Evening star., 1895-01-21
THE. POLICE POOR RELIEF
No Public Money to Give to the Poor and
Needy.
What Is Contributed by Private Char
ity is Distributed-someO of the
Applications Received.

Since Friday evening last the police de-
partment. excepting the Georgetown pre-
cinct. has been compelled to turn deaf
ear to the multitude Of appeals for aid
which have been made to the several pre-
cinct stations. Late Saturday evening three
patrol wagon loads of miscellaneous con-
tributons were supplied by the relief COM
mittee, a diminutive fraction OF what was
necessary to keep the wolf from the door
of many family yesterday. Maj. Moore
was forced to suspend the issuing of or
ders for fuel and provisions on the regular
police depots owing to the exhaustion o1
the financial contributions made to the de-
partment during the past two weeks. the
only revenue the police have to call Upon
during the year, aside from personal con-
tribUtionS, is the centennial interest 1un1,
amounting to about $1,000, the last OF wnlch
was consumed the 1st of January, when
accounts for six months were closed, show
ing that this expenditure had been made
to the relief of over three thousand per-
sons. Some idea of the number OF calls be-
ing made upon the police at this time may
be inferred from last winters statement,
which shows emergency aid to nave been
extended through this channel to H,0OO
men, women and children.
The heutenantS of police yesterday caIied
upon headquarters for food or money, In
the hope of being able to care for some OF
the hundreds OF appeals that have been
made since Saturday. but until the reiieI
Golfers of the police auxiliary no aid Will
be dispensed.
Chief Clerk Sylvester made his report for
the preceding day, yesterday giving the
names, addresses and character OF reheI
rendered from the relief committee contri-
buttons. This was done in conformity with
a rule passed by that body. requiring
daily report from all organizations receiv-
ing aid from the central committee, with
the end in view of detecting imposters.
Major Moore, however, has no fear OF the
police being imposed upon, for they see
for themselves the condition of applicants
in their homes, and the authority of the
police agency is another safeguard against
imposition.
The police with their mutitudinous
duties. have little time for charity work
beyond investigating cases and furnishing
temporary relief. They expect the real
charity work of finding employment and
bettering the condition of those without
means of support to be done by the charity
organizations.
Among the sad cases which have recently
come to the knowledge of the authorities
is that of photographers family, residing
near Mt. Pleasant. They had subsisted and
kept warm on Sl.25 for two weeks, until
relieved by the police.
The widow of a deceased policeman. with
five little children, whose entire assets
after her husbands death were invested in
horse and coupe OF the might liner" or
der and whose driver defaulted with all
her earnings, has been kept from want by
the department..
Another party on Capitol Hill. once well
off and influential has been placed in the
care of charitable hands by headquarters.
An aged and refined husband and wife,
the former for many years in government
employ. are entirely dependent on the
charity of the department.
Two or three families who are Just out
of smallpox quarantine are being cared for
by the police.
The greatest pressure from persons of
the better class is 'or m cans to keep under
shelter.
An interesting case Is explained by the
following letter received by Mr. Sylvester:
Il sent down to see Lieut.. Guessford if they
would aid me some, for / am very muca
in 1eed have been very sick. and there
fCre could hot pay my rent, and my things
We're set cut in the street, and they stay
ed cut there from o'clock in the evening
until in the morning, and gentleman
was kind enough to let me go into all old
house Of his for shelter until 1 could get
some place to go, and now am tryllG TO
raise means with which to get house,
and 1 hope you will investigate my case
/ would like to get out of where L am be-
fore some weather comes. ] am widow
with six children, and this is the first time
in my life that have asked for public aid,
so [ hope you will aid me as 1 am III great
distress. Respectfully yours,
LUCY FLETCHER, 1855 Erie street.
officer Bremerman investigated the case
at cnce and reported: Il found her In a
very destitute condition. She is widow
with six children, having been put out OF
a house or w street by -. The old frame
she now occupies Is in very bad condi-
ton: all the window glass Is broken out,
except two windows. A gentleman In the
reighborhood allowed her to occupy 1t un-
til she could do better. / understand she
has never applied for aid before. 1t would
be impossible. think. for her 10 remain In
this house should the weather get very
severe"
Fuel, but No Food.
The department extended this poor col
ored woman such aid as it could one OF
the clerks from headquarters being sent
to assist her toward obtaining warm
place for herself and children.
Another sample request received this
morning:~"I am in need and obliged to
ask for help. / have managed to get along
so far for the winter without asking help,
but on account of my husband being with
out work for SO long l will have to do 1t.
[ have some fuel that got the last work
that he done, and it will last me some
time by being saving with 1t, but I am
entirely without food. for i have just payed
Out the last cent for house rent, which
mus. be done if 1 have no bread; my two
youngest children, seven and ten years, are
obliged to stay from school on account Of
shoes. I write to you because 1 think that
you will help me-"