The times., 1897-12-08

Commissioner Wight and Major Moore,
superintendent Of police, several days ago
had protracted conference with regard
to the destitute Eocr or tile District, ;,nd
their prospects for tie coming winter.
The part that the police department
| takes Ill the winter charity work was
alsc under discussion. Commissioner Wight
suggested at the time to MAJOR Moore
| that the story of the Police end If the DIS
trict charity work be embodied in writ
ten report.
This report was submitted yesterda with
a suggestion from Major Moore tfat this
caring for the destitute should be taken
entireiy out of the hands OF lie police if
possible, as it Is cne of tie many. outside
duties OF tie department that taxes way
frcn, their usefulness in the prevention ana
detection of crime. TIE rcpcrt says:
Washington is neither north nor south,
with a southern nativity among residents
far III excess of any city situated i'll
latitude 50 far north, who. are largely lie
pendent upon dry winters. Mostly coiored,
they succunlb easily 10 the cold. There are
bond and father; widows " 10 came here
after the war; families OF the men who
found employment here in former years.
but who have died and left :hcIn without
support. There are many women forn erly
i'll the departments, now at other work,
who barely exc out an exist ence.
The police force of the District las
since its organization been used as a dis
frtb tir,oy
1T has been established that in The course
of tl,eir tour OF duty policemen meet with
cases of distress. Strangers first appeal
to them: the iuposter tx not apt 20 do so;
the professional tramp VIII not do 1t sue
cessfullv. Familiar with their beats, they
know the INDECENT, and where they live
al: the time, where they suffer in winter
time.
Major Moore speaks Of the iitiably lin
tied means of support that many Of tie
families have in winter who manage to
get along fairly comfortably in summer.
y little sewing for the women, selling
papers by the boys, the dumps for fuel are
their only resources.
Many young girls without families, and
wholly without employment, are also
among the cares of ~,e police, and in
addition to all these are the I'D end
dependent classes who must nave relief
in winter or starve or freeze.
AS TO the methods OF the police, Major
Moore says
IF the applicant is not known to an
officer, he leirns who he is, and enough
about him TO enable him 70 report fur or
agninst the cry for relief.
II favorable report is made to the lieu
tenant of the precinct, the latter, il au-
thorized by headquarters to aid the poor
and this depends upon the means in IA 1d,
issues an order from a record in which
he writes name, address, etc, Of the per
son assisted on a stub, and the original
he fills ar order on a nearby grncery or
coal yard for food TO the amount Of say
50, and fuel TO the extent of "A quarter of
a ton.
a the end OF each month re merchant
70 whom such orders are given renders lis
account against the department, accom-
panyiug il with the lieutenang's orders a
given.
When The department has but a sma
fund at command only the most urgent
cases are helped where there Is sickness,
babies or other special reason. Al! tllph-
liberia, scarlet fever and contagious dis
ease c@ses have heretofore been assist "a
by the police. To them the health officer
aud many physicians refer she POOR in
whose families such cases prevail
There are other persons who avoid the
uniformed officer-women and men who
would rather perish than make known
their distress. A great many such ,ome
to headquarters and make their appeals
quietly There are others who never
make known their troubles, who some
times are accidentally learned Of ur who
may be discovered through the sunday
school, church or charitable association.
when great snow storms prevail, and
goods and provisions are sent To the sta
ton houses, the packages are invcntoried
and dealt out where deserving persons
apply. A ton Of coal is often dumped IN
station leuse yard and the poor line up
and carry it away in small basket lots.
The interest ON the centenaial Inaugural
fund of S35,o00 isavailable by the District
in this connection