The morning times., 1896-12-03
PROVIDING FOR THE POOR
District Commissioners Appeal
to the Board Of Trade.
CALL FOR PROMPT RELIEF
Special Committee Suggested to De-
wise Ways and Means of Aiding
Worthy Applicants = Associated
Charities Review Past and Present
Observation-Disclosures Of Distress.

| The prevailing cold wave has caused
| general activity among the charity organiza
tons of the city.
| There is an impression that there Will
be good deal of distress in the city this
| winter, and some of the reasons for this
| regardless of the weather, were given In
an article published In The Times on Ion,
| day, from the points of view OF one OF the
| labor leaders of the District.
lie nie,nod OF Lne associated charities
is well known to the public. This method
does not contemplate the giving of aid
directly from the office OF The charities
as heretofore, but rather to be, in the
phrase of that body, Il clearing house for
charity
The charities examine into cases, one
of its best works being To establish the
merit of the cases asking aid and to make
OF them proper reference. Quite recently
the board of mana cement appointed six
agents for as many districts of the city.
These agents We're provided for last year
hut owing to the IacS of funds their duties
were dispensed with last May
FOR THIS WINTER.
The board Of management has recently
had some conferences With the Commits
sioners looking to Il Capitalization and
perfection OF the relief work for the
ptcstEt WhitT- NHt W tUt NaS
seen in Il letter which the Commissioners
have written TO the board Of trade and
which will he discussed ut an early day
by that body.
The Commissioners anticipate severe
winter, and state that from present inGi-
cations there will probably be n great
deal of suffering among the destitute OF
the city. They therefore suggest early
provision for deserving eases, and that
a. of h,. hp.irl I've nnppi ft,sG whose
duty it shall he to aid III the relief work.
A method was adopted one year by which
4 committee, with headquarters at the
board of trade rooms, made Il thorough
canvass OF the city for contributions.
Notices Were sent to all residences asking
that the committee lac notified %hcn to
cail for contributions. BY this means Il
very large amount of money, provisions
and clothes We're raised and distributed.
1t is rot known, of course. in advance Of
the committee suggested 10y the COInnis-
sioners what method win lac adopted this
year, but active work viii doubtless be
commenced at an early day.
APPLICATIONS POURING IN.
The board OF trade had before 1t last
year several plans for permanent relief. but
none of these Were adopted. The impetus
given the question this year will probably
result differently.
W
days. but there lave been already many
| applications to the charities. the Central
| Union Mission Sanitary Officer Frank, and
| in fact, to all of the establishments and
persons from whom AID of any kind is IL
be expected.
| II is the belief o. the >sooiated charities
| that heretofore til, expense OF caring for tn
poor has been unnecessarily large and that
| this was increased by the giving of aid
to undeserviug persons This was one ofthe
points made clear to the commissioners by
statement prepared 10y Mr.. Wilson, agent
of the charities The statement Will in
tcrest the public and is 4 sfollows:
MR.. WILSON'S STATEMENT.
During the winter of 1s&3-9i the cen
trail relief coniEittcc received contrbu-
tions and supplies To the amounts Of $780,
0OO
During the winter OF isai-95 the cen
trail relief committee received contribu-
tions of money and supplies Ia the amount
or S2T 600, which when added TO the
Congressional appropriation Of SO 900 for
the poor, made the handsome sum Of S37,-
600
hWe do not say for the aid of the Eoor,
for ii is believed that much of IT was'uscd
by persons who had no right TO ask for aid,
because it is known that persons left eul-
ploymcnt and stopped work in order to
take auNdHtasc Oh tIc money anu pIoNi-
sions that were being distributed to ans
one who might call for them.
During the winter of 1885 &c the
emergency relief committee received about
$4,000, and the police department cXpcnd-
ed about Si 800. making Il total Of less
than 81 900, which. added TO the total
| expenditure of the Associated Charities,
$5,621 40. makes Il grand total amount
| of S12,T2l A, which enuuerates the
| whole expenditure for the poor from No
vember l , 1888, TO November /, 1896, by
| the public agencies.
This is but 254 per cent OF the amount
| expended iE '93 and 's4, and but a.
| per cent of the amount dsburscd in '94
and '95. As fitting addenda to this
| statement we assert that We have heard
no one say that the poor of Washington
were not as well cared for during last
| winter us in previous years.