The morning times., 1896-12-25
PUBLIC FUND EXHAUs TED
End ofthe Congressional Charity
Fund in Sight.
RECENT HEAVY DEMANDS
Police Lieutenants as AImOners In
the Present Freeze-Specimen
Cases of Extreme Distress-Sixty
Meritorious Applications Investi-
gated and Relieved.

1t was learned last night that the fund
OF 81 900 which is annually appropriated
| by Congress for charitable purposes, and
| which is dispensed largely by the police
on the approval OF the office or the super
| intendent, will probably have been ex-
hausted by next Tuesday night. This fund
is very important one, inasmuch as it is
always available and is used generally in
| emergency cases, the merits OF which are
| verified BY the police.
As has been stated by that organization,
| the Associated Charities is no longer an
| immediate relief giving body, although
! provision was made only few days ago
| whereby a committee of the Associated
| Charities shall cooperate with the dis
| trihution committee of the Central Relief
| Committee. In cases for immediate con-
sideration, therefore, the old plan, which
| has proved to be effective, is employed OF
having the police look into the case when
| application TO the superintendent OF chart
| ties is made for relief
Some Specimen Cases.
Yesterday was a case in point which
illustrated the efficacy OF this method. 1t
was stated last night that the sudden and
severe freeze brought more applicants to
| the office OF the superintendent than have
| appeared within two days of any previous
| winter. The work Of relief was done
quietly. between fifty and sixty cases of
| mesit having been attended TO aud soHie
| cases Of fraud rejected up to last night.
| Two cases are interesting. A very plaus-
| ibie story was told by a white woman
OF distress and suffering at her home.
She looked IT all. The request was made
OF one OF the lieutenants TO look into it
| immediately and report was made in
less than an hour. 1t was not a fraudu-
/ lent case in the offensive sense OF the
word, but it was undeserving-
| The husband OF the woman was at work
get good pay, but had blown it all in and
more. and left the home with the most
cheerless prospects. There was nothing for
the poor woman to do on behalf OF her
/ children but 10 seek public assistance. The
{ lieutenant knew the family, in fact, he
knows, as all lieutenants do, everybody in
/ his precinct. This case was arranged other
then at the public expense. 1t wa oh
viously a case in which the woman should
not have been exposed as fraud. She
made the sacrifice Tor her children.
Came in Good Clothes.
In another case the woman did not ap-
pear as d pauper. She, on the contrary,
made her appearance in her best clothes
but She told u fearful story of self denial
and recent suffering. She told the officer
in just so many words that if they did
not get relief that her children could not
live through the night.
Starvatiout1 death on Christmas Eve was
certainly a case for prompt relief. This
case was in South Washington. and tie
lieutenant found the facts Just as the poor
woman had reported them.
The superintendent OF charities los
not issue money TO applicants, but these
people were made happy last night with
fire and food and are out of their sore
distress
The work of the police yesterday when
between fifty and sixty OF good cases
were attended To is worthy OF special at
| tention, as it was all done in addition TO
their ether duties.
The Kindness of individuals was also ia ken
advantage OF. such as that of MeSsrs. Sak Ks
x Co., whose benevolent gifts OF over, oats
were literally gOdsends To many horics.
Last night about : o'clock two evidently
| oppressed white men, Shivering in sum
mer suits. were soliciting passengers for
aims on Thirteenth street near PemSyl-
| yania avenue. They were arrested OF
course, not because they were needy bat
| because they were breaking d law. The
officers told them that there were The
municipal lodging house and the Central
! Union Mission, where they could have Oh
tanned food and shelter for work. They
said they did not know of these facts. Ut
they We're, according to law, run in at
least out Of the cold.
Expect Heavy Demands.
Next week will probably be one Of great
activity with the Central Relief Com
nittce. About S40O has already been
contributed i'll response TO the appeal of
Judge Cole recently published in The
| Times. Mr. Lawrence Gardner, who has
perhaps had the largest experience in the
distribution OF charity among the poor
of the city than any other member Of any
organization in the work, is expected 20
return to the city Sunday or Monday Mr.
Gardner, it will be remem bered, was in
charge of the headquarters for the dis
tribution of food and supplies two years
ago, when it was necessary TO make the
house to house canvass. This plan has
not been abolished by the Central Relief
Committee, but is merely held in allegiance
in order TO test the appeal to the public
through the newspapers.
The experiences of yesterday practically
the first of the extremely cold weather,
indicate that, should it continue, large
Sums will he needed and large supplies OF
food and clothing.
1t will also be observed that the funds
placed by Congress ut the disposal OF the
official charities have been exhausted.
1t is said that the run on this fund was
caused, in great degree, by the fact that
the cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria
quarantine were made charge against
the fund.