The morning times., 1895-11-14
POLICE In RELIEF WORK
Major Moore Thinks Present sys-
tenn Is Preferable.
Col. Tracey Also Disapproves of the
Suggestion to Place 1t In That
Department.

II is hardly probable that any attempt
will be made to put into execution the
suggestion made to Ma jor Moore to utilize
the police in the charity work, or TO put
the relief system directly under his cha rye.
Astold in The Evening Times Of yesterday
Maj. Moore, superintendent OF police,
has received letter commencing the
work OF the police in relieving the suffer
ings OF the poor and suggesting that the
whole work ought TO be put under his
supervision and accomplished through his
regular force.
1t is pointed out that the policemen
already know who are deserving. They
come M u"iiy contact whn AL ciasscs and
know beforehand whether a call for help
is from "A deserving person.
Further, the police cover the field more
completely than the Associa ed Charities
can, u Mess force nearly as large as Tue
police is employed. THIS OF course Is lnl-
practicable.
The letter con; aims criticism of the
work or Mir. Emery and the Associated
Charities agents, pointing out that fam
lies are often sent beans for coffee and
salt Tor sugar. This is taken as an indica-
ton of how far the agents and The persons
helped are PCT at the mercy of dishonest
groCers.
The writer closes with The statement
that he at one time made "a test ease for
the associated Charity agents and proved
them so inefficient and so lar In The wrohS
that Congress for three or four years
refused Ia make tue usual appropriation
FOR the work.
Major Moore said last night he would
not call the attention Of the Comm tssioncrs
10 the matter, because Just sGch service as
suggested is already sanctioned and III
full operation. The only needs are more
room at a central office Tor the proper
administration of funds already geDcr-
ously contributed b. citizens tor the use
OF the department in Ibis direction, and
of additional clerical force 10 see that
everything runs smoothly and that the
application of the means is made mat
ter Of record for proper inspection.
His clerks, he said. are already over
worked and his chief clerk almost i'll
from oyrrtask.
The ONLY money now available for this
service, Ee continued. Is $3.50 year
income from the inaugural surplus fund,
some 5000 left over from the Har-
rison Inauguration. II used TO be that
the department got about So $50 from
the appropriation. this year $4,000,
which is all now devoted to the care OF
the INDECENT sick under the physicians to
the poor. OF course there IS an appro-
priatlon OF $4,000 for the municipal locs-
ing house. but that u thirdly to he con
sidered In the probleIlr Of caring for the
poor resident in the District.
Major Moore was itcilred Ia think That
the whole business might possibly better
be put completely under the control OF
Col Tracey, superintendent of charities.
He thanked The THINGS aor calling his at
tention to the Northeast cttiZCrs letter.
and said with cold weather fast approach
ing the benrvoientlylii disposed would do
well 10 make contributions promptly ana
TO settle. upon a mean slfor the effective
distribution. 50 as not to be caught ny d
blizzard as last year.
Mr. Tracey said TO The Times last night
that he was not asking any change. The
laws are oil right, and the only improve
ment lies in the direction ut harmonious
action among the existing boards and or
ganizaiioDs ,ievotsat to charity. The ma
chinery needs all the elasticity IL has
Free way for individual effort is essential.
ToD close government control Is rcrreSSiNe
of private benevulence.
If the authorities show too great activity
the individGal will think IL unnecessary TO
do anything. The cost of Chariticsa aud cor
rections in the nature OF bencvolence
rather t,ian punishment already amounts
to S537 600 a year; 10 assume complete
control would run the amount to two
millions.
His office needs an additional clerk.
he said, and an inspector, with a-fund for
travelling expenses, but he was not even
asking that.
The coming OF a blizzard. he thought
should be met with a central relief COM
nittee like that OF last year, when Judge
Cole and his assistants did such excellent
work. Emergency conditions should not
he maintained all the time. That would
tend 10 the making OF paupers.