Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-28
Plenty Of Poor People Without Ad-
ding Industrial Tramps.
MANY IN WANT THIS SUMMER
II viii Probably Be Hard Winter
for the Poor.
NE EDS OF LITTLE ONES

In the so-called Industrial camps in Mary-
land and Virginia who subsist chiefly on
food gathered from stores and private
houses there are also a number Of respect
able residents of the District who are in need
Of assistance, and they would probably be
much better off if the food collected by the
tramp paupers were given to them During
the hearing of some of the cases of alleged
tramps in the Police Court Judge Miller has
told them that Washington had its own
poor to look after and the citizens could not
stand being taxed to support the Joor of
all the states In the Union. Still they are
taxing the people here for a great amount
of their food. and the local poor have to
suner thereby, for there are some persons
who are willing to contribute to the COM
monwealers who would hardly notice some
poor man, woman or child who has lived
here as a member Of this community for
years.
Never before, for many years at least.
has there been a summer when there were
so many calls at police headquarters for
relief as there has been this summer There
are by no means as many applicants now
as there were during the severe weather
last winter when many thousands of
persons were out Of employment, and when
ciotning, as well as food. fuel and provi-
u
Clerk Sylvester was kept busy attending to
the charity business in addition to the
great amount of work done by the regularly
organized citizens relief committee. Last
winter the state of affairs with reference
to the poor was something terrible, but the
generous public did not fail to respond to
the call for assistance and much suffering
was prevented thereby. Then. the chief
clerk received and distributed all sorts of
articles and cash, although there was not
great amount of cash to give AWAY.
strong men. as well as women and children.
called at the chief clerks office and begged
Tor rev dollars with which to pay their
rent for a short while and many such per
sons were assisted. But, as rule Mr.
sylvester, acting for the department. pre-
ferred to give food, fuel and clothing in
stead OF ready cash, and where such articles
would serve the purpose they were given
In this way the persons who contributed
were protected from impostors to "a great
extent, although there were undoubtedly
some persons relieved who We're not at all
deserving. But this is always the case in
Charity work, and the most careful scrutiny
cannot prevent it. Upon the whole how
ever. with the careful Investigation given
far between.
There is no poor fund provided by Con-
gress, and the poor Of the city have 10 de-
pend largely upon the public contributions,
atnougn tnere Is set apart, to be expended
under the direction of the police depar
ment, the interest on the centennial inaug-
ural fund, which amounts to about 81 400
and the average cash contributions amount
10 about $l,OOO or 81 100. This is in ordi-
nary winters, when there has been no lack
OF work during the summer months, but
last winter. Of course, was an exception.
Then. as already stated. the citizens COM
mfttee rendered valuable assistance in the
work of receiving and distributing dona-
tons OF food. fuel, clothing and cash.
Little Ones suffer.
Chief Clerk syivester's experience in
charitable work has shown him that when.
In the winter months, large donations are
received. there are scores Of persons who
call and ask for assistance simply because
they know there Is something to give, while
In the summer the persons who apply are
mostly in distress and are persons worthy
OF assistance. This summer the number
has been unusually large. and, while the
means at the chief clerks command are
small. he has rendered much valuable as
sistanee and saved many good people the
necessity Of begging from friends and
strangrrs for money to keep a roof over
their heads.
The majority of those who are calling for
relief at this season. says Mr.. Sylvester
are women, many Of whom have children
or aged parents to support. With these
people the innocent little children, Mr.. Syl-
vester finds, are the worst sufferers. Dur
ing the extremely lot weather the babies
need ice. good milk and many delicacies
which money alone can get them; hut their
parents being unable to even raise the
small amount required. the little ones have
to suffer. One case came to his attention
the other day. in which a man came here
from distant state, and brought with him
his wife and children. He expected to get
he YVES obliged to fall back on the police
and was given relief in the shape of rent,
food and fuel Once helped, however such
people seem to think that they can depend
nj for o.I T.,
cases the family has TO be supported for
weeks. Then, too. many women appear
and ask for assistance for their husbands
and young ones. Their husbands are out
of work and unable to get employment, and
a majority Of them find a way to get some
thing to eat.
Mr.. Sylvester thinks something should be
done for the babies and children of persons
who are too poor to provide their offspring
with the necessaries Of life, and one of
the sc necessaries. he thinks, Is a summer
outing. A system of free excursions should
be inaugurated, he says, and there should be
might take them to the country, some place
in the mountains. or other cool spot where
a few days would bring them back to their
normal condition. He thinks an inexpensive
place of this kind would be an honor to the
city and a blessing to some Of the little
sufferers.
White Applicants.
Thus far this month nearly thirty persons
have called and asked for assistance in the
way of paying their rent, a thing unusual
at this season. One was a one-armed man
with family, another a young woman who
vas the only support of an invalid father,
and another in which a daughter was the
only support of a family, and could not
even earn s. with which to pay her rent.
1t Is singular that in the summer time
almost all the applicants are white people,
cOlOre6 person seldom Nr
Sylvester accounts for this by reason Of a
number OF white persons, mechanics and
clerks. being out of employment and unable
to live as most Of the poorer colored ones
do. With this class of colored persons their
work of hauling ashes, shaking carpets,
white washing and doing other odd jobs
must be done and they are the persons to
do such work. Besides this they live on
less than the average white person, and
do not have to pay so much house rent.
Then. too, they lend a helping hand to
their friends, and If one of their number
happens to be without place of residence
he finds no difficulty in getting room