Evening star., 1897-01-14
MANY APPEALS FOR AID
Relief Giving Organizations 0verrun With
Applicants.
Funds at Their Disposal Are In
adequate and a General Canvass
May Re Necessary.

AtnouSn tne weather IS not as cold to-
day as it has been before the snow furry
has given touch of real winter, resulting
in 4 deciied increase in the number of
applicants for relief through the regular
charity organizations. The money at the
disposal OF the central relief committee
is about gone ard the contributions have
by no means kept up with the demands
for assistance.
For more than week past the AsSo-
ciated Charities, through its different
agencies. has been taking care of about a
hundred people day. Within the past
twentyfour hours the number of appli-
cants has grown at an alarming rate. and
by noon today there had been at least fifty
persons at the main office.
Many OF them had stories to tell of suf-
fering and privation that were pitiful in the
extreme. Every case was sent at once to
the proper subdivision. and If found worthy
little time was lost in extending relief.
A particularly sad feature of the sftua-
tfon is the appearance of SO many new
faces. Secretary Wilson said this afternoon
that within the last few weeks a great
many men and women had come to ask as
sistance who a couple of years ago were
themselves in position to give for the
relief of distress, but " no have been out
of employment for long now that what
ever savings they may have had put away
have disappeared. To such as these 1t is
no pleasant thing to ask assistance, and
they put it off as long as they can. Cold
and hunger are insistent, however. and 1t
is hard to see ones children without food
OF those who have asked for help this
week. for instance, there have been few
regulars, and as a rule they have been
found to be in genuine need and we'll ,ie-
serving assistance Food and fuel are. OF
course. the things most often sought. Lit
tie or nothing in the way of contributions
has been received at that office today.
the answers to the appeal sent out
through the daily press by the central re-
lief committee have not been as frequent
or as generous as 1t was hoped they would
be. and at the meeting of the committee
this afternoon the question of ways and
means will be considered. The subcommtt-
tee on canvass will hold a meeting just be-
fore the meeting of the general body, and
the chances are now that 1t Will recon-
mend that a house-to-house canvass be
made, similar to the one couple of years
ago. Mr.. Fitch, the chairman of the sub
committee, said this afternoon that no con-
tribut'onS had been sent to him direct to-
day. A fair amount has been received at
The Star office, but this is only a drop in
the bucket compared to what is needed. and
those in charge of the work realize that
some organized effort will have to be made
If the cry of suffering is to be answered.
The Police Are Helping.
The police were called upon today by a
great nuJnter who wanted food fuel
while some wanted hospital treatment
Chief Clerk Sylvester's morning mail
brought a number Of appeals for aid and
some of the cases were 50 distressing that
Mr. Sylvester found a way to help them
although the charity fund is exhausted
Speaking of raising funds and supplies for
the Poor Mr.. Sylvester suggested that each
school child be requested to assist in the
ma ter, as they did In the case of The
Evening Star Santa Claus pound party, by
contributing one potato or some other in
expensive article of food.
With generous response of this kind
even If each child should bring only DO
tato. the proceeds would go far toward re-
Should the school authorities see fit to au-
thorize such a collection the proceeds
would be collected and dispensed by the
police or some charity organization
Today Mr.. Sylvester received contribu-
tions from NJ Esenmann e Bros. and
Lansburgh & Bro. The former firm con-
tributed number of children's sacks and
cloaks, while the latter sent some under
wear.
While scores of poor and destitute per-
sons are asking for food. fuel and clothing,
there are scores of others VINO are sick and
ask for hospital treatment. Yesterday San
itary Officer Frank sent twenty three such
persons to the various hospitals. Most of
the free wards in the hospitals are now
hiled Some of them are overcrowded, and
no more patients will be taken. The drivers
of the ambulanceS have some sad expert
ences in the matter of removing these peo-
pie, and they understand full well the needs
OF many poor families.
The Evening Star has received contri-
buttons for the central relief committee
as follows: