Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-12
ARE SEEKING FOOD
Cold Weather Brings Suffering to
the Poor.
JUDGE MILLER'S Two LETTERS
An Official Spoke Of the Induce
ments to Tramps.
SOME ESPECIAL CASES
SOME ESPECIAL CASES


ture comes an increased number of poor
| persons, who are seeking food and clothing
as well fuel. and many of them are
seeking places of shelter. The first caller
at police headquarters this morning was a
citizen of South Washington who wanted
to report case of distress, and he was by
no means the only one who called during
the day to unfold to Chief Clerk Sylvester,
who has charge of the charity work, tales
of restitution and suffering.
Deputy Marshal Springmann was the one
to make the early morning complaint. He
reported that in house at 9th and H
streets, living in a basement, is a woman
with five children, and he says they are
penniless and are in reed of food, fuel and
clothing. The woman's husband was sem
fenced to states prison only a short time
ago for embeZzling small amount of
money from the keeper of a livery stable,
and the wife and children are without any
means whatever.
The woman, he says, sold her clock for
81 to pay her house rent, and when the
month was up, and she could not get to-
gether the next 81 rent money, she was
given notice to quit, and she Is now afraid
of being elected This is only one of
number of similar cases called to the at
tention of the police recently.
While there has been steady demand
for charity all the summer, and the num-
Der mas increased during recent Gays, the
number is not large 1t was this time
last year when the charitable work was
commenced by the central relief committee.
with headquarters at the Central Union
Mission.
The Relief Committee.
This committee has not yet been called
together, although it is still in existence.
The members of the committee were Mrs.
]. w. Babson, Justice c. C. Cole, Charles
G. Conn, Johl F. Cook, L. S. Emery, Law
| renee Gardner, Miss Harriet B. Loring.
Theodore w. Noyes, DR.. l.. w. Richie.
John G. Slater, James w. Somerville, John
Tracey, B. H. Warner, Beliah Wilkins and
Mr.. Isaac L. Blout.
The officers and subcommittee were:
Chairman, c. c. Cole; vice chairman, Miss
Harriet B. Lorins; secretary, l.. S. Emery;
treasurer, Beriah wilkins.
Committee on ways and meanS-Theodore
w. Moves, 1. L. Blout. Beriah Wilkins, DR..
Richie and Mrs. ]. w. Babson.
Distribution ommittee,LaWrence Gard
Fer, Miss H. B. Loring, John F. Cook, John
Tracey and J. W. Somerville.
Auditing committee-B. H. Warner, John
G. Slater and Charles G. Conn.
Committee to canvass for contributions
of money and supplies-John B. Wight,
Mrs. H. B. F. Macfarland and George E.
EmmonS.
This committee will not be called together
unless there is a great amount of suffering
which cannot be alleviated by the police and
existing charity organizations.
Other Work.
The police department is doing all it can
with its limited amount of funds. AMI only
worthy cases are relieved, and all cases are
fully investigated before being passed upon.
The municipal lodging house is in opera
ton and every night accommodates from
thirty to seventy unfortunates. This in
stitution, although intended for tramps and
other strangers, manages to care for many
n PET
food or who sometimes want to enjoy the
luxury of comfortable room in which to
sleep go there and saw wood for what they
get.
bringing Trnmps.
Some members of the police department
are complaining that the trampS and people
who have no claim this commun-
ity whatever get too much of what is do
mated to the poor of the city. The good
food and comfortable quarters given these
people, said an officer, serve as an induce
| ment for them to come here and the holiday
dinner announcement, he says, always at
tracts them here from other cities. He
thinks there is too much leniency shown
| the tramps, and that instead of being lodged
and fed they should be driven out of the
city or sent to the work house Many of
| them have been arrested and some sent out
of the city. or released. while others have
been sent down.
But most Of the charity organizations deal
with the poor who belong here, and it is
said that the tramps will not fare as well
this winter as they did last. The police,
| Mission. as well as other charitable organ
izations, will continue the good work this
winter, and will receive and distribute ar
ticles of food, fuel and clothing contributed.
Judge Miller's Letters.
Judge Miller received two letters today,
one asking him to do an act of charity in a
case before the court, and the other asking
his assistance for family in which there
are six young children, besides the mother
and father. One letter. which referred to
| the case of colored woman charged with
a violation of the liquor law and keeping a
disorderly house, reads:
In the case of Mary A. johnson, which
comes before you today, will you not, in
case of conviction, see that some action is
taken in regard to her children, aged eight
and ten. l am informed that since her ar
/ est they have been without fire, light or
food. except what those as poor as them
selves have been able to give. Hoping this
will not tax your well-knoWn benevolence
| too far, have the honor to be-" etc.
Both Mr.. Pugh and Mr.. Mullowny were
consulted, and upon their recommendation
the woman was released on her personal
bonds.
The other letter was written by the moth
er of the four. follows:
MIR. Miller-Allow ME the privilege dear
sir. to write to you stating my circum-
| stances, as 1 am poor lady without
means, two members of the family sick
and husband out of work, with no food no
fuel ard about to be put out of doors NV
| husband is poor laboring man, without
| any trade, and he is a sober, industrious
| man, and will work when he can get it.
"All 1 want to know is if there is any
way l can get helped, for the sake of my
poor little children, as there are six of us
in the family, and not bite to eat and no
| fuel to keep US warm. If you could use
your influence for US you would be doing
deserved charity to a destitute family in
need, and will never forget you for it,
The woman lives on Half street southeast
between N and o streets, not far from the
James Creek canal.
Judge Miller referred the letter to Chief
! Clerk Sylvester Of the police department,
who sent an officer to investigate the case
Gets Damages.
In the case of Jeanette Keys, admins
| r;v Of he 70 IF bor h,,ch