The herald., 1897-02-15
HOW TO HELP THE POOR
A neeting at hrs. Potter Palmer's Addres sed
by Robert Treat Paine

Mrs. Potter Palmer's home was the
meeting place Wednesday night of $50
representatives of the leading philan-
thropic organizations of the city, which
are allied with the bureau of associa ted
charities. The assemblage was the third
and last of series of conferences for the
purpose of discussing the most effect
i've methods of charitable work and the
problems connected Herewith, and Rob-
ert Treat Paine was the guest OF honor
and speaker of the evening.
Mr. Paines address was chiefly de-
voted to an explanation in detail of the
system under which ali charitable work
is performed in Boston. A central bu-
reau, or a sort of clearing house for all
charitable organizations, in Mr. Paine's
estimation, is absolutely essential to the
proper dfSpensation of relief to the des-
titute. The results achieved by the sys-
tenn in Boston, he said, have been satis-
factory beyond expectation. He hopes
that the efforts now being made to or
ganize the charities of Chicago will over
come the antagonism which exists.
In explaining the central bureau sys-
tenn as it is operated in Boston, Nj.
Paine stated that the annual cost of
maintaining the bureau is $4,000, which
is raised by subscription. None of this
money, he said, was used in extending
relief, that function being exercised
solely by the various charitable organ
izations. In this manner the bureau at
no time interferes with the province of
any society but on the other hand, aids
in the intelligent performance of the
work.
Mr. Paine's remarks were frequent
ly interrupted by applause, especial
approval being given to his description
of the method by which popular sub
scription of over $780, 900 was expended
by the citizens relief committee in Bos-
ton in 1898. in the payment Of wages to
the unemployed for work on public i'm
provements.
Mr. Paine told how in Boston in the
winter of 1898 all of the subscribed relief
fund of 100000 was expended in wages.
I'VE found fifteen sewers to be con-
structed the following summer said
Mr.. Paine. 1.-The city contracted with
the committee for the building of those
sewers at the normal price for such
work, and we did the work, laboring
three days a week at $1.50 per day, or q
little less than if it had been performed
in the summer, and the extra cost was
borne by the relief committee. We al
so improved two streets under contract
with the city. Another contract was
made with private parties who wanted
a hill removed on Dorchester heights.
About one-half Of the idle men cleaned
the streets. The garbage and debris
was removed from private alleys and
passageways, which the city had object
ed to cleaning. The excellent sanitary
results prompted a second cleaning of
these places a month later. Workrooms
were opened in a large vacant building,
donated for the purpose by the owner,
where several hundred women were en-
ployed at sewing, etc. In the basement
men accustomed to indoor labor were
given work at their trades. All of the
money contributed was thus used in the
payment of wages.
1.-THE normal provisions afforded by
the county agent and the relief and aid
societies should be adequate to takink
care of the relief work in all normal
years." Mr. Paine said. when an ex-
ceptional year brings extreme distress
an emergency fund is perhaps necessary,
but 1t should be given out only after
careful investigation. In doing this ex :
pert agents in humane work should be
the visiting agents, instead of inexperi-
enced men,