The evening times., 1899-02-13
MONDAY. FEBRUARY lS, 1899.
Help the Poor: Help Them at Once


The present record breaking weather is
doubtless subject of conversation in every
home in Washington today. But there is
another matter which should be talked
about. and to some purpose. As Il social
topic. this blizzard will keep. For the
next len wears il will be referred to when
ever there is heavy snowfall The thing
which really requires the attention OF the
citizens Of Washington is the Imperative
need OF relieving the terrible suffering and
destitu,ion CAUSED by the unprecedented
conditions OF The last few days.
without desiring 10 reflect al this time
upon any person or association of persons
who make business of helping The poor
The Times wishes 70 point out the fact
that under the present circumstances the
police force is absolutely the only efficient
medium through which relief can be dis
lributed Il is practically impossible for
anyone 80 starye or freeze 10 death in any
part Of the city without some hint OF this
stare Of things coming TO the ears of the
policeman on the bear. The police do not
have Ia investigate" lhe past history of
people TO find out whether they ought TO
be saved from death hy hunger OF cold.
With ihe snow rwo feet deep on = level
and growing deeper. with a Wind which
peneuates every corner OF The insufficient
shelters OF The poor aud with business
blocked by the difficulty OF travel. the re
is no Time TO wait till eases are invest
gated" The business Of this city is TO see
that nobody dies for want Of the necessa-
ries of life; and there is no danger that
the police viii give an abundance of coal
TO those who already have a cellar full or
feed people who are not hungry They
know where relief is needed and they al
SC know how 10 give it in a way which
VIII not humiiiate The recipient II is pos
sible 10 conceive of case ia which wom-
an who burned her last Bit of coal and
ate her last crust OF bread yesterday might
still have self-respect enough today to re-
sent being questioned as if she we're a
criminal and prefer to take the chances of
death from cold and starvation rather han
accept aid offered under such conditions
Nobody knows better than the police the
difference between the worthy and unwor-
thy poor. and it may be stated without res
eTyation that at time like this it is the
worthy poor who suffer most. They are the
people who will not ask aid so long as they
can possibly do without it, but who are
forced by unexpected and unprecedented
conditions 10 ask for a little help TO tide
them over crisis. They ought TO have it.
They have often given the community more
than they have ever received for their la
bor and at time like this they should
receive aid without its being plainly la
beled charity.
In view OF ali these things, it has seemed
TO The Times that an emergency fund, 10
be placed in the hands OF Major Richard
Sylvester, Superintendent OF Police, and
distributed under his direction. must ap-
peal TO the generous instincts OF the peo-
pie of Washington. At such time as this
even those of us who have warm houses
and three meals a day are not entirely
comfortable and the trifling Inconvenience
which We experience should make us the
more ready TO relieve the necessities of
those who are less fortunate