Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-06
ITS LAST NETTING.
FINAL SESSION OF TIE CITIZENS RELIEF
COMMITTEE.
The Report Of The Executive Committee Adopted
Desire 10 See Public Work Inaugurated-
Distress Reported On the South Side.

/ cutive Committee, the uetalls OF Jhe
work Of which were published some
/ DAYS ago, as submitted by Manager
Robert Simpson and Secretary Harry
Hooking. The report submitted con-
cisely reviewed the work done, and
many other things, said
The Committee is indebted to Mr.. Clator
\ for the use of a centrally located store
room, free OF rent, and TO the general man
/ ager and mis- assistants, who for more than
/ two months, rendered the most faithful
l and efficient service without compensation.
/ From an intimate knowledge of the opera
! lions OF the relief store your Executive
/ Committee does not hesitate 10 say that
| the method there pursued was as nearly
/ perfect as could be, and that no business
house in this city is conducted on
/ stricter business principles. The sys-
[ tenn OF accounts was exact so
that al any time your executive committee
was able 10 determine easily and quickly
the condition of the business. Purchases
were made for cash and at the lowest
| prices TO the most favored customer. All
/ bills were paid by the general manager by
! orders drawn on the treasurer, as will De
seen by the bills and vouchers accompany
INK Tue lNA va tAAC -IllIA al AAe4AAt~DA e-ANA
/ the secretary herewith submitted.
"When the store house was closed for
lack of means on February "A, the
| books balanced to cent and the
I committee owed no man anything.
I The cash receipts were S2,9l49S. We
/ estimate that in cash and donated COM
| modities relief to the extent Of about 50, 500
| was given from the stOre-hOuse during the
/ time 10 was open, from December 81, 1898.
| t0 February -, 1894, a little more than TWO
months. Considering the times, this rep
resents liberal giving, and yet your Com
| mttee had hoped % be able to continue
| the work for a month longer at least.
The effort 20 enlist the cooperation OF
| the city government was not very success
/ full A subcommittee Of the Executive
/ Committee appeared before the Gas Board
I and the Board of Public Works with the
| suggestion that the men be put to work on
/ recommendation of the Relief Com
mittee, the Committee TO receive for their
] labor one dollar day aud % pay them IN
/ stores at the rate Of Sl.2O day, as fixed
| by Council To this the Gas Board as
scented and provided three hundred and
sixteen DAYS work. The board of Public
Works preferred % pay the rate fixed by
Council for relief work and provided one
hundred and forty-one and a-han days
work The aim Of the Committee was 70
furnish work to needy able-bOdied
men. but in this ii had only par
tial success. AT first there was
some objection to the plan Of furnishing
city work through the Relief Committee,
but when 10 was seen that the Committee
gave good quality and good measure, pay
ing with some regard to needs as we'll as TO
work done, opposition gave way 10 strong
approval
"The men registered for work and known
90 be needy so lar OuJnumbered the OppOr-
tuniues To get on the work roll that
10 was impossible to support life with
what they could earn in this way.
For this reason the Executive Committee
thought III wise 10 be liberal in the matter
of compensation, and there was no davis
pay that did not considerably exceed the
rate fixed by Council
"The work undertaken by the General
Relief Committee has been done honestly
and faithfully. It has supplied food. fuel
and raiment TO men, women and children
who for the first time were compelled TO
ask charity. It has shown once more that
the people Of Wheeling have hearts that
turn TO their fellow citizens in distress"
The following was also read, and was
adopted by the Committe, on motion Of
Mr. Grogan:
"Iu the closing of the Citizens Relief
Ommittee's store we regret 10 say that
from reports of members Of the ward
Committees, and others, there is a large
number of our unemployed citizens In
much need Of assistance.
ave believe the city authorities should
undertake some public improvement that
would aid those people in earning an hon
stliving and not be "a charge on individ-
ual citizens. BY devising a plan of this
kind hewhole community would be bearing
their part in assisting the good work, and
the benefit derived from the Improvement
made would be OF material value TO the
enterprise and progress Of the city, and
compensate property owners as well for
the money expended
"phe unfortunate emergency occasioned
bv these depressed times has placed such
large Numbers Of our WOrkiugmen In actual
want, that something should be done TO re-
leye their condition. Now is the time to
act. and that promptly and energetCally.
1--WE endorse and recommend TO the
proper authorities, and all other public
spirited citizens of Ohio county who are in
sympathy with progress and enterprise,
the action of the Trades Assembly in ad-
vOCaJug tunnel or some other public
Improvement to give employment TO as
many of our citizens as are able and will
ing % earn their bread.
There being no other puOlc improve
ment IN view or suggested at present that
would give employment 10 seven or eight
hundred of our unemployed, or that would
oe any more feasible 10 put in operation at
short notice, we invite the attention or the
County Commissioners and City Council
and all other citizens OF the county di-
rectiv concerned i'm the welfare Of the pro-
ject Ogive 10 their undivided attention
Quite discussion Of a general nature
followed the adoption of the report and
resolution, during which it was devel-
oped that there was still a great deal OF
distress in the city, particularly in the
Sixth ward, which called loudly for re-
lief There was also some discussion Of
an apparent outbreak Of petty crime,
co-incident with the cessation of relief
work. After quite a time spent in dis
cussion, the committee adjourned.
Cashier +. B. Dobbins, of the Dollar
Savings Bank. has kindly placed az the
disposal OF the Relief Committee, a
vault in the bank, in which will he
stored an the reports, bills aud youch-
ers. reference books, statements show
/ ing the assistance given and by whom,
/ the relief granted 20 whom, and all the
circumstances I'm connection Herewith,
forming complete record Of the work
of the Relief Committee, 70 be pre-
served for future reference.
Their Arrest Caused Surprise.
Sre-icl Isl-gran 20 t1s Asgis,---
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