The Washington times., 1895-04-27
WOULD GUST COL. TRACEY
Board Of Trade Adopts Two Plans
for Relieving the Poor.
ITS OWN COMMITTEE TO ACT
Detroit Potato Scheme and Indianapolis Food
Market to Be Put in Operation and Sup
ported with Board Funds Resolutions
Adopted Declaring the Ofica of superin-
tendent of Charities superfuous.

The Board OF Trade met last night at
the Builders Exchange, and transacted
three items OF decidedly important business.
1t passed resolution seeking 10 abolish
!. the Office of superintendent of public
charities, now held by Col. John Tracey,
of New York; II adopted the indianapolis
and the Detroit plans for the relief of
the poor OF the city this season aud next
season, and it suggested the formation OF a
board of charities.
President Warner in the chair regretted
hat there was not a larger number Of the
board in attendance. Among those pres
ant were the presiding officer, Secretary
Wright, and Assistant Secretary Gurley,
Messrs. Armes, Ballnger, Bscoe, DR..
Bovee, Butts, Cabell Caywood, Chapel,
Clifford, Dayldge, dodge, Pardon, Flint,
Fnzzell, Guide, Hail, P T. Janney, j.
Harrison Johnson, Lansbarg, Littlcfield,
Mailey, McQuadg, Maefarland, Theo. W.
Soyes, Peck, PeLouza, Perry, Read, Saun-
iers, Singleton, Dr. Ritchie, Smith, j. w.
Spear, Trimbe and Dr. Woodward. ~
DETROIT AND INDIANAPOLIS PLANS.
The action or the board was based on
special report OF its committee on chart
ties, or which Mr. Frederick l.. Moore, 4sn
chairman. In this report Mr.. Moore
fully explained the Detroit plan of ex-
tending chart.--that is, the potato farm,
or agricultural ,method, with which the
public is now familiar through The Times.
In this relation MIR. Moore read u letter
from Mayor Pingrec, of Detroit, where
the plan originated-at least so far as
this country is concerned-whIch, bow
ever. contained nothing new, except that
81 2 per cent. OF those who were assisted
were willing and eager to work -.'' ~ o.' o
Mr.. Moore then explained the Indian
apolis, or market plan. This plan in brief
is the establishment OF q Food Market in
which account books We're issued TO The
registered and Investigated unemployed.
The beneficianes signed an agreement that
they should do such work as was given them
at 2 I-2 cents per hour skilled laborers to
receive higher pay. The beneficiaries
were required, whenever practicable, TO
meet their accounts at the Food market.
Rations were given out in varying proper
tions TO individuals aud families 10 be
accountedfor, coal and dfuelincluded.
BY statistics read Mr.. Moore showed that
ia Indianapolis the FCod Market plan for
about $19, eco did more than was done in
Washington with $4,000, the sums eX-
pended by the central relief committee and
the Central Union Mission
NO DETRIMENT TO DEALERS.
Mr. Moore further, in relation to the Dis
trict plan, said he was informed by Major
Davis that lands on the Potomac flats would
not be soon available, and from other inves-
legations he did rot think that good lands
elsewhere could be easily obtained.
Mr.. Moore said that the food market.
would not IN any way be n detriment to the
dealers in provisions in Washington.
The plan was adopted after but very
little discussion.
The Detroit plan was then adopted in
the following terms:
Resolved, That the committee on char
tiles be instructed to receive such lands
as the citizens of the District of Columbia
may be willing TO give them the use of,
rom May 1st to November Ist, and let
them out to such persons as may be will
ing to grow produce on them for that time.
'Rebsolved, That an appropriation of
500 be made from tie funds of the Board
OF Trade to aid those who cannot get these
for themselves, and that the committee be
authorized to receive contributions from
the citizens for these purposes"
Mr. III. B. F. Macfarland read the detailed
report of the committee on charities, the
essential object of which is EXPIRE ssed in the
following extract:
COL. TRACEY SUPERFLUOUS.
The office of superintendent of chart
ties, costing So, $40 for the next fiscal year,
and which, under the law, can only be filled
by non resident, is superfluous and should
be abolished, as its first incumbent, Prof.
Amos g. Warner, high authority on char
ity questions recommended in it's second an
nual report. The proposed board OF chari
ties would be able to do the work which it
was intended sh6uldib be done by the super
1ntendent of charities, but which has not
proved practicable for such an officer"
Mr.. Mcfarland offered the folio wing for
the committee: ii
Resolved, That Congress be asked to
abolish the office of Superintendent of
Charities for heIDiSrict of Columbia, and
to create Board of Charities, to consist
of nine citizens of the District of Columbia
to be appointed by the Commissioners of
the District OF Columbia, who shall serve
without pay, and who shall have the
general supervision of all the public chari-
table work of the District of Columbia, in
and out or the institutions receiving aid
from the revenues of the District of Column
bia, except those which are strictly cor
rectional or educational or which belong
to the federal government, and the direc-
tion of permanent and emergency out door
relief of the destitute"
COL. TRACEY SHOULD BE HEARD.
Mr. Ross Perry and Dr. Bovee expressed
the opinion that the matter should not be
disposed ofin the absence eofthesuperintend- of
ent of charities. DR.. Bovee regarded it
as an aspersion on the superintendent.
Mr.. Perry said that it would be well il
the committee, whenitwent before Congress,
should be prepared with speHific allegations.
He thought the present proposed disposition
ofthe superintendent summary and radical,
although ne was ip favor of a change in the
method.
Mr.. Mcfarland disclaimed any personal
intention in the matter. 1t was explained
that Col. Tracy had been invited and could
not attend.
The general opinion expressed was that
good deal Of the money expended last
year had been wasted, and that without
system or method.
The debate was participated in by those
mentioned aud by DR.. Ritchie, W.. c.
Dodge, Mr.. Loring Chapel, Mr.. Weston
Flint, and others