Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-21
HELP FOR THE POOR
Report Of the General Secretary to
Associated Charities.
AGGREGATE OF THE RELIEF WORK
Treasurer's Exhibit Shows Balance
of $2,o85 SO in Bank.
E L ECTION OF OFFICERS
AGGREGATE OF THE RELIEF WORK
ELECTION OF OFFICERS

University. Judge A. B. Hagner presided
and at his request Rev. DR.. Bradford offered
prayer.
The annual report of the secretary, Mr..
George s, Wilson, was read. 1t was in
part as follows:
| In presenting this statement will not
give In detail the figures covering all
branches of the work, but will confine my
| self to such general statistics as are neces-
sary to indicate the general character and
extent of what has been accomplished. The
| detailed statistics covering the work of the
| year will be published in the annual report.
| During the twelve months ending Octo-
| Der 81, 1900, the total number of applica-
tons of all kinds made to the society was
| $50. This number includes applications for
relief, as well as applications for treatment
at the free dispensaries. The number Of
applications made for free medical treat
ment was 2,433. Deductng this from the
total number of applications, these APP
| pllcations may properly be considered in
a separate class, we have 6,39I applications
| coming n the general class that Is popular
| ly understood as applications for relief.
| These 6,391 applications represent ,S4S sep
| arate and distinct families, 1871 being white,
| LOG colored and ) mixed faml.es-families
where white and colored have intermarried.
The total number of persons represented in
these families is 67S3. During the previous
year the number of families making appl.-
| year just closed shows falling off of go.
The year preceding, however, was the year
in which we had the severe blizzard, and
the large number of families making appli
| cations that year may partially be account
| ed for by that circumstances The number
of families making application during the
! year just closed is somewhat less than 1t
| has been at any time during four years
| past
Investigations by Agents.
| During the year 2234 investigat tons were
| made by the agents, exclusive of iANest.ga-
lions of applications for free treatment at
the dispensaries. Material relief pro-
cured for a total number of 1,4oS families.
During the year our agents made total
number Of 2S,S03 visits in the homes of the
poor. as compared with 21,242 visits in the
previous year, an increase of more than
1000 during the year. These visits were
made in the work of investigation collecting
savings, giving friendly advice, etc. We
have had some assistance In Washington in
this direction from volunteers, but the bur
den of the work has fallen on regular
agents and there is urgent necessity for an
increased force of volunteer workers. The
number of visits reported above include
only those made by the regular agents and
does not include the work of volunteers.
The Savings Fund.
''One of the most helpful agencies in teach
ing habits of thrift and industry and incul-
eating ideas Of sef-hep and independence
we have found to be the provident savings
fund, and the number of depOsitors and
amount of deposits in this fund have stead
lily increased, as our agents have been able
to make frequent and regular visits to the
houses of the poor for the purpose of col
lecting these savings
The savings system was introduced first
in 1896, and during that year ninety-four
poor persons opened savings accounts, and
total amount Of $3.50 was deposited. In
1897 the number of depostors increased
to 2O3 and the amount Of depos
It's to s2166o. In 1898 the number
of depositors increased to :}}S, and the
amount of deposits to $5I0.25. In 1899 the
number Of depositors increased to 6S7, and
the amount of deposits to $1414SJ: while
for the year just closed the number of de-
positors increased to 947. and the amount
of deposits to s., -. The amount Of
the savings deposited has now become large
enough to be In itself quite factor in
dCcng the relief funds likely to be required
during the winter. During the past winter
many of the families who had saved during
the summer months did not find 1t necessary
to draw all their savings during the winter
and, of course, those who had anything on
cants for relief.
During the year employment was found
for 139 persons, and in thirty-two instances
this employment proved to be of a per-
manent character: 10S persons were placed
in institutions, seventy-tive for temporary
treatment and thrty-three for permanent
care, NHle Twelve 1dlnlllcS, representing
twentynine persons, were sent to their
homes or friends or relatives outside the
city.
Means of Cooperation.
at would not be possible here to emu
nerate the various organizations that use
the Associated Charities a means to CO.
operation and guide to intelligent effort.
But 1T may be stated that the churches
and mission schools are gradually coming
and close touch with
organization. while the Citizens Relief AS
ISOLATION the great general relief organ
ization of the city, depends wholly upon
| the investigations and advice of our agents
and committees. The Fruit and Flower
Guild works in touch with US and is the
means of taking into the homes, especially
| Of the sick, generous supplies of flowers
| and fruit during every week Of the year
THE Cooperative Sewing Society, which
was organized last winter and was the
means Of furnishing much needed employ
| ment to many families, Is actively at work
again and is in complete sympathy and
| cooperation with our organization, de-
pending much on the Investigations made
by us and furnishing employment upon our
| request.
| 1.-The Instructive District Nurses Asso-
| citation, which has been organized since our
| last report, is an organization worthy Of
| mention as one of the most helpful agen-
| cies for the betterment of the conditions
| Of the poor. 1t has employed four
nurses, who devote their entire time to
| visiting ana nursing III the homes OF the
| sick poor. These nurses make their head
| quarters at our district offices and work
in entire sympathy and corporation with
our agents"
The report was adopted.
Treasurer's Report.
| Mr.. Wilson also read the report Of Mr..
John Joy Edison, treasurer, which stated
| that the balance from last report, October
81, 1899, was s2s4213; contributions, $4.-
OS3. O4; appropriations from Citizens Re-
lief Association, $3.50; rents from sublet-
| ting rooms at headquarters, $237; interest,
SO 40; total, Ss,73263. The disbursements
| amounted to $664675, leaving balance,
| October 81, 1900, In bank Of $2OS5SS. The
| report was accepted and adopted.
| Mr.. A. F. Minnich Of Chicago made
brief address on the work Of the Associated
| Charities in Chicago. There was not, he
said, anything like as much cooperation in
charitable work in the big western city as
| there Is in Washington. The speaker gave
an interesting account of the workings Of
| the Juvenile Court, an institution peculiar
| to Illinois, but which those who have
studied the subject hope to have introduced
| into every state Of the Union. The child la
Dor law of Illinois Is, he said. disgrace in
| that employers can force the child to work
| - o,,l,, top borra day huf at nipbt