Morning journal and courier., 1893-12-15
EXAGGERATED REPORTS

Concerning The Distress and Destitu-
 ton in the City Cause Many old
 Founders to Come Around for Aid
 Discussion at the Monthly Meeting
 of the Board of Directors of the Or-
 ganiZed Car1tfes-WhaI Agent Pres-
 ton Says Concerning the Situation.
 The regular monthly meeting of the board of directors of the Organized Chsri- ties was held yesterday afternoon and was attended by about twenty members. The meeting was devoted principally to the dis cussion of the present situation among the poor of the city. It seemed to be the sense of the meeting that there was not near as much actual destitution ss the reports which have been spread abroad would make people believe. All the unworthy cases that the association has been dealing with for years are now coming up again for consideration, as they hear of the money that is being raised to aid those who are suffering and they are all coming around to get their share. This money will be diverted from its proper channels and those who should get 1t will fail to re- ceive any aid at all.
 This is where the Organized Charities are of especial aid. These cases need investi- gation and the authorities at the associa- tion have records which are of inestimabe value in keeping track of thofe cases which do not deserve aid.
 The directors thought that those who had aid to give should make use of these records before giving any money.
 Agent s. O. Preston in speaking yester- day of the real distress and destitution in the city and the prospect for relief during the coming winter, said:
 ''The condition of things is not as bad as 1t is represented. There Is great demand for work and fuel Is scsrcs and hard to get with g great many families. The town agent and the United Workers agree on these points. The formation of any new discountensnced and discouraged. The reports of such extreme destitution and waat have been for the most part exagger- ated. The old rounders that have kept away from us for years are all again bob ping up serenely with tale of woe on their tongues end. They have heard that spscisl effort is to be made to help the poor this winter, so they are all coming around again.
 'Whstever new agency is established I wish the promoter will make use of this valuable collection of facts at the Organ ized Charities building. The fraternsl societies cannot, in my opinion, do any efficient work. The are untrained in the work and will constantly bs humbugged and victimizsd.
 "rhere is not doubt but that the win ter will be q hard one. But 1t will be much harder if there Is 30 much idle talk "We can get money when we want and need 1t. There are several whom we can call on for private subscriptions. The public responded even more generously than usual this year to the call for Thanks giving coal.
 "In the last ten cases have visited there were only about two with which the hard times may be said to have anything to do. For instance one man that have in mind was 8 painter by trade and always earned good wages. He had the misfortune to fall on 8 nail, the wound resulting in an ulcer, so that he will have to go to the hospital ard undergo thorough msthod of treatment. The wife will go home to be reunited to her husband after he is well again.
 Another family who have foated from town to town for years in most shiftless 1 manner now have sickness, the man of the ] house being down with pneumonia. The ! man was not working before he was taken sick. Another woman presented her. self and wanted work. I recommend ed her to a lady in North Haven and | when the lady wanted to know what wsges she would work for she replied that she | wanted $5 per week which Is an out | rsgeously high charge. The North Haven lady said she only paid $2 50 per week l So we had to let her go her way. ! "There has been a noticeable increase among the trsmps in the month of Novem Der, 1893, over the same month of 1899 Last November there were 3S1; this veal there were 681, an increase of 300 There were 104 resident applicants for ale in November, 1892, against 155 in Novem
 Der this year. There has been an increas, of 1,5O0 barrels of wood produced in th, wood yard for the month of November ! this year over the same month last year There is also a larger amount than usua unsold.
 ''People in such times as these are ap to be rather kind hearted and give aims tt those who beg from door to door. Thes, people should not be encouraged and whe1 people really understand that there is place they may go and earn their living they will feel less inclined to help stree
 beggsrs. Some of these fellows have go so bold that women have been insulted an6
 bull'ed on the street.
 "The Organized Charities acts as thu clearing house. We investigate. w keep track of these people. We know about them. We have them down on ou records. It is to us they should come ane 1 we feel that we are competent to cope with all ordinary demands on our energy.
 OuURT RECORD.