The times., 1897-12-10
CHARITY AGENTsNOLONGER
Police Not to Distribute Relief
Among the Poor.
OTHER AGENCIES TO WORK
Central Relief Committee and As
sociated Charities To Labor OH
Identical Lines Result of Con-
ference OF weIl-Xnown Phinn-
thTopists With Mr.. Wight.

The police department will have moth
ing 10 do with distributing charity this
winter. A meeting held at Commissioner
wight's office yesterday resulted in this
determination.
TheCertral Relief Committee andthe Asso-
ciated Charities will work together on the
same lines as last winter.
Ma3 3ol Moore has believed for some time
that his department should be relieved from
charity work
Commissioner Wight early in the week
sent letters to the heads Of the vlrious
charity organizations inviting them TO he
present and eX press opinions on this ques-
tioa.
There we're present Ma lor Moore, Super
intendent Ct Charities Lewis, Dr. b. l..
whitman, Col. enry F. Blount and Mess7s.
$. w. Wood ward, John JOY Edison, George
S. Wilson and B. T. Janney.
Major Moore stated his proposition imme-
diaiely. lie said his department wished To
be free at once and FOR all time OF any Kind
OF charity work He even objected to sell
ing charity tickets. He suggested, with
smile, later in thc conference, that al
work very cheerfuiiy, it did not desire 10
be a competitor of the regular charity Or
Ganizatols
The opinion Cf those present was lnani-
NOUS tnau Ma ior Moores position is the
right one.
Rev. Dr. whitman spoke in favor OF
the arrangement of last year-a central
relief committee TO distribute funds ana
found them necessary.
Mr.. Edison compIimentad the police on
their excellent charity work, but said that
since Ma ior Moore desired TO be relieved
ne thought such step the right one.
Mr.. Woodward said that, while he was
no definitely authorized hy the Associa ted
Charities. he would guarantee for them
that the investigations into the condition
of the poor should be systematic and +h3r-
cugh, and that the central relief Committee
should be kept advised of all cases need
ing its assistance. He said that both
the paid and the voluntary agents 1f the
orga nization were careful and conscientious
workers.
Col Blount echoed the statements OF
DR.. Whitman that the plan last winter
was the best that possibly could be de
yised.
y, for one" said Col. BIount, do not
believe there has been S100 wasted by
the Associated Charities in all It's work.
Especially / am sure OF this during the
last two years. l have been intimately
identified with the organization since
S95, and ! know It's methods thoroughly"
Mr.. B. L. Janney and Mr. Wilson de
soribed the caTefulness OF the methods Of
the Centrai Relief Committee in handbag
the funds. upon the recommendation of
the Associated Charities.
MI. Wight asked if any of the funds FOR
relief were applied for the salaries of the
Associated d Charities agents.
Mr.. Woodward answered this ques ion
very positively in the negative.
THE funds for the carrying on OF our
Investigations are donated directly 10 the
Associated Charities. IL is known by those
who contribute 10 our work that we do
NJ relief work whatever. We hunt up
the destitute, locate them, find out if
they are honest and deserving and what
their exact needs are. We register their
cases and can tell the right people Just
how best 10 aid them. That is our work"
Mr.. Wight here read letter from Rev.
Paul Griffith, of st. Augustine's Church
telling Of the work or the Society OF st.
Vincent de Paul, in the Roman Catholic
Church, which is doing excellent cnarity
work. Mr.. Wilson stated that the a $40
ciuted Charities people worked in co-opera
ton with the church charity organiza-
tions OF the city.
Mr.. Lewis pointed out the very good
reasons why the plan of the Central Relief
Committee, as one central agency, and the
Associated Charities working in co-opera-
tion with it, will be able to accomplish
! more and better work than if the police
a1d others had separate agencies working
independently.
THE police ne said, are trained 10
detect and prevent crime, and can 20 il
better than the Associated Charities OF
any one else. The Associated Charities
undertakes to place in the field corps
of people equipped for the work, people
carefully selected for their fitness, lot
only tc find the destitute, but to help
therl in the most helpful way. Tempo
rary relief is not all that the destitute
need and it is not all that the Associated
Charities gives. 1t helps people 10 lift
themselves UP into self-reIiance and IN
dependence
The tenure OF the Central Relief Commit
tee Of last year in reality has expired.
1t was formed on December at the IN
stance of the Commissioners, and it was
intended only SIS a temporary organization
for last winters work. subcommittee
has been at work ON a plan for per
manent organization along similar lines.
The report or this subcommittee is due, but
IT, is understood that it has not yet eor nu-
lated a plan.