The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-12
LETTER FROM DR.. walk
Compliments the Tribune on Its Re-
port OF His Lecture.
WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT CHARITY
In Favor of Saving the Deserving Poor
from Going Into Almshouscs-C Com.
mittees Of the Associated Chari.
ties for the Year.

The Board of Associated Charities
held a meeting last night, which was
very interesting. The treasurer's re-
port shows balance in the treasury at
present Of $S29.46. Thomas j. Moores
resignation was read, but further con-
sideration Of 1t was postponed for the
present, expecting that Mr.. Moore may
be persuaded to reconsider his deter
mination. The members felt that his
usefulness as a member of the board
could not be spared
DIR. j. w. Walk, of Philadelphia, who
lectured in the Young Mems Christian
| Association hall, under the auspices of
the Board of Charities, sent the fol-
lowing letter to Rev Rogers Israel, the
| secretary, which was called forth by
bhe Misrepresentation his lecture re-
| ceiyed in the columns of the Scranton
| Times:
l wish to compliment the Scranton
| Tribune for the very excellent report of
my address, and l must say that the re-
port of the Times was very misleading.
| The Times said that / advocated the
abolition of outdoor relief, compelling all
| objects of charity to live in almshouses.
That charity in such case wore d wintry
aspect. If such was my opinion, it would
| indeed present a wintry aspect, but l have
| been misunderstood. / am not in favor OF
| forcing the worthy poor into almshouses.
Indeed, for years. 1t has been my effort
| to prevent the necessity of their going
| there.
| | believe in assisting them at their own
homes by such kindly methods as may
preserve their self-respect but ! think
| such assistance can he better given by
benevolent societies than by county or
township officials who very often owe
their appointment to the favor Of polit-
ical leaders, and seldom feel any deep III
terest In the unfortunates under their
care. In our own state there. have been
many scandals connected with the expen-
diture of city and county poor funds; al
most none in the administration of ben
evolent societies.
Foundation of His Opinion.
| My opinion is not the result of prejudice,
but of long and close observation: for
am myself a city official. The reporters
misunderstanding of my position was
probably due to my using the phrase, "out
door relief in its restricted, legal mean
ing of relief given from money raised by
| taxation.
l did advocate the dlscontnuance of this
kind of relief, but only with view of
substituting for it relief given by benevo-
lent associations, whose work is more
sympathetic and more economical than
that of political officials, no matter to
what party they belong.
say emphatically that I am in favor of
saving the deserving poor from the ne
| cessity of going into almshouses as long
as possible.
When the letter was read Mr.. Cohen
explained that he had sent DR.. Walk S
views of the report given his lecture by
the Times to the editor of that sheet
and the matter was satisfactorily cor
rected in an editorial utterance yester-
day morning.
Miss Lizzie Y Beanie, of 521 Delaware
street, applied for the position of as
sistant to Mrs. Duggan and her COM
munication was received and placed on
file. Mrs. Duggan made the following
report: Number of visits made, 80;
worthy, 20; unworthy, 10; revisited, s;
transportation furnished to persons,
lodging to 3; children sent to Founding
home 2; persons sent to Lackawanna
hospital, 9; found permanent positions
for 8, found work for 4; one child taken
in charge from vicious parents; dona-
tions received from sisters Of St
Cecilia's academy.
Colonel Ripple, chairman of the board
announced the following committees fol
the ensuing year:
Committees for the Year.
Relief-Thomas j. Moore, William T
Smith. f. ]. Lynott.
Visitation-W. Gaylord Thomas
Luther Keller, p ]. Ruane.
Employment-John Gibbons, PHILIP
Kirst, John II. Fellows.
Child Saving-M. j. Kelley, Colone
H. NJ. Boies, E. b. Sturges.
lnformation-Jacob Cohen, Colonel II
NJ. Boies, Dr. b. H. Throop.
There was a short discussion on the
subject Of replenishing the treasury ant
of finding work for those who seek EN-
ployment Colonel Ripple thought thai
men could be furnished with work IL
Ney Aug park, splitting the fallen tim
Der into fire wood
Al A vote Of thanks was rendered to DR.
]. w. Walk, Rev. Mr.. Starr, of Canada
and the members of the Young Mems
Christian association, and the meeting
adjourned until Thursday, Dec. q.