Evening star., 1896-04-14
in CRITICAL MOOD
The Northeast Washington Citi-
zens' Association Meets.
ASSOCIATED CHARITIES ATTACKED
Fault Found With the Mcmillan
Bill to Elevate B. and O. Tracks.
OTHER OCEEDING s


walton No. 21O. But when The association
meeting was well under way Chairman E.
NJ Blake Of the legislative committee was
present with a communication signed by
himself, and the introduction of this caused
a discussion.
In presenting this communication, Presi-
dent Tucker said it had been fully consid-
cred by the members Of the executive COM
mittee, and this committee had acted IA
vorafly upon it.
The communication recited that resolu-
ton had been passed by the local Fedora
ton of Labor authorizing their Legislative
committee to invite the cooperation of the
different citizens associations in the Dis
trict of Columbia in forming a legislative
council, consisting OF a joint committee OF
five members each of all the organizations,
for the purpose OF considering and drafting
such legislation as mutual interests Of the
community may require, such proposed
legislation to be submitted for the approval
and ratification of the several bodies rep
resented, with the view of memor.aliZ:ng
Congress in support of such measures.
President Tucker and Mr.. Blake spoke
upon the question presented. The former
favored the plan because, he said, he real
iZed that there was not at present a thor
oughly representative organization in this
city-an organization which represents
both the poor and the rich, the working
men and the lettred citizens.
Mr.. Chappell nnd the Board of Trade.
These remarks were seconded by Mr..
Blake, and Mr.. Chappell said that both
men were mistaken. He referred to the
board Of trade. and said that the board rep
resents all classes, the workngmen as well
as the aristocrats.
Both Mr.. Blake and Mr.. Tucker said they
meant to say nothing against the board of
trade, except that the laboring men are not
,~lta In f6n .s1o ftny he
son for 1t. said Mr.. Blake, was that their
pocket books are not fat enough to pay the
dues.
Mr. Chappell objected to the associa ton
leaving its legitimate business and dabbling
in everything that comes along. He thought
the associa ton was as Influential as any
other body, and if X is not he thought it
about time 1t was.
The Split I'm the Labor Ranks.
Mr.. Colvin asked Mr.. Blake if there was
not at present a division in the labor ranks
Of the city, and he answered that there
was, but said that at present 1t did not
amount to very much. He explained the
split in the labor ranks, and then spoke at
length of the good which he thought " ould
be accomplished by the formation Of the
proposed organization. He told of the sew
eral labor bills now pending, and said it
was urging such legislation that the new
organization would undertake. These bills,
he said, are to benefit the laboring men.
One thing it is desired to accomplish Is to
prevent the importation on the sewer work
of Italians, another to abolish contract
work under the government, and another
to deffe the liability of employers ard to
protect life and limb of the employed. 1t
was hoped. he said, that legislation would
be enacted which would prevent the i'm
portation of all kinds of inferior labor. He
spoke of the garbage collection ser!!ce and
the street cleaning department, both of
which should be changed from contract to
days work.
The association. after further discussion.
decided to accept the proposition submitted
by Mr.. Blake, and the president appointed
members of the committee Messrs. w.
]. Frizzell. J. B. Algate, J. r. Covin, Sam
uel Sowerbutts and H. H. Martin.
President Tucker said he mad selected
these men because they are good workers.
and he knew the association would he sat
iSfied with them.
AssOcfafcl Charities Attacked.
The question of distribution of public
charities in the District also came in for a
lengthy discussion, complaint having been
received against the Associate Charities
by a committee from the George H.
Thomas Post. G. A. R., in the form of a
communicat tion which stated that at a reg
ular meeting of the post held April a
committee was appointed to submit facts
regarding the Associated Charities, and to
ask cooperation and assistance in rem
edying the evils complained of. ''We would
respectfully represent to your honorable
body" said the letter. that the Associated
Charities, body organized to assist the
needy poor of this city. are in the coEtin-
ual habit Of referring urgent, necessitous
cases applying to them for aid to the
churches and the only Grand Army Post
in the northeast section of the city, instead
of extending them the needed relief, al
claims, or at most very little, upon the said
post or churches" The report was signed
by P. w. Smith, F. p. Crisp and B. P. En-
triken.
Some Strong Criticisms.
Maj. ]. B. Burke said he had not very
much to say, except that the Associated
Charities are great big humbug. He said
that the Associated Charities were spend
ing a great deal of money for office rent
and salaries. but where there was any
charity coming from the organization he
William ]. Frizzell also spoke in denun-
ciatory tones of the Associated Charities
He said he had long thought that scme-
thing should be done abou. This crgantza-
tfon, but he had never cared to vent!iate
his views in public: but now hat the sub
ject was under discussion, he wanted to
tell what he thought of the organic ton
from personal observation.
Mr.. Chappell had been a member of the
Associated Charities for a number of
years, but since their virtual reorganizat ton
he said he had changed his opinion of the
nature OF the work done by them.
Members of the Grand Army post men,
toned were severe in their denunciation Of
the organization, and said that the organ
iZation credits itself with cases assisted by
other organizations. This, said the post
commander, is Unfair. The associa ton says
its object is to educate people to take care
of themselves. 1t has educated others
SO far to tell them where they can get
relief.
Several cases referred to the post by the
Associated Charities were mentioned. In
most of them. members of the committee
said, the applicants for assistance had no
claim whatever on the post, and why they
should have been sent by the Associated
Charities they could not tell.
A Costly Form of Charity.
Mr.. Smith, who is member of the post
told of what had been done by the relief
committee CT the post, and said that too
much money is spent in the payment of