Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-14
The District Commissioners Urge
Hiring More Poor Men.
SEVERAL HUNDRED At WORK
The Applications for Help Keep
Coming In.
WORK FOR SEWING WOMEN

At 7:3O this morning Superintendent Nc
Kenzie was at the Peace monument TO
meet the force of charity laborers VINO
were to go to work on the streets shoVei-
ing snow. Mere than half OF the nu1nper
designated did not show up. Ihey hau
not called at the central relief committee
Headquarters and received their cards.
Having given in their names, they went
away and lost their chance. Otner names
had to be written in on the cards thus lett
by these men, and other men soon nlled up
the quota They were divided up INTO
squads, under competent overseers' anu
distributed over the city to clear the
streets of snow.
The committee is taking great care IN Is
suing these cards. Men who are temporar-
ily here cannot receive them; tramps ana
unworthy men-men who evidently spenu
what little money they get fer drnk-do
not get them. And one other thing the
committee insists upon-the men VINO re-
ceive this work must be married men, sup
porting families. One or two exceptlons
occurred where it was we'll known TO the
committee that men had mothers anu
brothers and sisters dependent on them
Care was taken in each case to take down
and verify the addresses Of the men en-
ployed. The police, who know the city SO
thoroughly, were able to scan the lists OF
rames given and look up several doubtful
from any imposition.
The Force to BE Increased.
The Commissioners this afternoon recon-
mended that tie number of men on the
streets be increased to 500 as fast as pos
sible, and they authorized Mr.. Mckenzie to
purchase picks and shovels out of the fund
of the street cleaning department. the tools
to remain in the possession of that depart
mcnt 1t is not certain how long the work
will be continued, but the central relief
committee will probably appropriate money
for it as fast as it is needed The fund or
$4,000 has been turned over to Treasurer
Wilkins Of the committee. According to
the provisions of the act, the money Is 10
be expended under the direction of the Com
missioners by the charity organizations or
the city, but far as the Commissioners
know, there is nothing to prevent this sum-
or any portion of it, being used to supply
work instead of being given out directly IN
provisions and fuel. The committee how
ever, has at It's disposal a considcrable
sum in addition to this fund, and That Will
be drawn on first, so that the appropriation
from Congress will not be utilized for this
purpose for the present. MIR. Mckenzie
was in communication today with a num-
Der of contractors and others VINO own
horses and wagons, for the purpose or
securing vehicles to carry off the snow as
fast as it is cleared away. The majority Oh
the men at work today were put at clear
ing out cutters and cleaning crossings on
fl ON in front of reservations.
Lower Wages Suggested.
At least twenty-five more men will be
put on tomorrow, and probably a similar
increase will be made from day to day. IT
has been suggested that If more men are
EMPLOYED the days wages be reduced from
one dollar to seventy-five cents, and one
weeks work given each man. rms Is the
going price of a days work in the country
now, and where so many are idie II sus-
gested that worthy men would be glad TO
work for less and be sure OF something.
1t Is argued that many contractors VINO
might employ labor would do SO at the
lower price and give support to many PEG
pie who now pubic burden Inc
committee will take no action on this sug-
gestion for the present, and the men al
ready engaged will be paid dollar day.
The usual number of applications for
help came in today to the Central Union
Mission, the police and the Associated
ing practically the same as heretofore.
The soup kitchen fed 2,4U0 yesterday. The
supply of meat, vegetables and bread IS
still coming in sufficiently from the
butchers, produce men and bakers ana
lunch rooms.
Work of the Loyal Legion Women.
The ladies' of the Legion of Loyal Women
have appropriated money from their funds
to pay poor sewing women wages for max
ing up garments for the poor. The ma
terials for these garments are bought out
| of the $500 given by Mr.. S. A. Thomas to
the central relief committee The generous
donations of clothing and shoes to the
legion for the poor continue, and the work
of repairing the same at their headquar-
tiers, 419 10th street, goes steadily on.
Among the more recent donors the follow
ing were especially timely: Mrs. Capt.
Gross, Mrs Reeves, Miss Clark, Mrs. NJ.
F. Gibbon, o. H. Budlong. Miss Winfield,
Mrs E. S. Mussey, Miss j. T. Rugg, Mrs.
Martin Knapp, Miss Laura Cottrell, Mrs.
Barnes, Lieut.. Amiss, Mrs. Martha Hamp-
son, Mrs Pierce, Mrs. w. w. Curry, Mrs.
B. d. Avis, Mrs. DIR. Pcmeroy, Miss Belle
c. Saunders, Mrs. Burke and Miss Clara
Barton, president of the Red Cross, who
sent five barrels, three boxes and num-
Der of bundles and packages. Miss F.
also sent a check for SO, and Mr.. Ell
phonzo Youngs kindly sent out his wagons
and helped in collecting donations during
the extreme weather.