The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-22
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.

Seattle. Nov. 81 1896.
TO the Editor: In the article Starved
TO Death" giving an account of the clos
ing OF the office of the Bureau of Assoc
ciated Charities. il is said that "the Buff
faio plan killed the bureau" This is a.
mistake. The Buffalo plan" was not
thought of until after the closing OF the
bureaus Office. When il was found that
the Board OF Friendly Visitors, that has
done such noble work as an auxiliary to
the bureau. had decided TO discontinue
their organization, IL was imperative that
some action be taken TO secure at least
the intelligent oversight of the struggling
ana needy families In various parts of
the city To this end l proposed to the
ministers meeting a local application of
what is called the Buffalo plan" which
Is the dividing the city into SO many dis
tricts, each district TO be cared for by
some church or charitable organization,
with a central committee TO keep regstra-
ton, and, in time. with a central office
and paid agent. This plan is not antago-
nistic to. but coordinate with the idea of
Associated Charities. In Buffalo. where
the churches are thus engaged In good
works. there is perhaps the best charity
organization society in this country. Buff
falo Is the pioneer place in America for
scientific charity. II was not only the
lack Of funds that compelled the closing
OF the bureau, but a lack of association
OF churches and charitable societies.
Through THE Buffalo plan" which prom
ises TO he successful. IL is hoped that the
central Office and agent, a sort of d clear
ing house" for charitable work will be
f1rmly established. In spite of the want
OF cooperation and support, the bureau
has been of immense benefit to this city
Mr.. Gasch told me the other day that
whereas the amount expended by the
county for relief of the poor in the county
outside OF Seattle was larger last year
than the year before, the sum expended
In the city was $500 less" And this is
due" said Mr. Gasch. largely TO the work
of the Bureau of Associated Charities"
This Is certainly something for the COM
mittee on retrenchnlent to consider II
does not mean that the bureau itself spent
this amount. IL is not the object OF the
Associated Charities to give aims. II in
yestigates prevents overlapping and i'm
posture. and remands worthy cases 90 the
proper source of relief The Friendly Wis
itoFs, through an emergency fund, give
help where IL is actually necessary. but
principally in the way of clothing. etc.
1t has been by careful investigation. incul-
cation OF the lessons of seif-help. thrift
and Independence that the bureau has
saved the county such expense
II citizens would give time TO study
the plan OF the Associated Charities and
read or what IL * doing in other places.
as for example In the city OF Portland.
they would certainly provide the necessary
s15 month 10 keep the Office open. No
matter how much good may be done by
''the Buffalo plan of each church caring
for a district. or by the Salvation Army
which looks out mainly for transient and
unmarried men. or by the Ladies' Relief
Society. whose efforts are largely concen-
trated on the Orphans Home. II is alb
soiuteiy essential 10 thorough and eco
nou1fc administration of charity that there
should be a central Office where all cases
may be sent for investigation. and where
a paid agent who gives his whole time 20
the matter should attend In a sympathetic
but firm and wise manner TO every appli-
cant. however worthy or unworthy the
case might be.
In this connection would like to call
attention 10 the incompleteness OF the
state laws relating TO the care Of the
poor. The next legislature should remedy
this. ana one Of the principal things should
be the providing In counties OF a certain
size Tor an "overseer OF the poor" snch
m they nave In nearly every other state
IN the country. Such an Office. however
much We may regret the necessity Of oat-
door RELIEF, would be great saving 10 the
taxpayers. | believe that Mr.. GaSch has
been one OF the most efficient and eco
nornfc. as well as kiudest and most SYM
pathetic officials I'm THIS respect that 7
have ever known. and yet he himself
recognizes the value OF having some one
official who viii give hts whole attention
70 the administration Of charity through
the public channels.
n q GARRETT