Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-28

which led 10 the concert being given for
| the relief Of the poor by the Marine Band.
He said that the understanding was that
| the money SO raised should be disbursed
through the police, and the tickets were
| sold largely by members of the force. The
| statement of the agency through which the
| money was to be expended was made by
the committee OF newspaper men appointed
to take charge of the arrangements for the
concert and ii was SO published in the
| newspapers. He did not mean to assert
that the disbursement through the police,
Independent of all supervision by this CEN
trail committee, was the best disposition
that could be made of the money. He
could also understand that complica-
tons were likely to arise from having
separate sources of charitable relief But
those were not points at issue. His
position on this question was that ow-
ing to the general understanding when the
concert was gotten up he did not feel like
going to the Commissioners to argue with
| them in order to induce them to turn over
this fund to the central committee to be
disbursed through any other agency than
| the police.
MISS Loring said that she did not think
| the committee ought to ask II.
Inc chairman observed that as he under
stood II the purpose of the committee in
comforting with the Commissioners would
be to ascertain what funds in the hands OF
work of relief. There were some balances
| lert of funds intrusted to the Commission
ers and 1t would be necessary to get a
statement from the District auditor. There
was a remnant of the ball fund and the
Johnstown flood fund and there was also
the concert fund. The facts could be as
certained. That was all he thought was in
tended
This prompted Judge Cole to suggest the
appointment of committee of three Of
which the chair should be a member, to
confer with the Commissioners on this
| subject.
Col. Tracey begged to be excused. as he
would be out of the city.
The original motion was so amended as
| to read that the committee on means of
| raising funds confer with the Commission
ers and ascertain the facts to all the
funds that are now available for the use
| of the committee.
With this understanding Mr.. Moves said
| that he had no objections to this duty be-
| ing assigned to the committee The reso-
luton as amended was adopted.
Existing Charitable Agencies.
On motion Of Mr.. L. s. Emery it was re-
solved that all cases for relief brought to
| the attention of the central committee be
referred to the various agencies mentioned
| in the report of the committee until such a
| time as the organization of the committee
| is further completed.
The proposition of Mr.. w. w. Wright to
donate to the committee wood at Gunston,
| on the Potomac river, If they could find
means to bring II to the city, had been
referred to Mr.. j. Harrison Johnson by Sec
rotary Somerville. Mr. johnson reported
that he had a vessel to bring the wood to
the city. but not knowing whether the wood
was on the beach or on the wharf he had
written for Information and was awaiting a
reply. In the former case lighter would
be needed.
Mr.. Wolf spoke of the need OF a perma-
nent organization for charitable relief so
that when each year the emergency arose
the machinery would be in readiness for
service. He suggested the appointment OF a
committee of five to report a plan of per-
manent organization. 1t was decided that
such committee be appointed at the next
meeting.
simplicity in organization, in order to
make the work of relief effective. He
thought that Ii would be better, instead of
having committee Of fifty. as suggested in
the report, that the city be divided into
small sections, perhaps one hundred each
section to be in charge Of a chairman, who
would appoint persons to canvass all the
residents In that subdivision for contrfbu-
tons. and also to report cases needing help
This would be a cheap method of learning
the condition Of the people throughout the
District. and the contributions thus gather
ed In would form fund that could be used
adopted. there would be no need of sub
committees OF the central committee and
the entire method would be much simpler
MI Emery commented on the fact that
the publication of the reports of the COM
mittees on raising and distributing funds
would let the public know that this commit
tee did not intend to establish Headquarters
from which to dispense relief, but that the
work would be done through the agencies
mentioned. good many people had confus-
ed IDEAS on the subject, and he had been ask
ed when the committee was going TO estab-
hsh headquarters. He referred to the numer-
Gus Applications for assistance in paving
rent. He thought that this phase of relief in.
VOWED most serious questions 1t is impos-
sible to meet such demands he said with
any ordinary fund. What is done in this
direction must be conservative In fact too
great care cannot be exercised i'm the dis
bursement of relief funds Some years ago
the sum of $4,000 was expended here in six
weeks, when, with economical measures
half that amount would have done as much
good.
Work for the Idle.
An inquiry was made by Mr. Wolf as to
whether anything was being done by the
Commissioners under the recent act which
authorized the extension of North CAPITOL
street, as this would furnish needed worl,
He thought that if nothing was being done
In this direction, then a committee should
be appointed to see that Congress granted
some aid.
The chair said that he believed the Com
missioners would do something in regard to
work on this street, and at once As to
presenting the matter to Congress- the
chair said that the committee of FIVE ap-
pointed at the public meeting had seen Mr.
Dockery, and arranged with him for a con-
ference on January in regard to an ap-
preparation Oh SoJ,UOO.
a suggestion was made by Mr. Somer-
Vile that the board of governors of the
Columbia Athletic Club be conferred with
relative to arranging for a foot ball match
on New Year day, the proceeds to be for
the benefit of the poor fund. II was con-
Guided that the time was too short to make
the necessary arrangements.
On motion of Mr.. Noyes the chairman
was authorized to appoint an auditing COM
mittee of three.
The committee then adjourned, to meet
at the same place next Tuesday at o'clock