The morning times., 1897-01-27
HELP NEEDED FOR THE POOR
An Appeal By the Central Union
Mission Managers.
MONEY SENT TO THE POLICE
A Prompt Response to the State
ments Contained i'll The Times.
The Citizens Relief Committee
Canvass From House to House
Thousands Of Mechanics Idle.

A conference was held last night at the
Central Union Mission between the man
ayers and MI. George S. Wilson, secretary
of the Associated Charities, III relation to
the adoption of some feasible plan to aid
the poor, whose applications have been
doubled and -trebled since the cold wave
came on. Rev. Dr. Bailey explained the
purpose of the meeting TO secure the active
cooperation OF all the charitable bodies
to the end that relief might be extended
to bridge over the present emergency.
Mr.. Wilson detailed at some length the
methods he had adopted with the means
at his disposal,' which met with the APP
proval OF the mission managers. The
funds Of both bodies, however are far
below the growing demands made upon
officers, and are fast becoming exhausted.
After the matter had been fully dis
cussed it was-decided to issue an appeal
to the public. This appeal requests con
tributions of money, food, fuel. clothing
and beddlng.
Aiireccipts viii be acknowledged through
the press, and a record of all cases in
vestlgated and relieved be kept for in
specton. Checks may be made payable
TO order of j. c. Pratt, treasurer, and
mailed 10 the Central Union Mission
The publication in The Times of the
particulars concerning the prevalent desti-
futon in the city has had the effect of
bringing TO the police department the
whercwith to meet the more extreme
cases, at least, and the bluc-coated
guardians were once more eisabled 10 give
lheir attention 10 charity. The total of
the cash contributions recorded at police
headquarters for the thirty-SiX hours end
ing al O'Clock yester,iay-thc fund being
sent direct to Major Moore by the indi-
yidual oontrihutors-footed up mere than
$400, and in addition there was large
Donation OF clothing and provisions.
Il am glad you called said Major
Moore TO Times reporter yesterday after
room. II am glad to have it Known that
the people are responding to the necessities
of the deserving poor"
Andthe superintendcntofthe department
then exhibited list of subscriptions which
made up the aggregate above stated. In
nearly every case the donor had asked to
have his or her name kept out of the paper
the delivery wagons were sent to the
Pension office yesterday afternoon to re-
Ceive the donations OF clothing and provis-
ions collected there, and Ma joT Moore was
requested to send as many teams again
tomorrow. During the time the reporter
was at headquarters a gentleman noted for
his benevolencc called 20 inquire as to the
relative merits of the two most serious
cases reported in the Morning Times They
are both meritorous,'' he was informed,
''andthe particulars given Of the Hunt case
are known by the department TO be as
stated
The gentleman made notes of several adj
dresses and left, but before aking his de-
parture he asked the reporter to say for
him, without giving his name, that in his
opinion there is not now nor can there be.
better, safer, nor more economical method
OF distributing funds TO the poor than
through the police department, and he
spoke from experience
The rooms OF the Associated Charities,
as well rs the police office. were besieged
yesterday by those who wanted aid. The
dema uds were numerous, and in majority
of cases Were very urgent.
Col. John Tracey, superintendent of chari-
ties, had great many to call also upon
the same mission, and, having no means
st his disposal, he sent all applicants to
the Associated Charities,
Secretary Wilson, of the Citizens Re-
lief Committee, was not in his office
when the reporter called, but later in
the day he said that the canvass committee,
OF which Mr. E P. Fitch is chairman.
would meet this afternoon in advance of
the general committee, which will as
semble at 4:15 O'Clock at the board Of
trade rooms, and would have a report
uo
whether the house-to-house canvass plan
would be adopted, but said definite action
will doubtless be taken.
Tine supply of money" Mr.. Wilson said
''has been very limited. not sufficient to
meet near all the demands
Sanitary. Officer Frank said yesterday
evening late that the cold weather made
but little difference in the number OF de-
mands upon his office. He has had quite
as many in midsummer as in the coldest
periods OF winter
Tie broad and rather startling state
ment was made at the meeting of the
Federation of Labor last night that fully
two-tlirds of the mechanics in the District
were caught by the cold wave without
enlplo yment. AS there are said to be be-
tween 10 900 and IL 900 Of these skilled
workmen here, this report is significant
and furnishes keynote TO the poor situa-
tionin tile District of Columbia. The police
approximate the total number OF working
men, mechanics and laborers, white and
colored, out of work, as between 5000 and
10000.
A well-Dosted member of the Federation
of Labor informed a Times reporter that
the unemployed mechanics OF the building
| trades alone would number at least 5000,
| as building, and even repairing, has been
entirely suspended since the weather has
| been down about the zero mark.
1.-The tearing up of the streets by the
| Potomac Electric Light Company" said a
| police official, has proved to be God
| send to the poor during this north pole
weather The company has torn up the
roadways in all sections OF the city, it is
| true, but in doing so they have given en-
ployment to about 700 men, many of
whom would otherwise have been charges
| on the District. Not few of the men
who are delving in the concrete with
pick-ax and shovel, helping to lay the
| electric conduits, are skilled mechanics
| who arc willing to- do any kind of labor
| to keep their families from suffering
A plasterer at the meeting OF the Fedora
| ton of Labor last night furnished hard
| times straw, when he said Il almost
| wore out pair of shoes last week look
| ing for work, but only made $i.15 by do
| ing odd jobs
| A baker, who has to support a wife
and eight children, is working for $3 per
week, and says he is glad to get even
| that amount.