The Washington times., 1894-10-17
L. ALGER.

legitimate subjects Of public aid, exclusive of
those who are regular inmates OF charitable
and reformatory institutions.
1.-The institutions of Washington care for a
large number of persons. both permanent in
mates and transient subjects of relief. Among
these il the Temporary Home for ex-Union
Soldiers and Sailors, where applicants for
pensions usually resort; the Municipal
Lodging House, where those seeking re-
lief are required to do q certain amount
OF work for each nights lodging and
each meal furnished; the Central Union
Mission is,a general institution OF aid and
shelter for the INDECENT; the Young Womans
Christian Home, which does similar charita-
bic work exclusively for females. On the
other hand there are the police authorities,
Society of ST. Vincent de Paul. a Catholic or
ganization; the Associated Charities, United
Hebrew Charities and other organizations
which distribute food, clothing and fuel to
persons at their homes; the Washington Asy
ium, which unites the offices Of almshoUse
and hospital for the destitute, is very
crowded, and arrangements for increasing
the accommodations there have become nee
essary.
Last winter specific measures for emer-
sency relief were adopted by the organization
OF the central relief committee OF citizens,
upon the plan outlined by the public meeting
held December 10. 1898. That meeting was
called by the District Commissioners in re-
sponse to public demand expressed through
the newspapers and many communications.
1t resulted in two lines of relief effort-one to
obtain work for the unemployed, and the
other TO give systematic succor to those
needy and deserving. A committee was ap-
pointed to ask Congress to render immedi-
ately available the contemplated approprl-
alton of $500 for construction and repair of
District roadways. This failed.
pFr1vr Eop -ruE 1vopruv
"a system OF relief to the worthy was then
provided in accordance with resolution of
the same meeting, by the appointment OF
Central Relief Committee of fifteen. desig-
mated by the District Commissioners. This
committee Immediately organized and
adopted as relief agencies, the Police Depart
meDt, Associated Charities, the United He
brew Charities, the Society OF st. Vincent de
Paul, the Central Union Mission. the CoIored
Young Mems Christian Association, and the
Deaconess' Home. A committee on distribu-
ton was appointed, and central depot for
the receipt and distribution of supplies was
opened on the premises OF the Central Union
Mission. A committee OF fifty citizens was
appointed by the chairman of the Central Re-
lief Committee. and charged with the work of
soliciting contributions in money and proyis-
ions. This canyassing committee divided the
tricts, with neighborhood subcommittee in
each. These executive subcommittee we're
furnished with blanks, which were lett at
every house. and called for by the canvassers.
Various minor expedients have been re-
sorted 10 as parts of the system in Washing
ton, rapidly devised to deal with an emer-
gency. Among them was the issuing OF meal
tickets at 10 cents each, Of which over 10000
were used last winter, distributed by citizens
instead OF aims ID money. Unavailable for
other use than good meal, these tickets
diminished tie nuisance of professional aims
seeking. During last January there were
distributed 100 large van loads. consisting Of
meats, vegetables, groceries. bread meal and
clothing OF all sorts. Fuel orders were also
given against donations by dealers, to the ex-
tent of 100 tons Of coal and an equivalent
quantity of wood. In addition to large de-
llveries through the nine police stations the
District offices OF the Associated Charities and
minor central agencies. there were sent for
cases specially investigated by the central
committee very large number of smaller
packages. transportation was provided free
by the merchants and local express compan-
les, as we'll as by the police patrol wagons.
THE AMOUNT Distributed.
"The value of donations of supplies re-
ceived and distributed exceeded s10, 600. The
money collections first available for the COM
mittee consisted of an original fund of S10,-
900. which included money raised by con-
cert given by the Marine Band, subscriptions
at the citizens mass-meeting, and the funds
collected by the city newspapers. The can
vassing committee turned in @12, 900, the total
value of the collection being between SO, 900
and $4,000.
''rhe Washington police have q splendid
system OF investigating distress, affording
quick reuef, and accounting for donations
under the direction of Major Moore and Mr..
Richard Sylvester, the chief clerk of the de-
partment The Associated Charities and
other distributing agencies exercised precau-
tion and as all names of benef1ciaries were
collected and kept in the hands of single
agency, duplication of charity was rare, while
the city suffered much less than was antici-
pated from the nuisance of unworthy seekers
for relief Through the police, last winter.
there we're issued 1864 orders; through the
associated Charities, 1851; through other
agencies, about 100. Total. 9,315 orders. "
The organization of the citizens meeting
last winter was as follows: Rev. Byron Sun
derland, chairman, and NJ. I. Weller, seere-
tary Central relief committee-Col. John
Tracey, chairman; James ". Someryille, sec
retary; Beriah Wilkins treasurer.
Committee on Observation-Disclosures Gard
ner. chairman; Miss Harriet B. Loring, J ohm
F. Cook, and L. S. Emery.
Committee on ways ana means-Iheodore
W. Noyes, chairman; Simon Wolf and Beriah
wilkins.
Auditing committee-B. H. Warner, chair
man; Judge G. C. Cole and j. Harrison John
son.
Committee on plan of permanent relief
organization-Simon Wolf, chairman; John
G.. Slater, Mrs. ]. w, Babson, and DR.. j. w.
Richie.
Citizens canvassing committee - Hon.
George Truesdel now District Commis-
sioner), chairman; II. P. Goodwin, secretary,
and John E. Herrell. treasurer.
Executive committee-John JOY Edison,
Mrs. H. B. F. Mcfarland, William II. Baum,
and J. Holdsworth Gordon.