The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-27
CHARITY WORK PRosPERs.
Hopeful Report at the Seni-Annun7
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
1,700 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 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 l 400 men for
emergency employment. 1t is seldom
that any city has honOred an asSocia-
ton with SO great an opportunity. BY
means of it, we were able to secure
the payment of $4,000 for labor to
needieSt men.
During the six months, in addition to
the 1,019 Investigations made in the
interest Of the needy unemployed, We
were asked by twenty-five different So
cieties and institutions to make $50
Investigations, of which 456 were new
to us, as compared with 707 investiga
lions for the corresponding period one
year ago, when 341 were new. Hard
times was the chief cause of the in
crease. The total number of different
families investigated TO April l was
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 investigat-
ing the drink problem They show that
80 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 to the needs
of flood sufferers.
1t is much to the credit Of our city
government and the daily papers thai
the relief Of flood sufferers was han
died through regularly organized chan
nels The Relief society provided the
needed clothing, bedding etc, and the
board Of control provided the food and
fuel. The police deserve praise for the
faithful performance of their arduous
duties incident to removals; they were
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. It is necessary that there be i
bureau which shall determine exactly
what and how much relief is needed
and furnish information which will
warrant the management in granting
assistance The Associated Charities
is such friend to the unfortunate,
and such protection to the charitable
agencies.
The Provident fund stamps are on
sale at subtreasuries. Now 179 people
have taken out 1877 books, in which
they have attached stamps to the
value Of $10881. April 1, 1914 people
had 1853 books representing 1858. This
modest showing would have been con-
siderably better, except for the unus-
ually hard times and the distrust
caused by the bank failures.
Mrs. c. G. Higbee reports of the
Friendly Visiting"
A'NeW visitors are often surprised to
find themselves brought into acquaint-
ance with events as thrilling as those
narrated by the popular writer's of fic-
ton and marvel that, under the prosy
and commonplace exterior Of st. Paul
lower life, lie volcanoes, by no means
extinct.
Tn no instance has the proffered
friendship of a visitor been rejected; in
several it has been accepted with an
eagerness pathetic, as an indication
of that poverty of resource which.
gratefully, welcomes the attentions Of
a stranger
ST Paul is the first city to have a
conference of gentlemen.