The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-22
PLANNING To AID THE POOR.
TWo NOTIBtE MEETINGS THAT VERB
HELD LAST EVENING.

One Presidsd Oysr by President Low -
Coiun,bin College. tho Other by Dr. Cote
They Represented widsiy Differing Eis-
u.snt., but Both Admitted that Something
Must Be Done to Help the Unemployed.
President Seth Low OF Columbia College
presided at a somewhat remarkable meeting
held last night in the Assembly hall OF the
United Charities building at Fourth avenue
and Twenty-second street. Several days ago
the call for this meeting was sent to q number
Of wealthy men. ministers. priests. and persons
who are Interested In work among the poor on
tho east side.
The purpose OF the meeting. according to
tho call. was to discuss the widespread suffer-
ing among the poor in this city now. and to
devise immediate practical steps toward
diminishing the suffering among those who
are willing TO work but cannot get employ
ment.
In response to these calls about 900 men
and women who are in various ways interested
in the subject met.
President Low suggested that Immediate
and generous action was needed. and no called
upon DR.. stanton Colt to tell something Of the
actual state OF affairs.
DR.. Colt read a report made by an investt-
eating committee from the college aud univer-
sity settlements. They visited 600 families
in Hester. Delaney. Livingston. aud Ludlow
streets. and did not select extreme cases-
Most OF these families were Russian Polish.
and Austrian Jews with u few Germans and
Irish.
This committee found that forty per cent. Of
the wage earners Of these families were out OF
work. Some OF them had been unemployed
since last spring. Many OF tho thrifty Ger
mans told the committee that they had never
before known want Now some OF them were
starving. They did not want charity. but
work. The pawnbrokers In these neighbour
hoods said that they did u big business
during the summer. but for the past
two months their business had dropped.
People had nothing more to pawn. The Presi-
dent Of tho Bowery Savings Bank said
that an unprecedented number OF deposits had
been withdrawn during the mast two months.
In many OF the tcne mont houses visited by tho
committee 1t was found that there were no
nres.
done toward giving n few Of those poople work.
tailor shop had been hired from contractor
and tickets eis have been issued through the
en,y rs y. d"y Is paa Sna INK tssrs
are flty-ioGr men and women employed in
this tailor shop, and it is proposed to open an
other one at one ~.
number of.unempiOycd wage earners whom he
fonpd In tho tenement houses that he visited.
These people want work not charity. II
you open free SOUP Kitchens and free bread
stands you VIII bring down on us class Ok
some EXPERT testimony as 10 the destitution
Soun me Woman With the college
settlement. she said that they now had over
81 day. an and they were the class OF men who
never had been forced to "rpiy for h"'p In this
"Thers ia the promise" said Mr.. ". 4.
Dodge. of the saddest winter We have ever
known. New York has never boen ,bshind in
hnR alta FtfU Ina In nlA hA nftI ~ n
are better and nicer than we know. npd they
are many rich people who are ready to give,
End literally tGsy can "a Gny give Tis ely
the unemployed wage earners OF those dis
tricts work"
dent Low should have the power to appoint
committee 70 raise, and have charge Of the
discussion thus lar had been about the east
side poor. and Monslgn0r Farley. IN ascending
was lust as much 10 need OF assistance as the
President Low read a letter from Archbishop
Corrigan. expressing his sympathy with the
work proposed.
II have been" said Father Ducey. for four
to-ni.htl tho pastor o. n fashionable church"
ana with that Introduction he put IN plea for
OF work and who had 10 keep up appearapceA-
Felix, Alter moved tha! u committee DO an
pointcd TO waIt upon the Mayor and urge tnnt
the city do as much vi lie authorized work
now rs WAS possible.
President Low said he was not prepared 10
name the committees to take charge OF this
work. as he wanted TO take time for
IL. lie thought. however. that monry
should be raised at once. and he
pn0ppIn nS as Finance |o% rns,.iSSt W;
the Filth Avenue Bank, Mr. 7. T., ltyRn.
Jacob III. Schin. Charles y. smith. AMI James
Speyer. This committee Will devise means
for raising money, and tho other committees
will be announced in IL daY or two.
DR. stanton CoitS's conference OF all the fao-
tions OF the different labor organizations -
New York met last night in the Nelghborhood
Guild, ~ Delaney street. DIR. Colt proposed
that they get up monster petition asking the
Legislature to Open bureaus OF labor Statistics.
aud asking all the city departments to Increase
their forces Of workmen.
Willmm McSair thought they ought not TO
petition the Mayor They ought 10 get up
great meeting OF the unemployed worElngmen
and march them to the ity Hall and demand
work. Nobody endorsed tine plen.
1t was decided finally to adopt the petition
plan and issue u call for meeting next Thurs
day A committee OF ten. representing all the
factions. was Rppointedto Issue the call and
take charge OF matters.