The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-23
HAS Done GOOD WORK
Satisfactory Returns Shown by The Board Of
Associated Charities.
beneficial IN ITS WORKINGS


investigate Rule Is lnileKibe.
Many Gases Have Been Found TO
Be Unworthy Applicants Who
Prove Themselves lmposters.
The Board Of Associated Charities
commenced active operations in the ra.
lief Of the poor in this city on D5c. 49,
1898. with headquarters in the municl-
pal building, Mrs, w. b. Duggau be-
ing appointed agent Of the Organizl-
tion and that the agent has not besn
inactive is clearly proven by the
weekly reports furnished to the organi.
cations by the agent at the meetings
held ia the Albright library.
Many of those intended to be benz
fitted ar unaware OF the rules and reg
uations governing the organization.
In the first place the ASSOCIATION was
not formed to give aid III any form
from the organization. 1t was formed
for the purpose OF investigating all
cases that might arise so that relief
might be offered to the worthy
The board Of associated charities has
no fund out Of which to relieve dis
tre4a The agent listens 10 the appeals
oil those who nave been driven by mis-
fortune or other cause, TO seek relief =,
and ut once makes al investigation
visiting the homes OF all who apply,
and no relief is afforded without suca
investigation.
RELIEF TO DESERVING.
Ia all cases where the applicants are
found to be deserving, relief in some
form is administered Many of the
cases are fodud not deserving, and it
may be- well to state how ths Organi 70
ztiion distinguishes between deserving
cases and those that ara not In the
former mauv conditions are taken into
consideration. Tue head OF family
may DO out Of work for long time
either through illness or because work
can not 10 obtainsi. There may be
serious illness in tbs family that may
bays sapped all the resources and ia
many cases widows with large fami-
| lies aro to be found VINO have been left
uncared for by the death Of husband
| aud father. Some cas- "a are found
where parents may be deemed unwor-
thy, but they have children that must
| be provided for In all such cases re-
lief is administered for the sake of the
/ children.
Mrs. Duggan, the agent OF the as5o-
citation, informed Il TRIBUNE reporter
Yesterday that there were many cases
where charity applied would bs sinful
She has found sOms families 30 habit
mated to begging that they can not get
along without resorting to this method
and now they try to get the hest of the
( organization by conveying the impress
sion that they are in want. Ga inves
tigation the shSllowness Of the claim is
exhib bited. O.her undeserving cases
are found where the provisions given
in relief are purlo.nea Immediately for
wbiskey, and of such there have bsen
several instances.
DISTRIBUTING RELIEF.
Recognizing that one person could
not perform the duties that would be
imposed, the poor directors decided tC
engage the services of an agent to as
siSt Mrs. Duggan Accordingly, on
Dec. 10 Mira, Pettigrew was chosen to
that capacity. and her duties are tC
give assiseauce to deserving applicants.
She flls out orders for relief and uses
the fund raised by Mayor Connell for
that purpose.
In addition to this other m les of re-
lief are adopted In many cases the
applicants are members of some church
/ that has q charitable society connected
| with it and in all such cases the pastors
are notified of the families condition,
/ Other cases are found where fami les
may be found in want with illness ia
the family and in such cases Mrs.
Duggan. after investigation, reports
the same to the poor board an | rsiietit
administered from that source. In no
ease is Mrs. Duggan authorized to af
ford relief herself Her duties ar,
simply and purely to investigate and
report.
Since becoming agent for tho BoarC
of Associated Charities Mrs. Duggar
has visited 2S7 Some Of these have
had to be visited more than once, ant
in all 400 visits have been made. Oi
the total number visited, two out OF
every three are found to bA worthy
and the balance have been found to bs
impOstors. This latter class, OF course
protests against what they consider tht
injustice of the system, but the rules
governing the agent are iuilexible anG
cannot be violated,
HAS PROHIBITED BEGGING
The associated charities has been il
existence about two months, but il
that time much good has been accom-.
plishsl, Bsgging On the streets has
been prohibited. and that class who
have baen improvident and who hav,
resorted to srtiiics and deceit to obtain
y livelihood are getting out OF the old
ruts and are seeking to earn living
by honest methods.
The association has also provided
work in many instances both for mer
and women, while many have beet
sent to charitable institutions. Man,
have been helped to go to friends ant
relatives in different parts of the state
Mrs. Duggsn. the agent Of the chari
ties and Mrs Pettigrew, the disburse
of the mayors fund have been uure.
hitting in their attentions and thei
labors. They have frequently worked
as late rs lOp IN.
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