The San Francisco call., 1897-02-16
THE MAYOR AIDS
The UNEMPL DYED
He Contributes a Large
Amount to the Relief
Fund.
Tie Organization Almost Unani-
mously Appoints Him
Treasurer.
A Municipal Conference Called for
To Morrow Afternoon to Dis
cuss Relief.


days ago, made definite progress yester-
day and, thanks to the generosity of Mayor
PheIan, secured the nucleus of fund
which will be judiciously applied to the
amelioration of distress.
1t was originally proposed that the re-
lief committee should wait upon the Mayor
and the Board of Supervisors as a body.
but that programme was subsequently
modified and the chief executive re ceived
the delegation privately. He gave careful
attention to its representatives and prom
ised to confer with the finance committee
and the board with a view to determining
upon some feasible course of action. He
assured the members of the delegation of
his cordial sym pathy, as tangible evil
dence of which he contributed check for
$3.50 out of his own pocket, in response to
the appeal of the soliciting committee.
The organization at second meeting In
the Turk-street temple appointed the
Mayor an honorary member of the execu-
tive committee, which was considerably
enlarged, and treasurer of the funds of
the organization. The meeting then ad-
journed to assemble again this afternoon
a l O. CLOCK.
Chairman Leffingwell called the organi-
cation to order yesterday and briefly re-
viewed the situation. He noted with sat
| isfaction the increase in the attendance
| and determination.
After the reports of previous meetings
| b ad been adopted the relief committee
presented the following report on
| finances. Subscriptions solicited, S3l;
cash paid in OF that amount, SIG; balance
due, $15; expenses, 81; meal tickets, SO;
total, 81; balance on hand, 50.
The chairman stated that the meal tick
cts were furnished to those in absolute
need, and that the committee on head
quarters had not yet decided upon any
particular building, but was considering
the offer of one located on Howard street.
While the committee had not encoun-
tered any excessively philanthropic peo-
pie, it had received encouraging ass1r-
ances OF assistance III every direction. He
had 1t on the authority OF Supervisor De-
laney that the board was contemplating a
project whereby the unemployed might
be put to work.
1t was suggested that precautionary
measures should be taken 10 prevent i'm
pos .ors obtaining money in the name of
| the organization. The chairman, how
ever, assured the meeting that the mem
bers of the committee were supplied with
the necessary credentials.
On motion, a statement prepared by the
! committee, for presentation TO the Mayor
and the Board of Supervisors was read by
the secretary. 1t set forth that there was
undisputed distress in the City, and that
| the unemployed had no means of afford
/ ing alienation. Proper investigation
would prove that this state of affairs was
not due to the unemployed themselves,
! who were only too anxious to obtain work
without having recourse to charity. That
go many helpless women and children
should be subjected TO such dire conditions
was too horrible to contemplate and dis
| grace to society and civilization. The or
ganization asked for immediate assist
board to take some decided action with
reference to the condition of the unem-
pioyed. The report was adopted
! Those present, to the mum ber of at least
200, then lined up four abreast and
marched in procession to the City Hall,
where the Mayor at once accorded the
committee g hearing. The rest of the
crowd remained il the main corridor un-
der the eagle eye of an officer. The Mayor
read the foregoing statement and listened
to the verbal repre- sentations of individual
mem bers of the committee. Rogers ex-
planned that the unemployed had searched
vainly for work and that they were Just
now in need of ready money 10 provide a
distributing station for supplies.
The Mayor replied that the City itself
had no EN- ployment for them, but prom
ised he would confer with the finance
committee and the Board of Supervisors
aad see what could be done. The City
might be able to provide some building in
a central location for the housing of the
homeless and the distribution of supplies.
He understood and fully believed that it
was not charity, but employment, that
they wanted.
1t was at this iuncture that he contrib
uted the check for $3.50 as his share
toward the relief fund. He afterward
asked if any of them had investigated the
Industrial plan of Mayor Plngree OF De-
troit, for details of which he had already
written. In Boston, he continued, they
were cultiyating vacant lots and were said
10 be making 81 90 day wages. If a small
fund could be raised here to keep the
laborers until they had obtained some re-
turn, it might be possible 10 cult vate
vacant lots near the Park. as was done
eight or ten years ago. and a night service
OF cars could. perhaps, be put on to convey
trelehtto the public market. This plan
would certainly compete with Italian
gardeners, but what then? The measures
taken were only temporary; something
permanent should be done.
Il am glad, however" the Mayor said,
ito have met you. l will see the Finance
Committee, the Associated Charities and
Mr.. fitzgerald. We wall put our heads
together and see what steps can be taken.
| l know that the board has no funds, and
it is forb dden to devote moneys TO any
9th er purpose than that authorized by
law" In conclusion, he advised them to
scriptions, and requested the relief COM
mittee to meet him again at noon on
Thursday, when he would let them know
what had ben decided by the board.
The organization having reassemb bled in
the Turk-street temple, Chairman Lifting
well reported the result of the interyie W,
which was received with cheers and a
hearty vote of thanks rendered the Mayor
for his generous donation and Kindly re-
ception.
On Fobe's motion the relief and head
quarters committees were constituted a
single executive committee, with the ad
ditioG ofthe following four names: Messrs.
Luke. Rookvitch, Grimmer and Sevil.
The press of the City was thanked for
the impartial manner in which it had
treated the cause of the unemployed.
James Mum here suggested the adyisa-
ollity of placing the funds in safe keeping.
lie had no intention, he said, of rejecting
upon the integrity of the committee, but
ala not think II wise TO expose its me m
bers to tenn ptation. Poverty, you know"
SAID Mum, knows no law"
J. A. Rogers resented the suggestion as
unwarrantables qualification of the author
lily OF the committee, but the general
sense OF the meeting was Otherwise ex-
pressed after stormy discussion which
threatened to imperil the cordial relations
hitherto prevailing. Mayor Phelan was
appointed, on division, honorary mem be-
and treasurer OF the executive committee.