The times., 1898-01-06
SUPT. LEWlS'S TART REPLY
His Retort to the Business Mems
Protest.
He Denies Allegations Made in the
Petition Alta cking the Change
in the Charity system.

Mr.. Herbert +. Lewis, the superin-
tendent of charities, yesterday sent ar
answer to the recent petition of busi.
charity work by the police 1t says ii
part:
Il have never read anything intended
to be taken seriously and dealins with
the subject of outdoor relief, which
was half so unfair or which displayed
such want of information regarding; the
principles which necessarily govern the
relief of the poor.
Your protestants say that it cost
more to distribute $500 in relief
through the Associated Charities than
it did to distribute 81, 500 by the police.
The sufficient answer is that the distri-
button of relief is not the work which
the Associated Charities sets out to dn
and that to say that it's total expenses
should be charged to the small amount
of relief work which it was compelled
to do is simply ridiculous.
The statement that the methods
adopted by such organizations for dis
covering who are and who are not
proper subjects for outdoor relief are
looked upon by fair minded people
everywhere as ,unchristian, cruel, hu-
initiating, mortffyihg. ETC. and has
'upan investigation, turned out to be
scb4mes of shrewd men making use of
weli-meaning and prominent citizens
TO lend color TO pretensions in working
the poor with one string and philan-
thropists with another, is simply un-
true. So far from being denounced
and discredited. the methods and work
of societies for the organization of the
charities of American cities have found
more substantial = approval among
thinking people i'm the cities of the
United States during the last fifteen
years than anynother movement in the
whole field of charity and philanthropy
Moreover the colleges and universities
have taken the matter up and il is a
rare exception now TO find such an or
gaf1iZation which docs not number
among hts members the college presi-
dents and educa ters' who are within
reach of it.
There are no more inspiring ex-
ampleS of unselfish devotion to the
cause of humanity than will be found
among the friendly visitors affiliated
with the societies for the organization
of charities or among district nurses or
workers in social settlements. To call
gers of so-cailed charity agents is to
exhibit "a nature not calculated to be
helpful in the councils OF those who
strive for the physical and moral up
lifting of the poor.
The insinuation is continually reit-
Grated that somebody is dishonesty di-
yerting to their own use funds con-
tributed for the relief of the poor In
the District of Columbia. Whoever
publishes such an insinuation without
ability to furnish evidence to substan-
tfate it invites the contempt of every
right minded person. / do not believe
any such evidence can be produced. II |
1t can be, let us have it and let US know
the Central Relief Committee
and the Associated Charities are gangs |
of thieves organized for the plunder of |
the destitute
Il have made a few inquiries of per- |
sons who signed this protest but have !
found none who knows what it contains |
who is willing to be held responsible !
for the statements and insinuations |
nade or who wishes to be understood as /
joining in condemnation of the work of |
the Associated Charities
The Commissioners have. as yet, |
made no formal decision to abandon the |
police charity work, though it is prob
able that they viii do so shortly
"A letter was received yesterday from
Mr.. Sowerbutt, of the Northeast Citi-
,ens' Association. asking for informa-
ion on the subject. The Commissioners
wrote the gentleman that if his asso-
:iation desires to be heard on the sub
ect they would be glad to consider any
arguments that are put in writing.