Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-05
RELIEF FOR THE POOR
Thorough Investigation Of Appeals Greatly
Reduces Belief Work.
OF Thirteen Hundred Calls for Aid I'm
Actually Necessary and Deserving.

The Associated Charities managers held
their monthly meeting yesterday afternoon
and listened to the report of Secretary
George s. Wilson, which was the first under
his administration. There were present
Rev. w. E. Parson, Mrs. DR.. Hood, Rev. J.
H. Bradford. Rev. George Q. Little, Mr.. L.
s. Emery, Mrs. ]. w. Babson, Miss Cath
crime B. Hosmer. Miss Florence Spofford
and Rev. Charles A. Smith. TIE report of
John Joy Edison. treasurer, was read, show
ing q balance on hand Of 81, 124. Mr.. Will
son then read the following report, which
was approved and placed on file:
The Secretnry's Report.
Our work has now been tested during
the longest Of the winter months, and thus
far we have been able to meet the demands
made upon us. The mild weather no doubt
has had an important influence in making
the work lighter than it would otherwise
have been. Still there has been a good deal
of pressure during the past month. and we
think that it can be fairly claimed that the
results justify the new policy adopted by
the society.
Owing to the fact that our agents are so
busy with the work Of investigation, am
urable to furnish all the detailed statistics
connected with the work OF the past month,
but can give all the most important facts
and figures. We have dealt with 1853 ap-
plicants for relief during the month of JAN
uary; OF this number 753 were from white
persons and GOO from colored. These fig
ures would seem to indicate very clearly
that the problem of dealing with the poor
IN washington is not by any means con-
fined to the work among the colored people,
1t is no doubt true that the colored people,
as class. are improvident and often live
from hand to mouth. 1 suppose there is no
doubt that had the work of collecting
lief funds been undertaken on large scale,
as 1t was a year ago, and the fact widely
advertised. the proportion of the colo-ed
people to white people seeking relief would
many people who by struggling can get
along when they understand that they
must do SO, but If a large fund was raised,
which would attract them. they would
make demands for relief In such case
the evil cannot entirely be met by investi-
cation, for 1t Is true that many of these
people are SO constantly near the border
line of subsistence that If they cease to
In absolute restitution, and that fact Is the
most investigation can bring to light. The
experiences of the past month clearly say
do not advertise relief work.
OF the l, 1853 families who lave made ap-
plication, 51S, almost exactly one-third
have been aided in one way or another.
Through the Central Union Mission wood
yard we have been able to offer temporary
permanent employment for persons. The
cooperation Of churches and other organ
1zations, while it has not been as perfect
as 1t ought to be. or as we hope 1t will be.
still 1t has been such as to give encourage
ment, considering the fact that people are
unacquainted with the methods of work
which we have recently adopted. Many
persons representing these organizations
express their willingness to cooperate with
us, and will come to us, as they have be an
accustomed to do recommending families
Tor aid, Vouching for their need and worth-
ness, and stating the fact that they are
members of their organization or society
1T Is, of course, great disappointment to
these people to be told that we expect them
to do the relief work, and it requires some
explanation to enable them to see the ne
cesSty for the existence Of our organiza-
ton If we are not actually furnishing ma
terfal relief. These are difficulties we must
anticipate, however. and they can only be
overcome by a campaign Of educational
work.
Relief was procured from churches for IS
families, and from other orga nizations for
70 families Ninety-nine families were aid
ed through the Golden Book and 263 from
the supplies of The Star pound party One
hundred and ten families were relieved
through the funds in the hands of the
emergency committee. The supplies from
the pound party are now exhausted, and we
will have to depend upon the funds raised
by the emergency committee for the relief
OF families not connected with any church
draw.
People gradually learning the import
ance of referring to us for Investigation
street beggars and other unknown appli-
cantS for aid. OF these referred during the
month of January 46 gave false addresses,
fact which always indicates fraud and
deception on the part of the applicant
Some families have been reported to us
from as many as six different sources while
a multitude Of families have been reported
from three or four different sources; which
facts show the necessity of cooperation
through a central clearing house and It
also illustrates the fact tina. we have even
now considerable co-operat ton. One fam
lily, In the southeast, applied at our office
IN that division, and was referred to her
church, from which she had been aided for
several years; then she applied to another
church and was referred back to us, and in
turn the matter reported to her church
again. Then she applied to the Central
Union Mission, and from there was report
ed to us, and back again to her own diyis-
ION. Then she wrote letter to one of the
papers, which, in turn. was sent to U.S. and
was turned over to her division. Then she
applied to lady in her own section who
reported the matter to our office, and thus
she was thwarted at every point
One woman street beggar was reported TO
us by two different parties within few
hours, the report being that the woman
claimed that she had children suffering and
some of them sick at a certain address, On
looking up the case cur agent found that
TO Such PERSON lived there or was known in
that neighborhood. Two persons acted in
diligently and referred the woman to us
for investigation. We ask how many aided
her on the strength of the story told?
The conferences in most of the sections
have been organized and a few visitors are
at work. We have not been able to give as
much attention to this work as is desired.
owing to the fact of the increased demands
upon our time in dealing with applicants
for relief, nor will we be able to devote as
much time to this work as we would desire
during the pressure of the extreme winter
months.
We are meeting the demands for relief in
the quietest possible way, and 1t would
seem that the best thing we can possibly
do during the winter is to meet the demand
and avoid the danger of calling into exist
ence any irresponsible or indiscriminate re-
lef-giving organization. With the police
force without funds and the Central Union
Mission having abandoned the work of Civ
ing outdoor relief, the demand naturally
falls upon us. and if with the help of the
emergency committee we can meet such
demand during the next two months, and
have saved the community an outlay of
possibly fifteen or twenty thousand dollars.
we will then be in position to give the
community practical demonstration of
the necessity for such work of investiga-
ton and registration as this society under