The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-27
CHARITY WORK PRosPERs.
Hopeful Report at the Semi-AnnunI
Conference.


A hopeful spirit is manifest in the
reports presented at the semi-annual
meeting of the Associated Charities
yesterday.
Growth and progress may be re
ported on all sides-in efficiency, in
friends, and in expenses, says the
recorder Perhaps, the most impor-
tant service rendered has been that
in connection with investigation of the
LOO applicants for work, paid for out
Of the mayors special fund. The work
done by US not only saved the commit
tee the necessary expense OF proper Sc
lection of men, but increased the
amount to be expended for the benefit
Of the flood sufferers. 1t has thus been
satisfactorily shown that even emer-
gency work can be cared for through
regular channels, and that this organ
ization can now handle any kind OF
such work that will prObobly occur.
Secretary Jackson, in his report,
says:
Each department has made progress
and has accomplished a useful work,
| although investigation and registration
have demanded the most attention,
chiefly because the joint council com
mittee gave your secretary entire
! charge of the selection of 1,4OO men for
! emergency employment. 1t is seldom
that any city has honored an assocla-
I ton with SO great an OppOI IC4llNS ~
means of it, we were able to secure
the payment of $4,000 for labor 10
neediest men.
During the six months, in addition to
/ the 1,019 Investigations made in the
/ interest Of the needy unemployed, We
4 were asked by twenty-five different So
cieties and institutions to make SSG
investigations. Of which 456 were new
to us. as compared with 707 inVesuga-
lions for the corresponding period one
wear ago, when 341 were new. Hard
times was the chief cause of the in
+ crease. The total number of dllferen-
families investigated 10 April l was
4 3,742
The chief objects Of investigation
are to insure to the needy just the sort
of aid or treatment which he needs,
and to protect the charitable society
or individual from imposition.
We have filled out the cards of the
national committee, who are inVeSugat-
ing the drink problem. They show that
IS per cent of our total Investigations
for the past twelve months were direct
ly or Indirectly caused by excessive
drinking.
Following closely after the emer-
gency employment work, we were called
to render various services and to make
many Investigations as 10 Inc heeuS
Of flood sufferers.
IT is much to the credit Of our city
7 government and the daily papers thai
the relief of flood sufferers was ham
died through regularly organized chan-
nels. The Relief society provided the
needed clothing, bedding, etc, and the
board of control provided the food ana
fuel The police deserve praise for the
faithful performance of their arduou|
duties incident to removals; they We're
neither harsh nor sentimental.
Specialization and organization are
watch words Of the time; the former
tends TO secure perfection of work
the latter to economy of administra
ton. 1t is necessary that there be A
bureau which shall determine exactly
what and how much relief is needed
and furnish information which VII
warrant the management in grantlne
assistance. The Associated CHARITIES
is such a friend to the unfortunate
and such protection to the charitable
agencies.
The Provident fund stamps are or
sale at subtreasuries. Now 179 peopi'
: have taken out 1877 books, in whict
5 they have attached stamps to tn
value of $108.S1. April l, 1854 peopl
had 1863 books representing $S6.93. Thi
modest showing would have been con
siderably better, except for the unus
ually hard times and the dlstrus
caused by the bank failures.
= Mrs. c. G. Higbee reports Of tn
Friendly Nisiting:'
New visitors are often surprised t
, find themselves brought into acqualnt
ance with events as thrilling as thos
narrated by the popular writer's Of fic
S ton and marvel that, under the pros,
and commonplace exterior Of St. Pau
! lower life, lie volcanoes, by no mean
extinct.
Tn no instance has the proftere
a friendship of a visitor been rejected; Il
several it has been accepted with al
eagerness pathetic, as an indication
E of that poverty Of resource which
: gratefully, welcomes the attentions 0
a stranger.
st. Paul is the first city to have
= conference of gentlemen.