Evening star., 1897-03-13
RELIEF OF THE POOR
Proposition to Authorize the Oondemna-
ton oft9ad Tenemsnts.
Central Relief Committee Comes Ont
II
OF the Wintor With a Handsome
,l,i
Balance ON Hand

The central relief committee met yester-
day Afternoon at the board of trade offices
with a large attendance. Judge Cole pre-
sided and Mr.. George Wilson of the Asso-
ciated Charities acted as secretary There
were present DR.. l.. V. Ritchie Surgeon
General Sternberg. Prof. B. j. Janrey. I.
A. Lambert. John Joy Edison, Mrs. H. B.
F. Mcfarland, John F. Cook, Rev. H. T.
Stevenson, Col. H. L, Blount, Rev c, A.
Smith, Rev. DR.. Radcliffe and James E.
Fitch.
Mr.. Wilson read. the report of Mr. Beriah
Wilkins, treasurer. The total receipts to
date " ere $500; disbursements to Febru-
ary IS. s., $50, and balance in bank, $4,Sji.
The reading of the report was received
with applause.
Reports of Committees.
The finance committee, through Mr. Jas.
E. Fitch, presented its report, describing
how funds were raised, and the committee
on distribution in its report presented by
Col. Blount set forth the methods pursued
in getting relief to the poor. The report
says:
We found that the vast majority of the
applicants for relief We're already known
to the agents of the Associated Charities
and these cases could be quickly passed
upon. while those families, that were not
already known were promptly visited and
the circumstances examined by the agents
of the society. Through this personal
knowledge not only was fraud and imposi-
ton prevented, but the lady visitors were
able TO find and relieve those families who
frequently are unwilling to make public
their condition. Frequently those who are
loudest and most persistent in their de-
mands for relief suffer less than the quiet
self-reSpecting families who shrink from
making their wants known at a crowded
relief agency. Through the agency of the
lady visitors we were able to reach these
ia miles quietly in their homes and relieve
their necessities.
We have not opened any central distri-
FUTON agency. but have required applicants
to go to the district office in the section of
the city in which they reside This ar
rangement we have found most satisfac-
tory. 1t has prevented congestion and con-
fusion, always found at a large central dis
tribution agency, where people from all
parts of the city come to ciamor for relief
BESIDES, it has enabled the agents to deal
much more inteliSently with the appii-
cants because each applicant required
to make his application to the district Office
in the section of the city in which he re-
sided and the agent IN charge, being con-
stantly in touch with the people in her di-
vision, knew their circumstances and was
letter able to deal with the cases in hand
than could any person vino had not former
ly known anything of these people and their
history.
The work has been done very quietly,
but it has been done effectively. Up to
date relief has been granted to something
ever 2,ND separate families. We believe
that few cases indeed of real suffering have
been unrcieved ,s4aId, SO far as we can
learn, but little complaint has been made
as to the manner in which the work has
been done
Not only has the work been effectively,
but 1t has been NEST economically con-
Quoted. We have never refused to aid a
family where it was deemed necessary or
50 f0 grra MT lief a -itt of
little over SS,GGJ we have been enabled to
do the work OF the winter, and have left a
considerable balapceswhich can be used for
cases of emergency that arise during the
summer MONTHS
A resolution was adopted commenting
the good work of the Associated Charities
office. and appropriating 81 900 of the funds
on hand to the uses Of that organization.
Conslemna4inn of Tenements.
The report of siifgeon General Stern
berg, on permanent relief and sanitary
dwellings, was submitted and accepted.
The report is follows:
In our opinion the District Commissioners
should apply to Congress for act au-
thorizing the condemnation of insanitary
tenements. and the following recommended
tion IS respectfully submitted as the basis
for such act: Board of condemnation
to consist of the Engineer Commissioner of
the District or one of his assistants, the
health officer of the District and the in
spector of buildings. Upon the report of
the board of condemnation that any tene-
ment in the city of Washington is insani-
tary and unfit for human occupation on
account of defective ventilation, damp
walls, a leaky roof, imperfect drainage. or
general decay and dilapidation, or because
it is in q dlthy and offensive condition. the
said tenement shall he condemned by order
of the District Commissioners, and the
owner and occupants Informed that 1t must
be vacated within thirty days from the
date of the order of condemnation. Any
owner of q tenement so condemned, VINO
shall permit il to be occupied after the ex-
piration of thirty days from the date OF
condemna ton, shall be subject to fine or
not less than 81, nor more than 500, in the
discretion of the Police Court Ana any