The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-07
CHARITY WORK DELAYED.
Manner of Distributing the City's
| Fund the Cause.


Complications have arisen between the
city and the Charitable Association which
may call for a special meeting of the ex-
ecutive board.
The amount the city has been appropri-
ating TO charity has been turned over to
the association to dispense without any
further understanding than that it goes
to charity. The result is, the city is in
a box until the executive board of the
Charitable Association meets and deter
mines whether or not help is to be ex-
tended persons in getting away from town.
The matter was brought up by the au-
thorities yesterday in the case of a man
named Martin Daily and his family, con-
sisting of a wife and four small children,
who are penniless and lodging at the po-
lice barracks. Daily came from Charles
ton several days ago, and entirely with
out means of support. He applied at the
barracks for lodging, and through Chief
McDermott was allowed room among the
transients who stop there. 1t can well be
imagined how himself, wife and the four
children Jared on the floors of the guard
house. with scarcely anything except
thin blanket to protect them from the
cold.
The children are bright little fellows,
ranging in ages from Q to 16 years, and
their appearance, as wei as that of the
father and mother, would not indicate
that they were thrown bodily from the
house they last occupied. Daily explain
ed this to the authorities. however, and
told them he had received transportation
for himself and family to Savannah, but
wanted to get to Apalachicola, Fla, where
he says he has relatives.
Assistant Chief Reilly realized there was
no chance OF Daily getting away unless
aided, and he consulted Mayor Meldrim
and Clerk of Council Bailey about funds.
The fund of $1,000 heretofore dispersed by
Mr.. Bailey, has been turned over to the
Charitable Association by council, the as
sociation to receive 500 a month. Mr.. Bal
ley, therefore, has no further control of it,
and so informed Lieut. Reilly.
Relief Agent Wakelee of the Charitable
Association was seen by Lieut.. Reilly in
regard to the case. 1t seems, however,
that less encouragement was received than
before Mr. Wakelee said he had no in
structions to help people out of town ana
could give no assistance just now. In
fact, the Charitable Association is not
quite ready for work, though it would
seem at least start could be made with
81, 200 a year. The present complaint is
that the amount has passed from the city's
control and is with the Charitable Assoc
citation, with no understanding about how
ii is to be dispensed.
people are continually crowding to my
office" said Mr.. Bailey, land l can do
nothing. There is no appropriation by
council and the amount we had for such
purposes has been turned over to the
Charitable Association, which seems to be
unable, at least for the present to take
care of people sent them We have been
helping both deserving transients and
poor people in Savannah and my under
standing has been that the association is
to partially help us in our charitable work
with the money given it. If transients
are not helped, however, the city viii gain
nothing from the fact this class greatly
predOminates among the beggars calling
at the city exchange Stranded people
frequently show up and where l have
found them deserving, no hesitation has
been shown in helping them along.
would help the man at the barracks, but
1 understand this now devolves on the
Charitable Associa tom
Mayor Meldfn, chairman of the execu-
tive board of the association, is endeavor-
ing to aid Daily and family. About the
apparent complication the mayor was
asked if the councils $500 was not in
cold storage. He replied that the manner
OF handling the fund rested entirely with
the association. The council has turned
it over to the association and whether
help is given people of Savannah and not
stranded itinerants, is a question which
has not been discussed by the board
To Mr. Bailey and his assistants, how
ever, this is a question of prime impor-
lance aud will have to be settled without
delay. He is called on daily, but can
give no assistance nor can he refer the
applicants to anybody. If the association
decides not to help deserving travellers
along, the siege at the city exchange will
continue.