Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-14
AID TO UNEMPLOYED.
A VALUABLE REPORT LAID BEFORE TEE
COMMISSIONERS YESTERDAY.
L VIII b Sent to tis Mayor ard Council-No
Committee 10 Be Appoiatsl-A Special Session
Of Council Probabls-Soma Suggestions
The Trades Assembly Meeting.

OF commissioners a communication was
received from Mrs. A. Wilson Kelley,
President Of the Woman's Union Benev-
client Society, asking for aid in furnish
ing coal 20 the poor, the paper being
similar TO the one addressed TO Council
Tuesday evening. The paper was re-
ceived and fled. and the Clerk was In
structed 70 explain the law on the sub
ject.
The report OF Messrs. McGregor and
Bates, the special committee 20 investi-
gate into the condition or the poor OF
the county, was read as follows:
''To the Presi5su, ana Members OF abe Board:
eve, your special committee appointed
% Investigate and recort ou the condition o.
the poor now receiving county aid, aud
also those now asking l0c the same. desire
20 make a statement % the Board, although
our work is not vet completed. We have
visited 100 families who ars hO1T being as
sisted by the Comm Issi0lCrs, leaving ABOUT
thirty families yet % see. The large ma
1orlty Of these we have yet 20 see. some
few. for reasons given. we think should not
receive anything more from the county,
but our main reason for making TINS report
az this time IS this. We mud a great many
destitute families, who, under our State
law, we couldn't assist, having husband,
son or brother at home, but temporarily
out OF work. 20 is a condition, not a theory
that c0ufr0uts as. These people are our
own Citizens-hard working, law abiding,
honorable citizens They are not paup5rs.
The most Of thom are, or have been, tax
payers. Organized benevolent societies
and churches are helping, but these can
not relieve them They want work, Olt
the Board cannot give them work. We
have no work but making and repairing
roads Ia the county, and this has % be
done by contract TO comply with the law
Besides, this work cannot be done IN the
winter Knowing, Gs we do, the SAD state
Of many in our midst, we believe our
Board should ask the City COun III 70 take
some action az oncs, by giving those men,
who are out OF work, and WHO nave iaml-
lies dependant on them for support, some
thing 70 do, III 10 is not more than TWO or
three days work in week.
Something must be done for their re-
lief 10 delay rs unWise, uukind and uu-
necessary; torefuse is criminal and breeds
discomfort These people have a claim on
Us that must not be Ignored, or lightly ap-
preciated.
1--WE do not desire 20 indicate to the CITY
Council any plan for relief but On5r Tor
their consideration that adopted oy some
other cities, viz: That a notice be publish
ed that 81 out Of work bs invited 30 the
CITY Building and register their names and
residences. Then 20 have a Committee TO
visit them in their homes, learn how many
they have az their homes dependent upon
them, whether or not they have been here
long enough 20 become citizens under the
law, and get all the facts, so the Commit
tee may be able 70 make report In accord
FnCe with the facts. Only those having
families dependent on them should be en-
This is not charity-it is simply justice.
Nv. J.. BATES.
81. p. MCGREGOR."
After the reading a motion was
sdopted that a certified copy Of the
ABOVE be sent 70 the Mayor of the city.
Mayor Caldwell was seen yesterday
As 90 the appointment OF the special
Ecommittee Of sixteen, called for Ia the
resolution offered To the First Branch
OF Council, Tuesday evening, by Mr..
Richards. and adopted by that body by
vote OF two ayes and no noes. The
MAYOR said he had not selected the com
mitteemen, and did not think be would
do so, as be was convinced the method
proposed in the resolution was not the
hest wav 90 afford the necessary relief.
He had been Informed, he SAID, that the
Board OF Commissioners had adopted a
report, TO be transmitted 20 the Mayor
and Council, and as soon as 10 was re-
Ceived, be would call special meeting
OF Council to take up the subject OF re-
lief. The Mayor is very strongly In
clined to the views expressed by mem
bsrs OF Council Tuesday night, and ad-
vocated in the REGISTER yesterday
morning, that the best method Of fur
nIsbing employment Is for the city to
appropriate money and undertake some
public work, az which all those in need
OF employment can engage throughout
the winter.
As will be seen from the action or the
Board OF Commissioners above, the
Mayor will probably receive the official
COPY OF the report of the Boards special
committee to-day, and it is likely that
be will act very promptly and call
meeting Of Council for Friday night.
Yesterday there were quite a number
OF expressions OF opinion By members
OF Council and citizens generally upon
the subject Of aHordlng relief to the
unemployed, and there was an uniVer-
sal sentiment in favor Of adopting the
idea Of undertaking public work
through an appropriation by Council
One advocate Of the plan, who pre-
ferred not 20 DO quoted, said that an APP
propriation OF even thirty thousand
dollars would give five hundred men
employment for ten weeks, ata dollar a
day, which would carry them through
80 the first Of March. ana that forty
thousand dollars would probably afford
work for all needing 10 up 20 the hrst OF
April or even beyond, II there vas much
very cold weather. This would Keep
starvation and want from many door
mt that much more money 10 circulation
for the necessarjes oil life, and be a good
thing all around. This gentleman sug-
Rssts the grading OF thu extension or
ChaDllne street, from Tenth north 70
Seventh or 20 u connection with the
National road, north Of Seventh, as
one Of the things az which q hundred
or more men could work all winter; the
grading of Bow street, around the hilh
betwoen Baker street and the Fulton
line. as another; tho grading OF streets
IN the pulfeASA9 e@et-'N~' -
public work, the grading Of streets in
the Caldwelre run district as another,
while many hundred loads Of limestone
might be broken for use on the streets
on the Island, now deep In mud.
Fx-Sherif SteenrOd thought a needed
pnblic work, aud one which would en-
plov several hundred men through the
winter would be the starting OF the
proposed tunnel through the hill oppo-
site the east end of Sixteenth street.
He said be would give the city hve or