The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-01-05
BRASS BUTTONS CHARITY.
Blue Coated Samaritans and How
They Help the Poor.
ONE SAD CASE ILLUSTRATED
Red Tape Methods Are Not En-
ployed When the Wolf OF Poverty
Is HowIing at the PATROL
men Are Not Imposed Upon by
Professional Beggars.

| Professional Beggars.
Since the cold weather set in there has
been an average of about thirty persons a
day who called at police Headquarters and
appealed for food and fuel.
A majority OF these were women, with
helpless little ones to care for. Now that
the police charity fund has been exhausted
this current Of misery will have to be di-
verified into other channels.
The last penny of the emergency fund is
gone, and Chief Clerk Richard Sylvester
is compelled, much against his will, to
direct all callers for assistance to one of the
charity organizations.
The police system OF helping the suffer
ing poor is quick, simple and absolutely
without cost. 1t is also thorough, and
without red tape methods, or long-drawn
out Investigations. Within one hour after
an extreme case was reported to Mai.
Moore, relief was at hand in any shape nee
eSsary.
Should thirty extreme cases be reported
in a single day they could all be investi-
gated and relieved within one or two
hours, as thirty policemen, without cost
would be sent scurrying hither and thither
on their beats to investigate and make
quick reports to headqua rters by telc-
phone, and this without neglecting their
regular duties.
Distributed without Cost.
Five dollars contributed to the poor
through the police department means that
the suffering and needy will receive 500
cents, there being no deductions for rent.
salaries or other incidcntals and there is
no record of professional paupcr ever hav-
ing deceived the blue-coated Samaritans
They know all the iInpostors in their par
ticular bailiwicks, which they patrol sew
eral times every twenty-four hours.
In fact, it is a part of tier duty to have
a knowledge of all families residing on their
beats, for obvious reasons. Hence investi-
cations can be made without delay, and he
would be u hardy sinner indeed, who would
try to deceive an officer of the la w and run
the risk of being sent TO the workhouse as a
vagrant.
The police are practical. They have no
time FOR charitable theories or dis. They
do not rate a poverty stricken family as
worthy or unworthy" but when they
find "a half starved mortal they give him
food, whether he be a Christian or sin
ner.
Pedigrees Are Secondary.
When the stove is cold they do not stop
to inquire il the freezing inmates of the
chilly place, or their forefathers, ever stole a
sheep or burned barn, but supply them
with fuel to send genial warmth through
their veins. The police rate every man or
woman as w orthy of food or fuel when the
cruel imp OF hunger is present or merciless
old Jack Frost has chilled their flesh
The quick work OF Major Moore's depart
ment can best be illustrated by citing
typical case, one of quite recent occur
renee.
1t was cold. blusteTy morning. Flakes0f
snow were flying in the icy air. and pc
destrians with their great-coat collars
drawn up high about. their ears, scurricd
along in the biting north wind. A little old
woman, noted for her charitable deeds, nut
tered into Chief Clerk SylvcSter's office.
Her little round nose was red with cold.
and her eyes were watery.
"Oh, Mr. Sylvester" she said. Il have
such a sad case to report, and hope you
will help them a once. They are suffering
dreadfully. Mrs. -, widow and her
two children are sick abed They have no
fire or food, and they also require medical
attention.
Where do they live?' asked the chief
clerk. rising, and approaching the tele-
phone. tsta
AT No So Blank street,
''Whirr-r-r,' went the police telephone,
and in an instant Mr.. Sylvester was talk
ing with the lieutenant in the precinct in
which the suffering family reside.
Relief in Thirty Minutes.
The lieutenant was instructed to send an
officer to the widows home at once, to
see if the case was as reported. In thirty
or forty minutes the telephone "whirred"
again. This time it was the lieutenant,
ready to make his report.
There is a widow with her two children
sick in bed at the house on Blank street,
came the reply. They are without food
or fire, and in need of medicine, and they
are Hot impoSters, but the victims OF cir
cumstances.'
"All right" replied the chief clerk.
''send for the physician to the poor at
once. Issue an order for So worth of
food, and another for So worth Of fuel
on nearby dealers, and send them to the
woman Immediately"
so. X, and the lieutenant prepared to
send patrolman ON the erraDd of mercy.
Thirty minutes later there was a blazing
fire on the hearthstone Of that place of
misery, and some kind-hearted neghb0r,
with the printed police order, was at a
neighboring grocery store selecting for
the sick ones such articles OF food their
delicate condition allowed to be eaten.
Nourishing Food Provided.
There is no restriction to such coarse
food as fat bacon, hominy or cornmeai.
The buyer can spend the So order for such
articles, exclusive of intoxicants, as tile
family may require.
While warm meal is being prepared by
willing hands the city physician arrived,
and before the curtain OF night is drawn
on that black winters day there was medi-
cine, food and fuel in the home of sickness
and want.
Each police lieutenant is provided with
a printed order book and orders for less
than So are rarely given.
This is but one case of recent occur
renee. Before the police emergency fund
was exhausted such scenes of poverty were
common and relief was extended in each
instance, quickly, thoroughly and with
out one penny of cost to the government or
individual donors. But now the poor purse
of the POLICIES empty and the sufferingones
must look elsewhere for relief.