The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-12
GIVING ONLY TO THE NEEDY.
THE RELIEF COMMITTEE FINDS 1T
HAS A DIFFICULT TASK.

The Contributions 10 Many Charita-
Bile Societies Already Used Up-The
Soup Kitchen Only for the Poor of
the City-Tramps Take 1t in When
ever They Get Chance-TricISs
Practiced by Professional Beggars.
The relief committee which is engaged
in the work Of distributing the fund ap-
propriated to the city by the Savannah
Benevolent Association, has nearly used
up the money in its hands. 1t was found
that some Of the societies in whose hands
funds had been placed for distribution.
required larger amounts than were first
given them, and the contributions to
these societies were increased. The bal
ance now in hand is held to await the sue
cess of the free soup kitchen.
The committee has decided to make a
change in the manner Of issuing tickets
to the free kitchen. It was found that
under the method Of distribution first
adopted the kitchen was being chiefly pat
ronized by tramps. The object of the
committee is to relieve the home people.
The kitchen was established for their re-
lief and not for the tramps, who seem
to have gotten the chief benefit from 1t
so far The tickets good for one meal
each at the kitchen are now being plsced
in the hands Of the ladies' Of the various
charitable societies who visit among the
poor, and who can distribute them where
they are really needed. Several ladies in,
terested in charitable work have visited
the kitchen and examined the food furn-
ished there. They pronounce 1t whole>
some and substantial By this means or
distribution the committee hope TO reach
those to whom the free meals will be really
a benefit.
One Of the members Of the relief COM
mittee was asked yesterday as to the re-
suits of the distribution Of the fund by
the societies.
VERY acceptable reports have been re-
ceived from the managers of the various
societies" he said. AN immense amount
of good has been done. Coming at a
time when the funds Of nearly all the So
cieties had been exhausted by the extraor-
binary demands made upon them this re-
lief filled a gap which otherwise might
have remained open. The unusually Sc
we're weather had increased the necessities
of the poor and unemployed to an extent
very uncommon in this city, and coming
just at the time that it did the appropria-
ton of the Benevolent Association proved
a Godsend."
The members Of the committee are still
working on the idea OF an organization
Of all the charitable associations of the
city under one head. They believe that
united charity is the only solution of the
problem of caring for the needy poor.
Some queer incidents have been brought
to the attention of the committee in their
work. one man wanted only enough
to buy him good suit of clothes.
About the queerest incident of the lot
was told a Morning News reporter by
lady who does a good deal in TIE way Of
charity. A man called at her house last
week claiming that his family was in
great need and making a very good plea
for assistance. She and some of her
neighbors furnished him. with a consider
able supply of provisions and clothing
for his family. The very next day, to the
lady's surprise, the man called again. He
said that he was sorry to trouble her so
soon, but that there were some things he
was obliged TO have. The lady said she
had not much to give, but that she would
divide what provisions she had in the
house with him. This did not seem to
satisfy the man, and the lady then said
that she would give him an order on a
grocery store, If there We're anything he
really needed which she did not have in
the house. This did not seem to satisfy
the man either, and he continued to beat
about the bush. Finally the lady said:
wen. what do you want anyhow"
II would just like to have enough
things for my wife to make a good fruit
cake, ma am" was the reply.
The lady informed him that she did not
feel able to make a fruit cake herself
these times, and the fellow left without
getting anything at all. 1t was evident
that the man was working for a chance
to get drink somehow.