The record-union., 1894-12-13
MEN NEED NOT GO ABOUT HUNGRY.
That Is, if They Are Really Willing
to Labor.
The Local Federation of Beneficence
Nearly Ready to Begin It's Work
of Practical Charity.

Hereafter when a man calls at private
residence or stops citizen on the street
and says he is hungry and willing to Ia
Dor, there will be a ready means of as
sisting the applicant. But few persons
can lind new means of employment every
day for all the penniless men that offer to
work for something to eat or nights
lodging. Under the plan recently inaug-
urated by the Ministerial Union of this
city, however, it will be possible for citi-
zens to help many men who are willing
to help themselves, and at less expense
than by giving money to them.
The Federation of Beneficence will to-
day begin a canvass of the city for the
sale OF tickets which will entitle those re-
ceiving them to four hours work day
In breaking rock for street and road pur-
poses and a place to sleep at night. The
tickets can be given to such applicants
for relief as the purchaser may deem
worthy of assistance.
THE PLAN EXPLAINED.
The committee appointed to carry out
the details OF the plan agreed upon by
the Ministerial Union has completed its
work and lays before the people the re-
suit OF its labors, as follows:
To the Sacramento Public: Not least
among the problems that the people of
Sacramento are called upon to deal with
during the present distressing winter.
is the one of "How to deal with the de-
serving and undeserving unemployed
single men who are so constantly appeal
ing from door TO door for food and shelter,
and who are accosting citizens on the
street, claiming they are houseless and
hungry, can find no work, and are, there
fore, obliged to beg or starve."
AT recent meeting of the Ministerial
Union, the undersigned were appointed a
committee to represent the Federation of
Beneficence, who are to deal with the
various conditions of distress that, in
some manner, must be met by the COM
munity.
This committee decided that the first
important step to take was to deal with
the problem referred to above. viz: the
unemployed single men, wandering about
the streets claiming to be houseless and
hungry.
In dealing with this question, the COM
mlttee realized that 1t had the following
problems to solve:
FirSt-HOw to discriminate between
the deserving and the undeserving.
Second-To offer sucn employment as
would not come In competition with en-
ployed labor.
make it possible to pay such rates as
would not seriously lower the wage
standard.
After much deliberation and investiga-
ton, it was found that the establishment
OF rock breaking industry (by hand)
would practically solve all OF the above
problems, by
First-Establishing work test, so that
the deserving can be separated from the
undeserving.
Secondly Offering work that will not
interfere with other employed labor.
Ihird-By making the compensation
one Of food and shelter only in place of
moneyed payment, and by making the
basis of such allowance of food and shelter
as near the usual standard of wages paid
to labOrers as possible.
Arrangements have been made by the
committee to furnish substantial meals
and decent lodgings at the rate of 10 cents
each. The plan, as at present outlined,
will be to furnish in return for four
hours labor III breaking rock, three
meals anu a lodging; thus allowing the
applicant several hours each day in
which TO seek other employment.
At this rate OF wages it will, of course,
not De possible for the enterprise to be
self-supporting, because rock can be
crushed very much cheaper 10y machine
than by hand. The committee, however,
expect material support at the hands of
the community, and intend to call upon
the citizens generally to-day or to-mor-
row to ask them to buy tickets
which will be offered by the committee at
the rate OF 10 cents each. The liberal sale
of these tickets will give the committee q
fund with which to conduc5 not alone
this enterprise, but, it is hoped, also such
other enterprises in the direction of
humanitarian work as may from time to
time present themselves.
It NAV he held that the aDDlicantS bv
going direct to the rock yard. could get
work and earn their meals without OBJ
tanning tickets from citizens; and it may
be further held that, should the appli-
cants for aid destroy the tickets handed
them by citizens without reporting to the
rock yard, that the purchaser of the
ticket will have lost the purchase price.
The answers to these probable questions
are as follows:
In the first place, unless citizens help to
support this enterprise, IN the manner
explained above, 1t cannot live, and the
existing conditions cannot be bettered.
Deserving unemployed men will, there
fore, continue TO become beggars and
mendicants, and the undeserving unem-
ployed will continue to beg on the uuan-
swerable ground that they cannot find
work.
To the second question the answer is.
that, II the applicant destroys the ticket,
the purchaser may have spent MS l5c in
buying the ticket, but the l5c has not been
lost, but will be used for the highest good
by the committee in the continuance OF
its work.
1t is earnestly hoped that, in ordor to
discourage pauperism and mendicaucy,
that, with the establishment OF this rock =
breaking enterprise, house-holders and
citizens generally Will decline between
the hours OF sunrise and sunset, to feed
those claiming to be unable 10 find work:
but Will provide them with such tickets
as they may buy from this committee.
Those not having such tickets will please
refer them 10 the rock breaking yard, To-
Gated between Ninth and enJh, Is and
streets, which will be III charge of COM
petent person, who Will promptly place
all comers at work.
Persons desiring to aid this effort, and
who may not be called upon by the So
lciting Committee, will md tickets tor
sale at Hale Bros. IL Co., Wasserman.
Davis x Co., and Weinstock, Lubin q
Co.
AS explained above. the present effort
on the part of the committee is 10 deal
only with unemployed single men, There
are other problems that demand ailen-
ton. such as aiding the unemployed who
have families, and helping women and
children who havo no bread winners to
depend upon. as well Us male adults " no
are old and feeble and physically incapa-
BILE OF doing work. These are all separate
branches of one great work that VIII be
taken up aud dealt with as promptly and
as effectively as lies within the mower OF
the association. ana for all OF which the
committee bespeaks the earnest and un-
selfish support Of the entire community.