Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-12
DOOR-TO-DOOR BEGGING.
A Committee Sends a Letter on tn
Subject to the Commissioners.

Subject to the COmmfs siOners.
At a recent meeting of the official board
of the Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal
Church, committee, composed of Messrs.
NJ. G. Emery and Rev. DR.. Hugh Johnston.
were appointed to confer with the Comnis-
sioners on the matter Of begging from door
to door.
The committee accordingly sent the fol-
lowing letter to the Commissioners. which
was received by them yesterday:
LAT the last meeting of the official board
Of the Metropolitan Methodist Church the
undersigned were appointed a committee to
confer with you. and respectfully solicit
that some steps be taken to prevent the
begging from door to door that has become
SO common throughout the city.
1--WE understand that there is an ordinance
against begging on the streets; 5ut We do
not know that 1t Is contrary to beg from
house to house. In the present distress this
is threatening to become an intolera BILE
nuisance, especially to those who are char
itably disposed. 1t seems to us that some
action should be taken in this matter. both
In the interests of the citizens and OF the
deserving poor. To receive strangers into
the house and dispense food to them Is
often dangerous, as tramps may commit all
sorts Of depredations.
ITO give money at the door Is generally
waste Of resources. Tor more than one
half Of those who solicit In this way are
frauds. and do not deserve support. ihis
promiscuous giving is the least ef1cacious
way OF relieving suffering. Mere euio-
tional philanthropy may do more harm than
good. The only proper charity Is OF a kind
that not only pities poverty, but studies IT,
and strikes at the root OF evil by trying TO
remove the cause. 1t has been ascertained
by tens of thousands of cases that out OF
persons seeking relief p per cent are Ut
terly unworthy. 40 per cent need work
rather than relief. % per cent need only
temporary alienation and about 10 per cent
need continuous relief
Another danger in giving charity Is OF
overlapping the shiftless and wholly I'M
worthy going from church to church, from
charitable association to charitable asso-
citation, pulling all the strings. Herein lies
the value of the Associated Charities. Such
an organization should prevent overlap
ping and expose all impostors.
1--WE would most respectfully suggest trat
work of some kind be provided for the
really INDECENT who are able and willing to
work. but cannot find II for themselves.
ALSO that some connection be established
with say, the Associated Charities, so that
the case of every applicant for assistance
shall be promptly and fully inquired into
With a staff of hundred or more volun-
teer visitors, ready to go from house to
house, there need be no difficulty III finding
out who are in absolute restitution.
Let an assurance be given to the public
that proper assistance. whenever 1t IL jus
titled will be rendered. and that no one IN
the city need suffer from hunger or cold
and they would gladly turn their gifts into
this channel. Mendicancy should be sup
pressed. We do not want the paupertZine
effects which come from public charity
But the poor we have always with Us,
and there is needed all the money which the
charitably disposed are willing 20 give
supplemented by public aid. Let public ant
private charity be united to give where II
| Is most needed"