Evening star., 1897-01-28
A GENERAL. GaAPPEAL
II II
Dollar Contributions Asked for Relief
Of theiPoox.
PLANS FOR TENEMENT N q HOUSES
important Meeting of, the Central
Relief Committee.
IDEA UTLINED

l.
At the meeting of the central relief COM
mittee yesterday afternoon two matters of
very considerable Importance were con-
sidered, both of which are of interest in
the general work of the amelioration of
the condition of the poor of Washington.
First and foremost, of course, came the
matter of raising funds to meet the imme-
date needs of the very poor. The in
tensely cold weather which has prevailed
in this vicinity for the better part of a
week has caused more suffering and dis
tress than has been known in Washington
for a long time. All the reports from re-
lief-giving organizations of the most
discouraging description, and tell the same
story of demands far in excess Of the
ability to meet them. During the last few
days the subscriptions from the charitably
inclined have been quite generous, but
even SO, the sum total has been small COM
pared with what Is needed. When the GEN.
trail relief committee began it's work for
the winter it was with the belief that
$4,000 could be raised, and this was put
down the minimum that would be neces-
sary to carry the committee through the
winter. Only little more than third of
that amount has been raised, however and
the proposition to inaugurate another
house o-house canvass, such as was put
through with such success a couple OF
years ago, has been seriously considered.
The committee has all along expressed the
intention of getting along without it if
possible, and at the meeting yesterday an
other scheme was suggested, and has al
ready been put in effect, which 1t is hoped
will do away with the necessity for such
a canvass.
Judge Cole, the chairman of the commit
tee, presided at the meeting, and there
was very general attendance of the
members. Those present were Secretary
Geo. S. Wilson, James E. Fitch, Gen.
Sternberg, Rev. c. A. Smith. Mrs. ]. W.
Babson, Mrs. H. B. F. Macfarland Rev.
DR.. Whitman. Rev. w. E. Parson, j. W.
Somerville, Col. John Tracey, William r.
Woodward, John F. Cooke. Rev. DR.. Rad
cliffe. Prof. b. T. Janney and John Joy
Edison.
Mr.. James E. Fitch, chairman of the
committee on canvass, announced that a
general response had been made to the
personal letters of appeal that were sent
out a week ago, and this scheme had re-
suited in the addition Of a considerable
sum to the treasury.
General Appeal.
In lieu of eralftanvass, Mr.. Fitch.
| for his committee reeommended that
general appeal be made to the public
through the medium of the daily papers,
asking for subscriptions of zone dollar for
| the relief fund. 1t was pointed out that
there are very few people outside the ranks
of those who are actually dependent upon
| charity themselves who are unable to give
| a dollar for the relief OF suffering. gen.
eral appeal like this, it.was thought, would
| meet with a hearty response, and if few
| thousand people could be found who would
give one dollar each the result would be
great deal more satisfactory. than if a few
people gave $40 or $1J each Needless to
say, the public is not asked to limit its
| contributions to one dollar The PROPOSE
| tion met with the approval of the commit
tee and steps were taken leading up to the
| formal issuing of the appeal. Upon mo-
| ton of Mrs. Macfarland. the idea was put
| into practical operation by every person
| present giving dollar.
| Plan for Tenements.
When the central relief committee was
| appointed by the District Commissioners
| one of the duties imposed upon it was the
| investigation of the general conditions of
| the poor Of the city, with view to the
| formulation of a plan for permanent relief.
| subcommittee. with Surgeon General
| Sternberg as the chairman, was conse-
| quently appointed, known the subcom-
| mittee on permanent relief and sanitary
| dwellings for the poor. Bishop Satterlee,
| who has had great deal of experience in
| work among the poor of New York, is one
of the members of the subcommittee, and
| the subject has been given careful thought
and study for several weeks past. At the
meeting yesterday Surgeon General Stern
| berg submitted a preliminary report, which
| was approved. copy will be sent to the
| Commissioners for their consideration. The
| report is as follows
Our Investigations show that a large
| proportion Of the INDECENT population of
| Washington are housed in tenements lOcat-
! ed in the alleys of the city; that many of
| these alley houses are unfit for human nab
| itation; that a majority of them are not
4 nd a fsrQ nd n
| connections; that many Of the houses, the
| yards attached to them, and the box privies
| IN these yards are in very fnSanttary con-
dition; that typhoid fever and other infec-
| tious diseases cause considerable mortal
ity in these alley houses as result of such
insanitary conditions; that the sanitary In
spection service Of the health department
is entirely Inadequate, and that it is ,ot In
the power of the District Commissioners or
the health office Of the city to remedy these
evils under existing laws and ctrcum-
stances.
This state Of affairs is a disgrace TO the
national capital. and in our opinion calls
| for legisla tion by the Congress of the Unit
ed States by which the District Commis.
sioners may be enabled to condemn and
| destroy tenements which are UNIT for hu
man occupation, to condemn and pay fol
| buildings and ground required for the pur-
| pose of widening alleys and opening blind
alleys conformably to existing laws, TO con
struct branch sewers and introduce water
| and gas, SO that sanitary tenements may
be erected In these minor streets or alleys
| which can be rented to the poor as low OF
lower than are the insanitary dwellings now
occupied by many OF them.
I'VE concur in general with the recon-
| mendations recently made by committed
Of the Civic Center of this city. and desire
to call special attention to the following ex
tract from the report of this committed
(submitted January 6, 1S9D:
1.-The attention of capitalists should b.
drawn to the fact thatIno GLASS of realty
pays as well as alley property in This city
and that there is splendid field for in
vestment in the building of sanitary ant
comfortable alley houses, on business apt
humanitarian basis. The conlmittee believes
that no city affords better5opportuaity OF
: account Of the size of xAuafes for the con
version of alleys into hinor streets. and a
the improvement would naturally influenc
| favorably the value or desirability of ever.
lot in the same square, 1t should meet will
q no opposition u . /
, For the purpose of hecuring prompt ac
: : | ton In accordance With thfS recommenda
ton we suggest the following plan for In