Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-28
THE WORK OF RELIEF
Meeting of the Central Relief Com
mittee of Citizens.
TIE PLAN OF RAISING FUNDS ADOPTED
How the Money Obtained is to Be
Distributed.
P PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS

The second meeting Of the fifteen citizens
appointed some ten days ago by the District
commissioners In response to a resolution
adopted at q public mass meeting of citi-
zens. to consider measures OF relief for the
poor of the city, was held yesterday after
noon In the Post building. All but three
members of the central relief committee,
who were Messrs b. H. Warner, Lawrence
Gardner and John G. Slater, were present,
and the absence of these three was account
ed for by the chairman, Col. John Tracey.
The roll. as called by the secretary of the
committee, James w. Somerville, was an
swered by the following: J. Harrison John
son, Mrs. ]. w. Babson, L. s. Emery. John
F. Cook. Judge c. C. Cole. Dr. M. W. Ritchie.
Miss Harriet B. Loring. 7. w. Noyes,
Simon Wolf and Beriah wilkins.
A number of communications were read
by the secretary. The committee was in
formed by w. H. Dunn. in charge of the
night lodging house on 18th street. that the
house is open to all male residents of the
District. At no time during the present
month has the house been full and. on an
average that sixteen more persons could be
accommodated. He proposes to saw and
split, free of cost. the wood that has been
offered to the committee by Mr.. Wright.
The Newsboys Home and Aid Society state
that they are able to furnish accommoda-
lions for twenty boys and six girls more
than they now have. Prof. Du Shane Glow
ard proffered his own services and those Of
choir OF twenty-five picked singers for a
musical service to be given in the various
churches on the afternoons Of Sunday. the
collection to be for the benefit Of the poor.
The first service of the kind was given in
the First Presbyterian Church, 4 IL street,
last Sunday afternoon. This proposition was
referred to the committee on the means of
raising funds.
Lieut.. Vernon of the fourth precinct stated
in a letter that sixty per cent of the 1900
colored people in the precinct are seeking
relief.
A Bill for Hall Rent.
A bill for SO for the rent of the Build
ers' Exchange Hall on the occasion of hold
ing the public mass meeting had been sent
to Rev. DR.. Sunderland. and by him referred
to Commissioner Ross The latter trans
mitted the bill to the committee. and after
some discussion 1t was referred to the au-
diting committee when it is appointed
Before this conclusion was reached Mr..
Wolf had expressed surprise that such a bill
should be presented at all. 1t was the first
time in his experience In public work of
this character that such an item of expense
was, made ma charge on the money contrib
be referred to the District Commissioners.
They had an emergency fund they could
draw from. Finally Mr.. Noyes suggestion
of the reference of the matter to an audit
ing committee. to be appointed, was adopted.
An important report was then read by Mr..
Noyes, the chairman of the committee. con-
sisting> of Messrs. T. w. Noyes, Beriah Will
kins and s. Wolf. and it was unanimously
approved.
To Raise Funds.
The report was as follows:
The committee to consider and report
means of raising funds and securing sup
plies for distribution for charitable purposes
by the Central Relief Committee of the
District of Columbia during this winter re-
commends as follows:
First That the daily newspapers of the
city be requested to act as collection agents
of the committee.
Second. That committee of fifty persons
be appointed to canvass systematically for
subscriptions both of money and supplies
especially among the business men of the
city: that this committee shall be instructed
to enlarge its membership if such action be
found necessary, sufficiently to permit the
appointment from its number of subcommit-
tees of three members Including in each
case at least one LADY, from each of the dis
| tricts into which 1t may be found expedient
to divide the city. The duty of these SUBJ
committees shall be to solicit contributions
other than money, in their respective dis
tricts. requesting, for instance, every coal
dealer to donate coal and deliver the same,
every baker to donate bread tickets, every
person dealing in such commodities to do
nate bed clothes and other clothing, every
grocer to donate meats and provisions, such
as flour, canned fruit, &c, and every flour
dealer and commission merchant to donate
flour, meal, potatoes or other vegetables;
that in appointing the other members of
this canvassing committee of fifty per-
sons care be taken to provide for
special canvassing of the different pro-
LESSONS and occupations by members
persons who, In each case. can make the
special and immediate efforts be made to
secure money contributions from corpora
tions, including banks and from secret or
CARNATIONS. such as Masons Odd Fellows
Knights of Pythias, Grand Army of the Re-
public, Elks. Typographical Union. and 9TH
er labor organizations, by appropriations
from their respective treasures.
system of Canvass.
Third, that the homes, the government
departments and the employees of large bust
ness establishments like the street railways,
be canvassed through the submission to each
person of a printed pledge to contribute
some amount monthly during the months of
January, February and March; that these
pledges be distributed through the school
children, police and in the shape of coupons