The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-01
FOR ORGANIZED CHARITIES.
THE NEED FOR SYSTEMATIC WORK
N BEHALF OF THE POOR.

The IndIscrimInate Giving by the
Dozens of Societies Encourages
neutrality-suspicious. Money Dis
tributcd for Charity i'm savannah
10 Care for All the worthy Poor OF
the city if IL Were Properly
Directed.
The work of the citizens relief com
1nittee has given it an insight into the
workings Of the charitable societies and
has shown the need for system and or
sanization in the work.
Mr.. J. NJ. SolOmons. an active member
OF the committee, and who has interested
himself in charitable work for many
wears. in a talk with Morning News re-
forter yesterday, gave some idea of the
present methods and how they could be
improved upon.
The present need in this work" said
united charities. All the charitable as
sociations in the city should come to-
gether under one head in order that they
may systematic their work and carry
it on to better advantage. There are
enough charitable institutions and So
cietes in Savannah and enough people
Interested in this work and enough money
contributed to charity from various
sources to take care of all the worthy
needy poor in the city. if their work
were only systematized."
LAS it is now" said Mr.. SoIomons, be
oh
where aid is given to outsiders, each
church has its own charitable society,
there are several bands Of the Kings
Daughters and several charitable socie-
ties Independent Of church control. The
result is that the workers of these So
ceties cover the same ground in their
work TO a great extent. There are any
number of people in Savannah who make
a business of subsistng upon charity and
they regularly call upon every charitable
institution from which they can secure
aid They are careful to conceal the fact
when applying for aid that they have al
ready been aided by other societies.
The result of the present lack Of sys-
TEN is to encourage mendicancy while
deserving persons in distress are fire.
quently overlooked. Persons of any re-
finament will not seek aid IL they can
possibly avoid doing so. / have in
mind now case of a family which was
supposed TO be in good circumstances by
It's acquaintance, but was really in desu-
tuition. They were finally compelled to
make their situation known to friend,
who made the circumstances known to
several charitable persons and their needs
were supplied. II there was a recognized
organization, directing the work Of all
the charitable societies there would be no
need for parties in such circums tances
to hesitate TO apply for aid,
1T is not my idea that the present
charitable societies should give up their
separate organizations, Mr.. Solomons
said. They should all combine under
one central head though with a regular
set of officers. There should be a sec
rotary and treasurer at a small salary.
All confirm ions for the relief of the
poor made by the city and all general
contributions made by private persons
could be turned over to this organization
for distribution. The city could then be
divided into districts and committees reg
ularly assigned to look after each dis
trict. Regular reports should be required
Of these committees and the names of
persons aided and amounts given them
recorded. This would prevent parties
from seeking aid from half a dozen
sources and those who make practice
of living upon charity would soon be
Episcopalian and other societies preferred
to look out for their own people the com
mttees could simply be instructed 20 re-
port the names of persons belonging to
each class to the society of that church.
These are only some ideas which have
occurred to me-" said Mir. Solomons. IF
anyone will undertake TO outline plan
in detail ] will be very glad to hear from
them. Other cities have organized chari-
table associations and Savannah certainly
needs one. With such an organization
those who wished to give and who were
not connected with any church or society
would know where to direct their contri-
buttons. 1t is not only money, but sup
plies and clothing which are needed in
this work There are hundreds of persons
who have good clothing which they do
not care TO wear longer who would gladly
turn il over for distribution to the poor
if there were a recognized organization
always ready to receive it. In nut
shell my idea is to establish a headquar-
tiers or bureau for charitable work"
mum GEInNU