New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-09
HELPING THE POOR.
CHARITABLE SOCIETIES OVERTURNED.

THE FUNDS OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS EN-
rAusrED-MANY RULES OF RELIEF RE-
LAXED IN THE EMERGENcY-GREAr
DEMAND FOR COAI-THE CHANCE
roR GOOD sAMARTTANs
The terrible winter weather now III our INN,
| date midst" has turned the thoughts Oh al MINI
| hearted people TO the sufferings OF the poor anu
! IN tho methods and agencies for their relief HOW
| TO help those whom misfortune or ihp'o'''
| have reduced to an honest poverty without MUIR
ing their self-respect and hope of some day De'hg
! self-supportng. and without fostering d 'o' VI
fraudulent and drunken chronic cases j. NV
question that every charitable person frequently
asks himself and which the charitable orsah'za-
,ions have always tried TO solve. But when the
mercury reaches the vanishing point ana HE WIFI
ont fuel 70 produce artificial warmth becomes an
absolute lmpossibility. all safeguards against 'u
must be relaxed and no deaf ear turned 10 any
voice which says. II am freezing and starving
even if that voice is borne upon breath 'hat Is
Favored with Bowery whisky.
Same Of the distributing agencies were so over
rim Yesterday that their resources were exhausted
The University Settlement. at No 70 Dclancey-st'
reached the end OF its relief fund and mad to turn
people away to freeze or beg from door TO door.
Applicants came to them from as far away as
Thirty-first-st and had 10 be referred TO the up
town socities
ut is the Old old tale" said one OF the workers
of the Settlement" freezing children. sick wives
and dying babies. and We have nothing LETT TO
give them. Even the remedies the free doctors
prescribe for the sick out of their reach.
We have had TO issue general request to the
doctors not tic prescribe wine. They frequently
have ordered II as a tonic and stimuant In one
case | know OF bottle OF bordeaux WINE was
ordered for sick woman ana the famiE prac-
tlcaly without food for three days 10 pay
for it, 1t IL either that way or else they get
t.-fu uhig oh Is
the average family in our district prescribing wine
is about as sensible prescribing section or
the moon.
Another feature Of deviation from established
methods made necessary by the stress OF the coca
sion is the payment OF rent. 1t IS a settled rule
among the organizations that their funds shall
not be diverted to the payment Of rent. This Is
partly the theory accepted BY so many people
that Landlords are robbers. and partly on the as
sumption that the loss OF rent Is business risk'
and that II money must be paid out 10 secure shell
ter for the dependents OF the society II Is better
70 get them a new place letting them De dspos-
sessed of their old tenements rather than TO sink
money in their old debt. In weather OF ths KIND.
however. eviction means serious sickness. II not
death. TO the underfed poor. even II they can move
into new quarters and 50 tn" societies have begun
to pay overdue rent and one OF the strongest OF
them has special fund at us command contrlb-
uted by a generous patron for TINS very purpose
The Association for Improving The condition OF
well az the University settlement. was nearly
oVerrun with applicants Tor relief YESTERDAY. and
can put to good use any additional funds that may
he sent In. This association has nfy years OF
work bchid A. and has the experience" 81 the
panics OF - ana - TO draw from. Nj who
Hooked the office Yesterday and could tell a tale
OF suffering that would bear crosse aminaiion
ana borne ont by Appearances. got RELIEF IN
the shape OF orders for coal AMI groceries which
would b. flied AZ any one Of 4 dozen establish
ments about the city with which the society does
business The special store ~ the association al
No l. Cherry-st dii lively business all iav.
Here groceries are furnished at wholcsal" prices.
the association paying FOR rent ana attendance.
People are furnished. however, only upon the
written order Of authorized visitor Of the as
ISOLATION The great demand was for coal. for
when IL comes TO question between starving ana
freezing. the average man seems TO prefer taking
his chances on the former II he only be kept
reasonably warm. In some cases shoes were
given.
Five dollars received by Tho Tribune FOR the coal
fund OF the University Settlement vas turned over
10 the secretary Just after the last available coal
ticket had been given out
That s. means lcD bags of coal ~ twenty-five
pounds each. and will keep lpl families from
freezing for the next tHenty-four hours said one
OF the workers.
the 100 that come To NJ. or assume the re-
spOnsbiliiy for these. " the cold wave j. s with
us Tomorrow In undimlnshel vigor"'