Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-20
Plans For Relief Made at the Citi.
zens' Meeting.
CONGRESS URGED TO act PROMPTLY
And Provide Work For the Un-
employed on Public Roads.
A RELIEF FUND STARTED.

IMAM IO,VVO 1amllleS In want. hungry and
cold from lack OF food and clothing"
That was the statement made by a re-
sponsible citizen last evening at the meeting
OF citizens at the Builders Exchange Hall.
called by the District Commissioners for the
purpose of devising means for the relief of
the suffering poor of the District While
the attendance was not so large as 1t might
have been, yet 1t was thoroughly repre-
sentative meeting, and measures were adopt
ed which win undoubtedly go far to relieve
the great distress which now prevails
throughout the District.
Many citizens. well known for their actiy-
ity in charitable and other public move
ments, were present, and all seemed to rec
ognize the necessity for prompt measures
The meeting approved and appointed a COM
mittee to urge the immediate appropriation
OF $53.OOO asked by the Commissioners for
improvements OF suburban roads and
streets, in order to give work to the unem-
ployed residents of the District; provided
Tor the appointment Of a general committee
to disburse funds raised by public subscrtp-
ton for the relief of the poor, and started
a fund on the spot by receiving the sub
scriptions made by q number of citizens
present
Mr.. Ross Address,
District Commissioner John W Ross called
the meeting to order and explained the pur-
pose for which those present had been
called together. There was no locality. he
said, more liberal than the District of Co.
iumbia- Its people had shown that on sew
eral notable occasions. Hence the people
OF the District only needed to know that
distress existed to call forth a hearty re-
sponse That wide and unusual distress I'M
falxr
the District was too true. The distress ex-
isted not only among those who might be
Sald 10 be always impoverished, but also
among the laboring classes, comprising men
VINO hao never before been compelled to
ask ald The District Commissioners had
deemed 1t proper to call a meeting of the
cltizens 70 provide some plan, and in a way
also the means for alternating the existing
sunerins- There should be some systematic
plan adopted, one which would furnish the
unemployed with work. Men and women
were asking for aid who could not be sus-
pected OF idleness or of deceit. Should Con-
gress pass the appropriation the unem-
pioyed could be given work and thereby
saved the humiliation OF asking charity A
committee had appeared before the Senate
District committee and had been Informed
mat the committee was heartily in favor of
the measure but 1t had been learned later
that the appropriation committee was the
proper one to appear before.
In response to an inquiry of the Rev. Mr..
Domer MIR. Emery stated that the amount
suggested would be adequate for the pres
ent at least.
Engineer Commissioner Powell explained
that the District Commissioners had recon-
mended an appropriation of $53, 900. speci-
flying the work upon which it would be ex-
pended, and asking that II be appropriated
In advance of next years appropriations.
Mr.; Domer having moved to make the
APPROPRIATION $53,OOO Mr.. Simon Wolf re-
marked that 1t was all very well to adopt
me recommendations of the Commissioners
but Congress should know what was need
those present had been called together for
the purpose Of acting INDEPENDENTLY of Com
eress. Hs thought that the citizens of
he put in the attitude Of asking Congress
ror aid. At the present there were 1OnNO
families bore needing assistance What
was needed was house-to-house visitation
and only a committee of citizens cou,d
make such a one. He proposed the an
nointnrent ~ a committee to be composed of
Mr.. Charles e Miller said he desired n
remind his friends that Cong ress was really
the council of the District and he consi5-
cred II wise and proper to ask that BODY
70 render the aid mentioned. More than
mat, the improvements were needed and
the working Deople should he given ernpIoy-
ment. The laboring classes of the District
asked for employment. not for charity.
DR.. Sunderland Presides.
Commissioner Ross then called for the
nomination of some one for chairman and
the Rev. DR.. Byron Sunderland was unanf-
mously chosen. In taking the chair DR..
Sunderland said that 1t was a condition
and not theory which confronted the peo-
pie of the District. 1t seemed that the Dis
trlct, not unlike the rest of the land was
sharing at this time in paralysis which at
times afflicted and distressed humanity in
the midst of the stalwart civilization of
the age. Distress existed to an alarming
rh
no lack of generosity or lack of heart He
nau never known so distre ssing a situa-
ton. such widespread distress was some
thing new to the people of the District
But IT existed as well throughout the coun-
try. The local charitable organizations
were doing all they possibly could, and it
was not the object of the meeting to dis
parage in the least any one of them but
merely to assist them. That was the pur-
pose of the m Getting, and he therefore called
for such suggestions as work toward such
an end.
Mr.. NJ. 1. Weller having. on the motion of
Commissioner Ross, been unanimously
elected secretary of the meeting Mr. L.
Emery offered the following resolution:
In view. of the fact that an unusually
large number of our citizens are out of
employment and are suffering in conse-
quence thereof. be 1t resolved that a COM
mittee OF five be appointed by the chair to
urge congressional appropriation of $o5. 600
to be expended under the direction Of the
Commissioners of the District upon the
streets. alleys and other public works &c
may be designated by them to furnish
employment to the unemployed laborers
who are citizens of the District
He offered also a resolution providing in
case OF failure to secure the APPROXIMATION
the committee named arrange TO nav for
the work proposed out of funds subscribed
by citizens.
Mr.. Emery stated that he offered the
resolution because he knew that the crisis
had come. There was an unusualIv la roe
number of citizens unemployed now who
hsa heretofore always been at work.
MT. A x. Duvall thought both Mr. Wolf
ana Mr.. Emery were right. The meeting
was called for action. and no time should
De lost In doing something There were
two classes to assist, the laboring class ana
that class Of unfortunates who wouId starva
before they would allow their wants To no
come known. The people Of the District
had perfect right to ask Congress To as
s1st their needy and suffering poor The
people of the District had a perfect RIGHT
to their own money but unfortunately
they We're compelled to go to Congress for
permission to expend ii, even though In
ever so worthy a cause. He would ask
congress for the appropriation and he
would appotnt the committee of citizens
Inc distress was appalling and no time
should be lost in alleviating it,
A General Discussion.
The resolutions gave rise to quite a long
discussion. during which 1t was suggested
that were the table scraps from the big
hotels and other like establishments saved
ana kept clean and pure, as they should be,