The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-16
CITYS SYSTEM OF CHARITY.
MAYOR MYERS PLAN THAT HAS so
FAR PROVEN SUCCESSFUL.

A List Is Kept and Those known to
BE Entitled TO Aid Is Rigidly Ad-
hered to in the Distribution OF
MOney-Tramps Disposed of Sum-
mariIy-AH Applications Investi-
gated Before Aid Is Extended
The system the city has quietly en-
ployed in helping the poor is working sat
isfactorily. Ample relief is given in the
shape of an allowance TO persons whose
needs are undoubted, and who can fur
nish satisfactory evidence that they are
unable to earn a living. The discretion
used in dispensing the little fund set
aside for this purpose enables the city 10
use II to better advantage than would be
the case were the work done by persons
not in position to get proper information
about applicants.
Under the former system il is said that
despite the care used by those in charge
prisoners from the Police Court would
frequently pay a cali 10 the agent after
they had been discharged from custody
on condition they left town. Being in
need, and often giving prima facie evil
dence of 1t in their tattered clothing, it
was not always an easy matter for the
agent to tell whether they were deserving.
This class of applicants is shut off now,
however, as the clerk of council is present
at the sittings of the court, and cannot,
therefore be taken in by discharged pris-
oners who get a few days board at the
barracks, and then wind up their imposi-
tons upon the city by seeking a contri-
button to carry them from town.
Mayor Myers took hold of the charity
question shortly after he went into office.
He was besieged daily by applicants for
help and a majority of them were persons
whom he thought were in actual need.
The necessity Of providing a fund to re-
lieve distressed persons was soon provid
ed in a quiet way, though not until after
the Mayor and others about the exchange
went into their pockets for aims
money for weeks. 1t was not considered
just to have the clerical force contribute
more than its share TO charity, which
would have been the case had not other
arrangements been made.
The city dispeuses it's charity in a sys-
temauc way Records are kept of every
person entitled to a weekly or a monthly
allowance. which they are not permitted
to overdraw. The amount 20 be paid to
an applicant depends entirely on his cir
cumstances, such as his ability to work
for livelihood After a thorough inves-
tigation the case Is either referred to the
Mayor or disposed of by his secretary, the
applicant being placed on the books for
certain allowance a month. Applicants
are not allowed to exceed this and have
learned 10 expect nothing more from the
city than the sum for which they are put
down.
1t is not generally known that the city
is doing chart able work to any great eX-
tent as the authorities have kept il quiet
to avoid the rush that might follow I'm
der the present system of d spensing the
fund a rush would not be of much avail
to its participants, however, as those in
charge have learned pretty wen how TO
size up customer, and are not apt there
fore to be taken in by professional aims
seekers TramDs are disposed of summar-
lily, as they are not the class the city cares
to provide for, even in a small way. 1t is
expected that they strike" another town,
which they are told TO do quickly. The
/ observance Of the regulations which have
/ been drawn from experience enables the
city to take good care of the amount set
aside for this purpose, and at the end of
/ The year it is safe to say the reports will
| show tina the amount has been well spent
| Mayor Myers stated shortly after en-
! tering upon the discharge of his official
| duties that he intended 10 bring the char
! tty question TO the attention of Council
/ and have an amount set aside for dispen-
/ satiOn. The aldermen evidently agreed with
I him on the system il was best to adopt,
! and which has proved successful in solv-
/ ing, SO far as the city is concerned, a
! problem that has remained Unsolved by
! the Savannah public for a number of
/ years The experiments which have been
! made may ultimately result in the forma-
4 ton Of system of charity dispensation
| that viii be adopted on a larger scale by
| the city in years to come