The record-union., 1894-01-11
ORGANIZED CHARITY.
How Relief Work is Managed in the
Great Metropolis.
The Evil of Indiscriminate Giving
Plenty of Money Whenever
Called For.

In their work of caring Tor the poor and
the formation Of new societies for special
purposes of a temporary character, is
more significant of the extent and of the
extraordinary nature of the distress here
than any other phenomena could possi-
bly, be- For, as is well-known, the in
come of these establishments is enormous
and their system almost perfect. But the
substantial and prompt response this ap-
peal has received shows that there is little
more destitution among the poor Of New
York than there is charity among the
well-to-do and the rich. In fact, charity
has We'd with suffering in impressing its
character upon the Christmas holidays,
and it is doubtful which will be remem-
bered most distinctly of this season, the
awful poverty or the answering benevo-
lence. 1t is now almost certain that the
two will balance, and that from Christ
mas Day on into the new year. and so
long as the depression continues, the So
cial disease will meet with an adequate
cure, and that distress Will give way to
the satisfaction of all bodily wants; While
there are reasons for thinking the sudden
and eXtravagant plunge of the foolish
into charity will overdo itself and pro-
duce evils at least as injurious as those
they mean to cure.
In a previous letter an attempt was
made TO give an adequate notion of the
distress among the poor and the unem-
ployed of New York. 1t was said then
that the suffering began in July and broke
out in August in riots on the East Side.
At the time of these violent demonstra-
tions the Charity Organization Society
was asked by newspapers and by thou
sands OF individuals whether they were
able to meet with the difficulty and TO
satisfy all the wants. The reply was that
they could, and sympathy at once went
against the disturbers of the peace. a
willingness to give was expressed on all
hands, but men insisted on distributing
through the regular channels OF syste-
matized charity. 1t was a triumph of or
ganized charity, and marked a stage of
development which no other country in
the world could equal. For at the fOunda
ton of American character is this ten
dency to help others, to relieve distress
and to give freely. Too freely for fifty
years have Americans given; and an
Italian professor OF sociology once said to
me that our tourists had utterly debased
a good million of his cOuntrymen by their
sentimental giving to unworthy beggars
in Italy. For years scientists and think
ing men generally have fought this trait
of American character, and though they
had to correct the teachings of nearly nine
victorious. New ork refused to respond
to a bowling mob crying for bread, with
out the consent OF the organization it de-
pended upon for Information and for dis
tribution of aid.
EISuch societies are established now in
nearly every American city, but because
of the many millions it directs and the
enormous responsibilities it carries the
Charity Organization Society of New
York at the present time is particularly
interesting. 1t Is recognized as the CEN
tral and supervising authority by sixty
two charitable societies, eleven national
relief societies, thirtytwo medical chari-
ties, fifteen institutions for indoor relief
beside hospitals) and 367 churches, be-
side the municipal Department of Chari-
ties and Correction and z, S35 contributors
of its own.
It's chief functions are o. to get and
give information to subscribers and CO.
operating organizations, information
about the Worthiness of claimants for
help and of sufferers who have not asked
for relief; (2) to distribute funds accord
ing to needs or strain on individual soci-
eties; 81 and to send applicants for aid to
the proper sources according to nation
ality, religion, sex and condition of the
needy. 1t has its corps of agents, detect
ives and distributors; its bureaus and
employment offices, beside a complete
and trustworthy set of books of record.
The whole city is covered and all citizens
are related to 1t either as sources of funds
or as receivers of benefits. And, best of
all, it is so mechanical and business-like
in its methods that it meets appeals
coidly, without sentiment, and suffi-
GENTLY, without stint.
At the close of last month the resources
of this great institution were becoming
exhausted. The officers quickly ap-
pealed to citizens through such bodies as
the Chamber OF Commerce and the large
clubs. Immediately the influx of funds
increased and all was going well, till
some dilettante sociologists began to ad-
vertise the ''scenes of distress" and
aroused everybody. There never is any
difficulty about getting enough money say
the organized charities people; the hardest
task is TO restrain the giving impulse
and direct it properly.
But the appeal had been made and now
any group of men who have well-known
names on their lists can have a few
thousand dollars a week to do with as
they like. While the regular channels
are satisfying all real wants and meeting
the situation splendidly by an easy ex-
pansion of their system and means, the
sentimental are having joyous emo
tional excitement. They see the hungry
fed with their dollars and can go home
with an ecstacy of feeling. Two news
papers are getting most remunerative ad-
V6rtlSeln6nLS III the course OF luSb Sucl
injurious and sensational charity.
One of these newspapers is gathering
sold clothes" and it began the distribu-
ton on Christmas Day. From the daily
list OF old clothes, instances ofthe folly of
some peoples benevolence may be culled.
They received hundreds of new silk hats,
fashionable derbys, dress coats, neckties,
high collars, purses and silk dresses, latest
style women's hats. waists with big
sleeves, high h-heeled shoes. expensive and
useless toys and luxurieS of decoration
and apparel of men, women and chill
dren. And these things are given to all
corners. Tickets are required in most in
stances. but the tickets are distributed by
the same irresponsible people VINO gave
the new and exquisite garments.
One result OF this sort of thing Will be
that the professional beggars, with bank
accounts, will get nearly all the gifts of
folly and the deserving poor will get very
little. 1t is another instance OF the CO.
operation of the asses and Williams. What
isanost feared, however, is the effect OF
the startling newspaper headlines and
illustrations which will attract TO New
York as many tramps as Chicago gath
cred by her extensive and sensational
advertisement through the press. Already
the city is filling up with the outsiders.
Fully one fourth of the persons who
apply TO US for aid said Charles d. kel-
logg of the Charity Organization Society,
''have, we are satisfied. no business with
in the city limits. Tney haze come in
with the idea that they can live on the
provision made for deserving persons
and can have a comfortable winter with
out work We see them at their worst at
our woodward. Our ticket-books. which
are proving so popular, provide that for
one ticket a homeless man can receive
supper, lodging, bath. and also have his
clothes fumigated. These vagabonds will
take the supper willingly, and afterward