Evening star., 1897-01-20
THE POOR NEED HELP
Hen Oan Get No Work, and Women and
Children Freese.
The Central Relief Committee Sends
Out a Circular Appeal for C0ntri-
buttons of Money or Goods.

The reports from the central relief COM
mittee are of the most discourag ging sort
for 1t would seem as though there had
Eever been year when the charitable peo-
pie of this city made such a meager re-
sronse to an appeal for assistance as they
have done so far this winter
The continuance of cold weather has re-
suited in an immense number of applicants
at the office of the Associated Charities and
its subdivisions, while the means at the
disposal of this and other relief f-giving or
ganizations have been entirely inadequate
to meet the exigencies of the situation
Unless there should be a decided change
for the better in the near future it w:n
be necessary for the relief committee to
resort to house-to-house canvass. 1t has
been hoped all along that this might be dis
pensed with this year. but the receipts SO
far have been so meager that something
must be done If any response is TO be made
to the cry for help.
They Want Work.
A very large number of those who have
applied to the Associated Charities lately
have made an earnest appeal for employ
ment, showing that as a rule they would
far rather work than beg. Unfortunately,
work is harder to obtain for them than
some temporary measure of relief. and the
have been long out Of employment through
no fault of their own have been put off
with little food and fuel for their families
when they would be only too glad to sup
port them in comfort If they could.
An instance of this has been seen during
the past few days while the Potomac Elec-
tric Power Company has been prosecuting
its work of laying underground wires The
companys officials have had 4 vastly
greater number of applicants for work
hay that- .fN- toll. apah
every day when their lists are completed
long line of men is left disappointed. when
they did so want the chance TO earn little
money.
Severe Need of Aid.
Secretary Wilson of the Associated Char
tiles said to Star reporter this afternoon
that the first three days of this week had
broken the record in the number and the
severity of the cases that had come to the
attention of that organization. By dint or
close economy and hard work, many cf
these had been attended to, but 1t is a
hand-tomoutin affair at the best, and hey
have not been able to do anything like
what they could have wished on account
of the pauCity of the means at their dis
posal.
The subcommittee on finance of the CEN
tral relief committee, Mr.. James Z. Fitch.
chairman; Judge G. c. Cole, Secretary Geo
s. Wilson, Mrs. H B. f. Macfarland and
Mr.. T. A. Lambert, today sent out a large
number of personal letters to people who
ordinarily can be counted upon to give Tor
the relief of suffering, but who have not
been heard from so far this winter. The
letter Is as follows:
THE funds of the citizens relief commit
tee are now exhausted, and there is an i'm
mediate demand for money, provisions
clothing and fuel In this strait we, as
members of the finance and advisory COM
mittee, have thought ii advisable to call
n nf Af frNa ..lD ;s.,fal
disposed resident this condition of things
and ask for such donations as they feel
disposed to make in the cause of charity
We trust that the response will be a
prompt and liberal one. Contributions of
money may be sent to any member of this
committee OF to any of the daily papers,
or to the treasurer, Mr.. Beriah Wilkins
Post building"
In addition to the provision that has been
made for the receipt of money a store
room has been obtained, where all contri-
buttons of food. clothing and fuel may be
| sent direct. This is located at the corner
| of Sth and d streets.