The record-union., 1897-10-31

United Charities 1t resulted in
system; mob of struggling, conflicting
people became an army of efficient
workers. Aims were no longer made
temptation to the poor and people were
no more taught how TO live without
work. a lesson all too easily learned.
Organized and individual imposture
was checked and there ceased to be
battening upon benefactors.
While the New York organization is
the largest, it is not the first Lon
don preceded it, Buffalo followed, then
Philadelphia and Boston fell into line,
and to-day there are over one hum
dred such societies in the United States.
The records and returns of the small
districts, which are carefully can
vassed and constantly scrutinized, ena-
bic the clearing house or central body to
lift warning finger, to detect impos-
ture TO point out the chronic beggar, to
tell what the actual circumstances are
in each case, and how each can best be
helped-nOre than that, cases are dis
covered of honest need and dire distress
which would never reach the point of
appeal.
The central body designates the indi-
vidual, organization or humane society
to which the case belongs; and where
public appeal is deemed necessary, it is
made through this clearing house only.
Thus public confidence is stiffened; the
local societies greatly relieved relief is
systematized, and moreover no case is
lost sight of, once it is taken up, but
is followed until relief is no longer
needed, the party enabled to stand
alone, or permanent aid is secured.
Thus the central body becomes an
avenue through which labor is sought
found and supplied, and employment
is secured by honest seekers. Through
the local societies district visitation is
carried on. and overseers or visitors
carefully observe the distribution of re-
lief, and keep track of the beneficiaries
By this means waste and overlap
ping are almost entirely prevented, and
the worthy poor are best helped
to help themselves; no one is pauper-
ized; honest pride is not offended, and
humiliation is almost wholly avoided.
1t is said that never yet has the United
Charities" appealed to New Workers in
vain, such is the implicit confidence
of the public in it.
Up to July last the central body reg
istered 1926 new families and had un-
der care of district committees 8, 1873
families 1t had 5000 calls at the CEN
trail application bureau by persons ask
ing for advice only, and H. 967 appli-
cations in all. The district agents made
20,037 visits. The Wayfarers' Lodge
sheltered 1876 men, furnished 81 ,96S
meals, gave cash employment in its
wood yard to $685. men with families,
and sold $50, ,461 worth of frewood.
And this represents only a small por-
ton Of it's work. For 1878 the organ
ization will be broadened to cover
Greater New York, and it's work thus
increased greatly.
1t would be very easy, indeed, to
adapt such a system to Sacramento.
Let the general the church and society
charities; the Children's Society, the
Humane Society, the guilds and all
other charity organizations resolve
upon it and the establishment of a
United Charities will be a light task.
We will not have nor need here such
a handsome and architecturally beau
tiful and lofty structure to house the
clearing house, as stands at Twenty
second street and Fourth avenue in
New York as the charities building. A
modest Office, a large-hearted, shrewd
and humane superintendent and a
bright clerk will answer all our necessi-
ties.
Economically it will be blessing to
each charitable organization and money
saving to them; its cost viii be a hun
dred fold returned benefactions will be
vastly greater; public confidence in
wise administration of charity funds
will be restored; assurance be given
that no worthy need goes unrelieved;
no deserving poor neglected; that no
man or woman worth it is devoid of
shelter or raiment; no child neglected
and left to drift into the criminal ranks
while labor for those able and willing
to work will be found.