The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-16

There was not very large attendance
at the meeting of the Associated Chari-
ties of the city at Library hall yesterday
afternoon 1t was representative, how
ever Among those present were Treas
urer Edward Wilder Of the Santa Fe,
Eugene Ware and Mayor Harrison Sew
eral ladies were also present
In calling the meeting to order and
touching upon its aims, the president,
Rev. Z. l. Smith said:
1--WE are here to discuss first, what
shall be our source of income for the
next year. Last year it came from dona-
lions publicly given at a meeting Rep
resentative hall, from private donations
and from the proceeds Of a public enter
tainment This year il will be much
harder to get aid for the poor from the
pubic.
second, are we going to operate in
harmony with the county commissioners
and refuse aid To the curOnic cases and
thus force them to the poor house7
Third, can we not arrange plan by
which we can provide WORK for al at
low rate, aud Is it possible 10 provide
work for the women at aIl2
"Inere are TO be more poor people in
Topeka this year that viii need our help
than ever before, perhaps, and 1 think It
will be much better for ali concerned if
low rate than If help were supplied them
free. To DO the latter tends to destroy
their Independence and pride
Let Us tirst consider then what shall
be our plan for raising mUneyI"
There Was no ready response aud after
moments silence 7. w llder said: 1T
seems 10 me a mistake to solicit money
10 give outright TO the poor 1t is a
direct temp alton to unworthy people who
would otherwise be well able,tO take Care
of themselves.
''Last year a great deal was given by a
few persons and it IS not fair to make
the few do il all The poor belong 10 all
OF US and the nearer we can force them
on to the tax roll of the county the near
er right we shall be in the solution Of the
question. The Lest way is for the
curOnIc cases to go to the poor farm
closing OF the relief depot is a Move IN
that direction. We are a part of the
county and it should see to our poor.
1--WE must provide work for unskilIed
labor (skilled labor Is able to take care
Of itself at just enough to keep the
mem bers of that class from starving. I
do not mean to grind anybody down. but
it is the best method Of getting them out
of the class Of dependents on Charity. A
man could ordinarily just keep from
starving. if he hasn't too big a family, on
fifty cents a day, / should think.
"Ihe county has a rock uarry out at
the fair grounds and the men could be
employed there and the rock used on the
roads. If we make each man do $1.25
worth of work for fifty cents that allows
us to keep two and one half men from
starving on the price Of one mans hire.
Men that are deserving would lie glad to
get the chance. If man is able bodied
and starving and would refuse the
chance, believe I would almost be in
favor of letting him starve. We must
do It that way 10 keep just as many men
as possible. We cannot afford to give
work to all at good wages.
I'VE could use the rock on the roads.
The BurlIngame road needs IL, the road
east of the fair grounds needs il and so do
several other roads that we all know
about. II is not imperative perhaps. but
it would be h good place to put the Ia bor
l am for good roads.
''If the new bridge over the Ksw at
Kansas avenue is built, il viii furnish a
further use for the stone. And in this
cOnuec.i ion let me say that il has been
suggested that the bridge could be short
ened materially by the removal of the
island to this side. All this would give
The idle men work ii the future.
II do not wish il understood that / de-
sire 10 grind anybody down. believe
in labor getting good wages-the very
demand for it, but this is luxury work
simply to keep men from starving till
they can gel something better to do. /
wish the CITY Improvement levy could be
Increased to help out on this
The work ought to be hard so it
would not be tempting l would not
favor letting man do just fifty cents
worth Of work day because he is getting
only fifty cents. l have very little use
for the man that does not want to do
more work than he is really paid for.
Il would suggest, then, that commit
tee be appointed 70 present this plan TO
the board of county commissioners and
TO the city council"
No one could think Of a better idea
than this. and the motion was formally
made ana carried. The president APP
pointed Mr. Wilder, Mr.. Ware and Rev.
X Wake AS members Of that committee.
Mayor Harrison suggested that the
city authorities ought not TO be expected
10 take care Of the poor as the cities Of
he first class were not given a bureau Of
ihat kind. he said that the city of To-
peka paid seven-tenths Of the tax that
The poor Of the county is supported on
and the county ought to look after it. He
mad no objection though 70 seeing what
could be done about increasing the i'm :
prcvement levy to give poor men en-
ployment through the winter The legal
aspects Of the case will be looked at.
The chronic cases were not yet salts
facforily disposed OF aud the president
suggested that the committee be further
instructed TO ask the county commission
ers to send the chronics to the poor farm.
Mr.. Ware made the motion and it car
ried-
The ladies, who had taken no part in
he discussion, were then informed by
President Smith that they must get along
With the cases they had on hand as best
hey could. for there was no money IN
he treasury land people don't give Il