New-York tribune., 1894-03-16
NOT LIKE OTHER YEARS.
SPRING HAS NOT BROUGHT THE USUAL
DECREASE IN PLEAS FOR HELP.

THE CITY FOR THE WINTER LoATH TO RE-
LINoUIsH IT'S MEAGRE ADVANTAGES
REINFoRcEMENTs NEEDED FOR
RELIEF WORK.
Ordnarily with the return each year Of the spring
months and particularly the mlider weather
OF April approaches, it is customary 10 look ior
decrease in the number of applications for assistance
by the poor and dependent to the charitable orgahi-
cations of the city. At the beginning of every WIN
ter there is an influx of homeless men from 'he
adjacent country 10 the metropolis. Some CT these
have been honestly earning living in rural COM
munitles at small wages and, losing their employ
ment at the beginning of winter. they mock 10 New
York hopeful of finding something to do to proVide
for the necessares of life during the colder season.
Failing in the realization of their hopes they apply
to charitable institutions for help. Many organZa-
tons stop their work Of care-taking on March l.
With this knowledge before them the men begin IN
February scatter.
The number of this class during the last year has
been exceedingly large, and owing to the depression
in business everywhere the men are ioath 10 ieaVe
the city where through charity they are sure OF
bread and some sort of lodgings. and to take the
chance of securing work where there Is little prop-
ability OF finding IT, and where they may encounter
still greater privatons than those from which '"ey
now suffer. While these people do not represent
by any means a large percentage OF the ahhuai re-
cipientS of charity, tne.r tenuehcy W o'a''e' "'
the partial shutting down of free giving by benevo-
lent institutions at the close Of the winter season
has in the past afforded basis for calculating the
decrease in the number of applications from the
maximum. Another element supplying such pasis
consists of the class who idle In the early hon''S
Of winter find employment after feDruaIy' ,.
Charles D. Kellogg, secretary OF tns D"h, e. ''a
OrcInizat.on Society. was asked yesterday ny
Tribune reporter how the reduction in Applications
for relief at the present time compared WIN the
same period in former years lie repled; ,
''The ordinary reduction from the MAXIMUM
which occurs every year peiweeh .he ni'u or t.
last Of February to this date in the year -
about l5 per cent. This year 1t is about ID per cent
Taking our experience as a falr dverase,
he continued. we have mad over t"elEc r,,es ,bis %
year as we had in February last year. lnese
figures are significant in thls-that WINE tnere -
an element which naturally scatters apoul ms tIc
on account of the closing OF many relle1 ASeIcIrs
on March |. its place has been filed by new cases
of distress among our local poor. VINO though
worthy and saving and thrifty. have exhausted tns
last dollar o. their little bank accounts, have pawnei
the last article Of furniture or clothing .nrY can
spare and are driven finally in their failure TO get
work 10 apply to our organization Tor assistance
These people represent class that VIII not accept
relief until they forced to do so by their prVa-
| ilons Rather than accept charity they NIL inuch
sooner come here and procure n ticket wncn NIL
enabi, them 10 earn a dollar day AT work N
cleaning the streets.
What Is desired much as. If not more than.
| anything else" added Mr.. Kellogg rs rehtorte-
ments for carrying on the relief work agencies.
y, want 10 provide work wherever 1t is possible.
T. is the c,ass Of men and women VINO want en-
! pioyment anl cannot find 1t which we want to
rrlch Tho organizations established - look after
this brancn re doing well but they need the sup
port AMI cooperation Of citizens who have work TO
supply one OF these agencies Is the Fast side Re-
lief Work Committee OF which Louis StoVcr =
treasurer and another is the Citizens R-i-f Work
Committee. Of which Charles Stewart Smith. presi-
dent Of the Chamber Of Commerce, Is ;re3Sur,'