Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-25
SYSTEMATIC RELIEF
The Central Citizens Committee Hold q
Meeting and Organize
Committees Appointed to Formulate
Active WOrk-Mercantile Basis.

There Is nothing like a good start" says
someone somewhere. speaking of enterprises.
"A good start" he goes on, lis half the
battle"
This remark is particularly true Of charit-
able movements and most especially Is 1t
applicable to the organization Of the COM
mittee Of fifteen appointed by the District
Commissioners to superintend the distribu-
ton of goods to the poor Of Washington,
which occurred Saturday afternoon at the
Post building. There were present Mrs. J.
w. Babson. Miss Harriet Loring, Justice c.
c. Cole. Mr.. Lawrence Gardner. Mr.. John
F. Cook, Mr.. b. H. Warner, Mr.. Theodore
w. Noyes, DR.. l.. w. Richie, Mr.. ]. Harri-
son Johnson. Mr.. Simon Wolf. Mr.. John G.
Slater, Mr.. l.. S. Emery. Mr.. James w.
Somerville, Mr.. Beriah wilkins and Col.
John Tracey. superintendent of charities.
On motion of Mr.. Warner, Mr.. Gardner
took the chair as temporary president. and
MIR. Emery was chosen temporary secretary.
MIR. NOyes' Suggestion.
A discussion arose as to the best means
of raising funds for the relief Of the poor,
and Mr.. T. w. Noyes said that though in
his opinion the three daily papers are the
best means Of raising the revenue. they
could hardly gather such a fund as $50, 600,
as Mr.. Simon Wolf had hoped. He believed
the best course the committee could pursue
would be to secure periodical subscriptions
from employees, their clerks, and other wage
earners. He explained that this plan, which
had been worked successfully here several
years ago, was to get persons to pledge
themselves to subscribe a small amount
weekly or monthly. or at other regular
PERIODS to common charitable fund. The
amount In each individual case would. of
course. be small. but in the aggregate would
create q handsome total
Mr.. wilkins approved the idea, but said
II would be better to inaugurate a general
movement among those who We're enjoying
the blessings or labor. He was sure every
man who mad the comforts that employ
ment begot would cheerfully pledge himself
to give a small portion of his income for the
sustenance OF his less fortunate fellows.
Officers Chosen.
Mr.. Lawrence Gardner was elected per-
manent chairman. but declined the office,
and Col. Tracey was chosen. Miss Harriet
b. Loring was elected vice chairman, Mr..
James W. Somerville was chosen secretary
upon Mr.. Emery's declination, and MIR.
Beriah Wilkins, treasurer.
Upon the suggestion Of Mr.. Warner, a
committee for the raising OF FUNDS was ap-
pointed, consisting of Messrs. Noyes, VIII
klns ana Woif Col. Tracey presented a
series OF resolutions Requesting the CO.
operation of Maj. Moore and his men in
mitigating the distress among the Door: ASK
ing the various homes and relief organlza-
lions In the District having spare accom-
modations. to send to the committee in
formation as to the number of additional 1
inmates they can care for, and Of what sex.
age ana class, and at what rate per day. or
week, they can accommodate such inmates
as may be assigned to them by the commit
Tee. other paragraphs in the resolution re-
Quested the benevolent organizations of the
CITY 10 cooperate with the committee and
urged the physicians to the poor to report
cases OF urgent need at once to the proper
members.
Upon the suggestion Of Mr.. Warner. a
committee, consisting Of Col Tracey Miss
Loring. Mr.. Cook. Mr.. Emery and Mr.. Gard
Fer was appointed to formulate a plan for
tne distribution of the goods and funds. MIR.
Gardner was chosen chairman.
The Next Meeting.
These subcommittee will go at once to
work SO that they may report to the next
meeting OF the general committee, which is
to be held next Wednesday at 4 O'Clock at
the Post building. Meanwhile ali contribu-
tons to the fund may be sent to Mr.. Will
kins. at the office of the Post, while all COM
munications in regard to plans for relief
anu lists or deserving persons should be sent
10 MI. SomerVlile at committee Headquarters
In a brief preliminary talk between the
members OF the committee on SATURDAY il
was developed that there would be an effort
10 conduct the affairs of this movement on
strictly mercantile basis, and that So far
as possible the supplies tnat may be pur-
CHASED VIII be bought at wholesale rates
and distributed in retail lots. IN this way
much more can be obtained for the money
at nand, ana many more families relieved
Mr.. w. w. Wright has offered a boa TOAD
OF wood to the committee IL they will fur
nish the means OF bringing 1t to the city,
~ Is on the river bank at Gunston.