
distress. This wasn't at all what the
majority of the members wanted, they
much preferring direct action by Coun-
| ell, at special session, through an
immediate appropriation OF money, out
| of the funds of 1894, TO be reimbursed
by an issue OF bonds later, this money
| to be expended under the direction OF
/ the Committee on Streets, Alleys and
/ Grades, or a special Committee, in pro-
viding employment to all needy citizens,
at say dollar day of eight hours. A
number OF objections to the mass meet
/ ing idea were made, but as Mr.. Rich
ards motion was before the house men,
bers aid not care to vote against 1t, and
4 IL went through in the manner above
stated. In addressing Council His
Honor said
GENTLEMEN: had intended to
| have laid communication before Coun-
ell. in the Second Branch, this evening,
| but on looking for IL after my arrival,
| discovered that l had inadvertently
! burned it, instead OF another worthless
paper. The subject was the prevailing
distress in this city. l AN called upon
every day. and several times every day,
for relief for people who are in
absolute want. These men are
hearty and able-bodied men, whom
| the Board OF Commissioners are not al
| lowed, by law, to relieve. They can't
get work, and their families are suffer
ing. In some Of the cases l have m ade
Investigations, and l know the facts.
! These people have been with US in the
past in our prosperity, and they are
with US now in our adversely, and we
should stand by them. There is any
amount of work to do, both public and
+ private. The Board of Public Works
has shut down on the opening OF streets
for the laying OF sewers, ETC., under
their rules. That could be set aside
and much work afforded, and the
streets and alleys of the city should
and could be thoroughly cleaned. Then,
In the line OF private work, there Is
scarcely man In this house but could
hud some labor for these idle men.
Something must be done.
''In addition to the communication
, which l had expected to lay before
Council, l have another, which was to
follow 1t, including some ideas OF what
should be done, and how IL should be
done. / should like MIR. Do0bihs or
some other gentleman to take it, and
see what could be done in that line, or
will have the paper read by the Clerk.
Work is what these idle men want. l
am opposed to the giving Of charity.
There is nothing so demUralizing as a
public soup house, for instance. Any
charity which dispenses aid without
labor is misleading.
The Clerk then read as follows:-
"Any charity which dispense aid
without investigation is instructed.
Two things we need in this city this
winter: One is some provision by which
work may be given to those who are
out OF work, the other is some system
by which she charities Of the city may
/ be properly disbursed with the coroper-
alton Of many good citizens who would
gladly aid the needy and worthy to
much work that might be found in ex-
change for such aid.
From PittsOurg and from other sour
ces Of advice I respectfully recommend
that the Council appoint a committee
of their own members representing
each ward, said committee shall appoint
other citizens of their respective
wards to serve with them as
ward committee TO investigate and re-
port needy and worthy applications for
relief by means of employment. Fur
Their, that the Council appoint gener-
Gus relief committee from their own
bodies and Of active, good citizens who
would be willing to give some time to
doing good work. Said committee to
meet and formulate . general plan OF
relief in detail
1.-The following plan has been sug-
gested: That there be prepared 5000,
or as many more tickets as may be
needed, each ticket being good for eight
meals at 1919 cents each or 81 in neces-
sary staple provisions, said tickes to be
given for any days work performed by
any worthy applicant for employment
al the rate of ticket for days work.
The said tickets TO be sold to the city
or TO individuals at the rate OF one dol
lar each, to be used by them 10 worthy
charity or for payment Of employment
when It can be furnished TO applicants.
Application for employment to be made
TO the general relief committee or any
member thereof. The name and resi-
dence OF the applicant to be forthwith
reported to the ward committee where
applicant lives for investigation and re-
port, IL the report is favorable the ap.
plicant to be given work and TO receive
one ticket for each days work OF eight
/ hours.
1T will be necessary for the commit
tee TO establish in a central location an
eating house and store room supplied
with necessary staples, not difficult fol
earnest men to handle, backed
| by the city and corporation Of citizens.