The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-31

AID 0RpAN |7ATE N.
Met at the 1aayor's Last
Evening to Discus
Ways and Means.
ON LOOKOUT FOR VoRKRooM
Cases Coming in Fast and
Place Needed to Test Abil-
ity Of Applicants.
ON LOOKOUT FOR WoRKRooM

One demand creates another and
now that the Organized Aid Association
has it's agent, and that agent has on hand
any number of eases requiring aid. the
mex step is to procure a workroom
wherein these eases may be tested
This was a matter under discussion last
evening at a meeting in the Mayors
office, City Hall. Through the courtesy
of Mr.. Myron j. Furst. Treasurer, the
Board Of Trade rooms, No.. 65 Montgomery
street, have been secured, and any day
| Miss A. A. Chown, the agent, may be
found there from nine in the morning till
twelve noon.
Another subject under discussion last
| evening was the matter Of a cooperation,
both organized and Individual. as it is not
| the object Of the society to tender charity
of itself but through these agencies. Whit
| tier House, the. Day Nursery, Newman
Mission and all charitable organizations
of the kind, as well as ministers, in
dividuals and business firms and fac
tories which can furnish employment OF
various kinds, must go hand in hand with
the movement. Each case brought to
the notice of the organization is handed
over to Miss Chown for investigation
She looks into the matter. finds out, If 1t
be a case for employment, in what ca
paeity the individual excels, takes his or
her references, and is then ready to rec
oInmend the party as to integrity and
character, SO that employers may feel per
fectly safe in procuring help from this
source.
The necessity of the work room is to
test fine ability of the applicant. If it be
for washing, to test her as a laundress
(the organization will have to confne it.
self to women in this matter for the pres
ent); if for sewing, to test her as a seam
stress, or If incompetent in either Of
these, to teach her something by which
she can earn a livelihood. In the mean
time she will be paid in groceries and
clothing for her labors in the workroom,
and a hot lunch win be served. That is
the plan with a view to which Mrs. Brice
Collard, Mrs. w. e. Drake and Miss
Chown were placed on a committee to Sc
cure the necessary quarters. Mrs. Brice
Collard was also elected delegate to repre-
sent the society at a conference of the
Legal Aid Association. which meets in
Newark. January IA. and with which the
Charities Aid intends to cooperate.
Miss Chown made a brief address, en-
bodying a report of the ground covered
since December 10, when she was in
stalled in Office. She has In that time in
vestigated eight cases. including twenty
five people, most of whom need temper
airy aid. only being cases where the up
port of theS family is tout of work"
There were two cases given Miss Chown
which could not be found and of which
a record will be kept for future reference,
it being part of the work of this insti-
tuition to relieve the public of impostors.
Miss Chown now has upon her books
several people wanting work of various
kinds. all Investigated cases. There is
one applicant for the position of nurse,
one for janftress, one for work in machine
shop and one for bookkeeper.
The idea of holding a mass meeting has
been dispensed with for the present, as,
owing to the season of the year and
grip, prominent speakers are SO hard
to procure. Instead a number of Aid
member themselves are to address vari-
Gus church and philanthropic society
meetings on the subject.
The following committee, together with
the officers of the society, was appointed
upon Co-operation:-Mr. w. E. Drake.
Miss Mary Philbrook, Captain A. j. New
bury and Mr.. F. A Ransom, after which
the meeting adjourned to January 8,
when the organization will again con-
vene at the Mayors office.