Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-16
FOR SWEET CHARITY
The Successful Work of Two I'm
portant Organizations.
REPORTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST
Methods and Purpose of Citizens
Relief Association.
CHEAP HOMES FOR THE POOR

An interesting report was submitted to
the board of managers of the Citizens Re-
lief Association at meeting held last Sat
urday by a committee consisting of Judge
G. &. Cole. Mr.. John Joy Edison and Sur
geon General George NJ. Sternberg, L. S.
A 1t was in the nature of an address to
the public and the contributors to the assoc
citation. and after reciting the character of
the organization and its object to furnish
emergency relief to the deserving poor of
the District states that the belief that
such permanent body would attain better
results than the temporary committee an
pointed heretofore from year to year when
emergency arose had been proven correct
Marked Improvement.
There has been a marked improvement
in the methods of relief work and in the
condition OF the needy during the last few
years." says the committee. From 1891 to
1888 the central relief committee collected
ana distributed an average of from $4,000
to $4,000 annually in money and s,,nn}ies
During the year 1899 the Citizens Relief
Association and the Associated Charities
coliected from the contribution of citizens
anu other sources, about $1,000 in money
and not more than $1,000 in supplies CON
Slst1ng of clothing. fuel and food and the
former expended about 5000 in purchasing
IKE supplies, all of which were distributed
s9l Tue NEEDY poor. Practically no
money was expended by the Citizens Re-
Hef ASSOCIATION for anything other than
supplies Such as are above mentioned No
saiarles or other expenses were incurred or
pa a ana every case of actual necessity
"h,eii came TO Its attention was relieved
ana 1t is believed that very few if any
cases escaped its notice.
Reasons for the Improvement.
1here are several reasons for the
marked Improvement in conditions First
III the earlier years there was no method
" uls'rlpuuon or OF ascertaining the de-
serving poor, but to furnish supplies to all
OF nearly all who applied, and much was in
this way distributed to impostors and 9TH
els not reauy needy or deserving Of charity
whlch mad tendency to encourage and
create pauperism. This was noticeable in
me TACT that there was an increase in the
number of those seeking and receiving aid,
each year, until the new methods were
adopted,
Several years ago the Associated Chart
aies aoandoned the principle of relief giving
anu became bureau of investigation and
information. 1T has divided the city into
convenient districts and has one or more
efficient agents in each district, and has
IN that way collected accurate informant
OF the names. localities and conditions of
an needy persons, and keeps full and reIia-
bic records of them, as well as of all who
are impostors. Since that time the Citizens
Relief Association has relied upon the in
Grated Charities. and in that way has been
enabled to do its work much more effectu-
ally and economically.
Admirable Results Attained,
1t Is confidently believed that there have
been very few, if any, cases of actual need
IN the city during the last two years which
have not been relieved, and many of those
relieved have been of the most deserving
kind, who probably would not have been
known but for the most excellent methods
of investigation employed. At the same
time the information thus obtained has
prevented distribution to the undeserving.
Again, the number of those requiring
emergency relief has been much decreased
by the efforts Of the Associated Charities in
obtaining employment for many and induc-
ing relatives, friends and societies to aid
them, thereby removing many of them per-
manently from the ranks of the needy and
dependent. That organization obtained en-
pioyment for more than 400 men last year,
made more than 10000 visits to the needy
anything before to save an aggregate of
over 81, 400 during the last summer to meet
any emergency that might arise this win
ter Its agents are SO familiar with the
conditions of the needy that last February,
when Congress made an appropriation to
remove the snow from the streets. it pro-
cured the employment of some 200 needy
men by the District Commissioners for that
purpose.
WorI<inr Torether