Evening star., 1895-02-02
II y
Their Distress Increased by the Snow
Storm Today.
AZ
THE RELIEF CQiMiiTEES WORK
Good Returns Have. Been Received
From the Ganvasse.s.
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS


open the envelopes sent in by the can
vassers. About one-half of the envelopes
left by the canvassers had come in up to
noon, and the returns were certainly en-
couraging. The full amount received from
canvassers and in direct ren1ittances to the
committee reached the sum of $6,563. This
amount will be considerably increased. al
though 1T cannot be expected to be doubled
by the other half of the reports to come in
Last year the amount collected by the
general canvass of the city brought in
$13,uOO. The same amount can be relied
upon, 1t is thought, this year. The condi-
tions are changed for the work now
harder times, less money in circulation,
many out of work who gave last year, and,
besides all this the greater need now had
pretty we'll drained many sources of char
ity before this collection began. Besides
money many blanks today had notices of
clothing to be sent for.
These were all turned over by Mr.. Wight
to Mr.. Lawrence Gardner, who will see
that they are collected. Many who give
articles in this way suppose the system of
collection is SO direct and perfect that a
wagon ought to come Immediately for
their contributions Many complain to the
canVassers or to Mr.. Wight. Those who are
good enough to give In this way must be
thoughtful enough to remember that it is
n gigantic task to plan a collection like
this. that the thing must be done systelnat-
ically by routes we'll arranged, and by
drivers well informed TOday's storm and
the fact that it is Saturday. and fewer
wagons are. available for: gathering up
supplies, somewhat impede the work OF
Mr.. Gardner has careful system of pre-
serving record of contributions, and every
driver has a blank filed out with the de-
scription of the thing TO DE called for, who
gives it, where it is and where it Is to be
taken. So. in case of any complaint, re-
sponsibility can be fixed and the error
traced at once.
The Associated Charities.
Mr.. Emery of the Associated Charities
had a busy office this morning. The
storm drove in a crowd Of destitute people,
who were cared for as rapidly as the force
could look into their stories of distress.
Before he was up this morning Policeman
Lewis called at Mr. EssnerYs house to re-
port four cases of need in the suburbs. Two
were widows with little children, who had
had no fuel for days aud had at last asked
for help. Before noon each had half ton
of coal at their houses. There are received
daily at the central office and the nine
branches an average. said Mr.. Emery, of
40 applications of needy people who want
help. ,a5c:
These, represent families, not individuals.
The office has record of 1900 destitute
people in the District.aGSo there is instant
means of knowing ALI the circumstances
of each person. The .Asspciated Charities
and the police exchange lists daily of the
cases they help. so asSta. know, what they
are about These 4I5 average cases daily
are new ones. They repeat in about one
week from the previous application. Mr..
Emery says the present crisis has reached
its climax. The end OF winter is in sight,
and there will doubtless DE am early spring.
But the strain now is Fearful. He sent to-
day to MIR. Wilkins of the central relief
committee bills to the amount. of s9S1 to be
paid.
And that is not all of, it, said Mr..
Emery. I'VE have fully $1,000 more for
which no allowance has been made. end
for which we have had to use our credit
and rely on future help
Mr.. Emery always tries to get poor peo-
pie work, and yesterday got places for 100
men in Virginia.
Busy at the supply Depot.
The supply depot of the relief committee
on Louisiana avenue was busy this morn
ing sending out to the police stations and
various substations the big lot of supplies
gathered yesterday. Among them was the
generous contribution of the War Depart
ment clerks, amounting to several tons of
food Col. Tracey, In charge of the depot.is
pushing supplies out just as fast as he
can in view of the storm. He gives large
share of them to the police. so that perish
allie articles may get to the poor promptly
and accomplish their good work in the
Central Union Mission.
The Central Union Mission has received
money and supplies from several sources
which have enabled it to resume its relief
work to a limited extent. Chief of these
was the pension Office contribution of about
three tons of groceries and nearly $500 in
cash It is hoped that by next week it
may have resources for a more general
relief. The managers have decided to
diminish the quantity of relief to each
applicant except in specially urgent cases.
so as to make the supply go as far pos
sble The scrutiny of each case will be
redoubled with d view TO sitting out the
most urgent cases and saving people from
actual starvation. AT no time has the
mission been able to fully meet the de-
mands upon it. When the work of relief
was discontinued for want of funds about
400 cases had been faSorably recommended
by visitors who had not received assist
ance There was not day passed that
hundreds of people We're not turned away
and their cases deferred for want of re-
sources to meet the demands. The public
has little conception of the awful deStitu-
tion which is represented in the crowds
MIR. Bailey says the only test of merit
this winter is the evidence of actual want.
1t is rot a question of good character or
past good or bad management. but of
actual need. In applying this test visitors
are instructed to ascertain whether fam
lilies have any income at. all, and, if so.
how much; also. whether they are reCeiV-
ing aid from any other source. On these
two points the investigation is careful and
thorough The mission has determined to
furnish small amount Of immediate re-
lief, such as loaf of bread Or a small sack
of meal, to such cases as present evidence
of urgent need, and ought not to await en-
treIy the slower process of investigation,
especially when the application is indorsed
by worthy citizens. This action is taken to
meet those heartrending, cases of actual
hunger of which there are hundreds. The
mission has in some cases had to feed peo-
ple who were fainting with hunger before
they could carry away their baskets. Mr.
Bailey says that when he turned the last
crowd away with empty baskets men and
women plead for just piece of bread.
Just then one of the helpers announced
that a basket of sandwiches had come in,
and the hungry crowd was allowed to pass
through the halls and each one was given
a nice sandwich.
The mission will be voted another $500
from the central relief committee this
afternoon which increases the total amount
given that organization by the relief COM
mittee to 1900. The committee in view Of
the storm and that it comes Just before
Sunday decided to appropriate $1,000 this
afternoon for the work of the week
The Soup Kitchen.
The Louisiana avenue soup kitchen, pre-
sided over by w. T. Crump, fed 1000 people
men, but some women,