Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-05
TO FURNISH WORK.
Citizens Appeal to Congress to Antio-
ipate Appropriations.
THE NECESSITY FULLY SET FORTH
Hearing Before the House Sub
Committee Today.
A BILL TO BE PREPARED

Congress was today requested to make
Immediately available the estimated appro-
priation of $4,000 for the improvement OF
certain suburban streets, which would
otherwise not become available until next
July. The request was made at a hearing
given by the subcommittee of the House ap-
preparations committee to a committee OF
citizens interested in furnishing employ
ment to workingmen in this District who
are out Of work, and whose families are
destitute. This action had already been
recommended by the District Commission
ers in their annual report
The subcommittee met at IL o'clock, with
Messrs. Compton, Dockery, Cogswell and
Henderson QowaD present. The citizens
committee was represented by Mr.. A. II.
Britton. Mr.. Lawrence Gardner, Mr.. rheo-
dore W. Noyes and Mr.. NJ. /. Weller. Com
missioner John w. Ross, Engineer Commits
sioner Powell and Capt. Febiger of the en-
gineer department were also present.
Chairman Compton Of the subcommittee
asked Commissioner Ross to state the OBJ
jecs of the citizens committee. and Mr..
Ross introduced Mr.. A. I. Britton.
Mr.. Britton's Statement.
Mr.. Britton made a brief statement to the
|
situation and the aims of the relief asso-
citation.
He said that in this city there Is now a
large proportion Of the population subject
to unusual conditions Of privation and des-
titution. This proportion is divided into
two classes. First, there is the class whose
members, by reason of sickness or inability
to earn a support, are thrown upon the
charity of the city. These people the cit
liens are undertaking to relieve. Steps are
now in progress for the organization Of a
system of charity that will take care OF
these unfortunates during the winter. No
outside aid Is asked by the citizens in this
work.
But there Is another portion of the popu-
lation, said Mr.. Britton, who, as a result
of the general business depression, are
brought to the point Of destitution. These
men are not applicants for charity; in fact
charitable movement would find ii diff
cult to discover these persons. They are
| self-supporting, and too proud to become
dependents upon charity. At this time they
are in desperate straits, however, by rea-
| son Of their inability to obtain work. 1t is
this class Of people that the citizens COM
mittee are now aiming to relieve All that
| these men want Is employment.
The committee asks Congress- continued
Mr.. Britton, to anticipate a part of the an
nual appropriation for the Improvement of
suburban streets. estimated at s53.ooo. and
which. In the due course of legisla tion, will
become available next July. This will fur
nish work for the men.
Work to BE Done.
| Mr.. Dockery asked what street improve
ments were contemplated in the proposed
item Of s53.OOO. to which Mr.. Weller an
swered that II included 10th street ex-
tended. Massachusetts avenue and Penn
sylvania avenue extended. He explained
that there is no question among the citizens
Of the desirability of improving those
streets, and that all classes Of citizens are
agreed as to the character of improvements
to be made.
MIR. Henderson remarked that he sup
posed the committee does not recommend
movement for the improvement of any
particular streets, and is not opposing the
recommendations Of the Commissioners in
any way.
Your supposition is correct" said Mr..
Weller. THE East Washington Citizens
Association has also agreed in the recon-
mendations.''
THAT is good information" said MIR.
Henderson; and he added: I'VE don't al
ways have things so smooth in this re-
gard"
Mr.. Henderson then asked what class of
people would be benefited by the work, re-
marking that he did not think there is such
large laboring and mechanical popula-
ton In Washington, as there are but few
manufacturing interests.
Washington "a Manufacturfnx Cttx-
was an erroneous impression upon Mr..
Henderson's part. Washington is quite a
manufacturing city. There are 2s,OOO men
employed in manufacturing industries in
this city. representing probably 5000 peo-
pie dependent upon those industries The
capital invested in manufacturing here is
about S2o.OOO,OOO, and the product amounts
annually to S4O,OOoOOO. In reply to a ques-
ton as to the probable percentage of men
out of work, Mr.. Britton said THAI he could
not tell, but cited as an instance of the
proportion the fact that one manufacturer
of builders supplies. that usually EMPLOYS
fifty teams to deliver its work, now only
uses six teams, and this would represent
the discharge of great many workmen.
Mr.. Britton added that while the commit
tee has not made any formal inquiry he
would estimate that over 30 per cent of the
workingmen Of the manufacturing indus
tries are now out of employment.
Mechanics Out of Work.
Mr.. Gardner explained that the builders
exchange reports that it has record of $500
mechanics, not laborers. but skilled work.
men, who are walking the streets, unable
to find work.
In reply to a question from Mr.. Hender-
son, Mr.. Britton said he felt sure that while
a great many skilled men were out of en-
ployment, they would not hesitate to avail
themselves of the opportunity to earn a
dollar day by the use of the pick and
shovel on street improvements. 1t means
subsistence to them. Mr.. Weller said that
at least 30 per cent of the men employed in
the building trades are out of work
Yes added Mr.. Britton. Il know some
thing of the stagnation in building A COM
pany with which am connected was car
rying $3OO,OOO worth of building loans at the
time this financial trouble commenced and
now that sum is reduced 10 5000" The
steamboat companies, he added. are not
carrying any freight to river landings
showing the suspension of the wholesale
trade, and the clerical force in the stores
Of the city is probably cut down two-thirds
Condition of Present Appropriations.
Mr.. Compton then made some inquiries
as to the condition of current appropria-
tions for street work and the balances on
hand. Capt. Fieberger explained that the
District now has balances Of $4,000 for
building Of county roads, about the same
for paving new streets. about $1,000 for
permit work, about $4,000 for concrete
pavements. and 5000 for the parking COM
mission. These sums, however, will have
to last until next July, and as they rep
resent work to be done under contract re-
Quired by law, will not fill the present emer-
gency. The improvements to be made with
these sums will not furnish work to outsid-
ers, but will only keep a reduced portion
of the present force at work.
Mr.. Dockery asked what number of men
would be given work if Congress decides
to make Immediately available. the anpro-