Evening star., 1897-01-29
To Raise Money for the Poor by an
Entertainment.
LITTLE LET Up IN DISTRESS
Police and Associated Charities
Dealing Out Relief.
CONTRIBUTIONS
REPORTED

the present cold spell and the possible lack
of funds during the rest of the winter, by
the police have caused number of ladies
to commence the arrangements for a char
ity concert to raise money to be placed in
the hands of the police force. Mrs. Tom
c. Noyes is making the preliminary ar
rangements for the affair." which will take
place next Friday afternoon at the National
Theater, Mr.. w. H. Rapley having gen.
erously rendered the use of the theater for
the purpose. 1t is expected that little or
no expense will be necessary and that the
entire sale of seats can be devoted to re-
lief purposes, and a committee of patron
esses will be announced shortly. and the
formation of the program pushed.
Seats are to be placed on sale at different
places, and it is expected that the police
will also be allowed to sell them
Police Kept Busy.
Maj. Moore and Chief Clerk Sylvester of
the police department were busy this
morning receiving and acknowledging re-
ceipts of money, food, fuel and clothing
for the poor, and although the citizens
were generous in their donations, the de-
mand was far greater than the supply. In
most of the precincts last night the supply
was exhausted long before the applicants
ceased appearing and stating their needs.
During the day the lieutenants disposed of
the needy ones by giving them orders for
food and fuel enough to last several days.
Orders for $1.J0 worth of each were given
to those who were actually suffering and
had families, while others were given bread
and meat that had been sent to the sta
ton, as well as some clothing. Many of
the suffering ones wanted food, for they
had put In their fuel earlier in the season,
while others who had food were able to
make out with small supply of fuel.
Then there were others who wanted cloth
ing, and the wooden garments donated
were given to Them In cases of orders for
food and fuel the size of the order was
changed when it was seen that the days
allowance would not hold out, and 81 or
ders Instead of s15O orders were given.
Even then the allowance would not hold
out" of the lieutenants remarked
and some of the applicants had to be
turned away"
In my precinct" said Lieut. Vernon,
the officers were kept busy until after 8
o'clock last night
There were SO many cases in which fam
lies were actually suffering that the police
did not keep a special record of them.
Strong men and women, as well as frail
children, appeared at the stations crying
for help. The parents wanted something
to keep life in their children. and many of
the children were looking out for their pa
rents. -
A great many cases of persons who
sought relief of the police as the last resort
came to light yesterday, and a number of
other cases of people who would suffer
rather than ask for assistance were also
reported. These the police term quiet
cases. and they consider it true charity
when family of this kind is relieved AS
a rule these cases are learned of through
nelghbors, who do not feel that they want
to offer assistance for fear of insulting the
ones who have not been always poor. In
al such cases reported an officer. generally
and immediate relief followed. Lieut.. Nc
Cathran mentioned one case in Southeast
Washington that came to the attention OF
the officers i'll this way. When the house
was visited the officer found the family OF
several children virtually starving. There
was no food nor fuel in the house and
what the people would have done had not
the case been reported the police could not
tell But soon after the officer left the
house there was smoke coming from the
chimney and pots and kettles were used
The smell of food once more frightened the
nearts OF the sick and well ones, and the
poilce gave a supply large enough to las,
the family several days. Last night the
police of the sixth learned of a case of ex-
treme destitution.
"A man who was well dressed and who
had been in fairly good circumstances call
ed and said that very much against his
VIII he was compelled to ask for some
thing to eaS. His case needed no inves-
uSation, for the police had heard of tne
of an hour he would have been given re-
lief
Il hated to have to ask for anything. -
said the man. but 1 can't get any work
and L can't let my children starve. I've
sold almost everything in my home and
i sell any more Ill not have bed On
which to sleep"
The man had actually sold all except the
furnishings of one room and his cooking
utensils. This the police knew, so with
out any hesitation they filled his big bas-
ket and were only sorry that they could
not give his family something more than
the bare necessdries of life.
Another man who called was well dressed
and was wearing a silk hat. But his
outward appearance did not proclaim the
inner feelings. He was a physician and
although he had fairly good practice he
was without the necessaries of life.
II have plenty of patients" he said
but like myself they are all poor and are
unable to pay me- Still, 1 could not
neglect them, and now l am in want"
An order for food and fuel was given.
Provisions Sent.
Cases similar TO these were reported in
;he different precincts, and the lieutenants
did all they could with the funds provided
10 feep down The suffe ring. The hundreds
of pounds of meat, thousands of loaves cf
bread and provisions of all kinds, donated
to the police are sent to the nine police
ing much the appearance of grocery and
provisitn stores. Policemen and station
keepers have charge of the provisions and
act as clerks. These provisions are dis
tributed in quantities large enough to 10
good and keep down hunger for two OF
three days at least.
Il don't believe in giving out pound OF
food for large family" said one of the
leatenants, so that when the next meal
is over the family will be as bad off as
ever
Most of those who call at the stations
bring their baskets with them, and the
| needy cnes go away with them well filled
while the impostors who are found are
sent away with their baskets empty But
very few such people are found and un-
| less the police are doubly sure they are
right before they refuse.
Maj. Moore and Chief Clerk Sylvester's
mail today did not show that there was
great decrease in the number of persons
| who are in need, for most of the letters
received contained requests for food and
| fLel while others contained donations.
Contributions Received.
| Rev. 7. De Witt Talmage, pastor of the
| First Presbyterian Church, headed today's
| subscription list of the police department
| with 500. Other donations were received
| as follows:
Wheatley Bros. $50 o.