The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-25
LAW FOR THE POOR.

Inc pubic nave Deen made Tan1l1af Tor
a long time past with many of the er-
forts which are being put forward by
charitable and humane people, through
social settlements and other agencies for
the relief of the poor and ignorant in
the various big cities. The work thus be-
ing done is productive of the best re-
suits on those whose uplifting and social
bettcrment is sought; and much OF the
evil inflicted on the innocent by the Idle
ness, ignorance and drunkenness of
parents and those with whom the lives
OF the young are spent in the more de-
graded sections OF city life, has found
remedy.
There are manifold directions in which
this work of humanity is being conducted
of which the public never Heard. In the
pages of the January number of The
Annals of the American Academy of Po-
litical and Social Science there is
very interesting contribution under the
head Of Charities and Social Problems
1t relates to the efforts which are being
put forward TO bring the remedial agen-
cies of the law within the reach of the
poorer classes who are so often made
the victims of fraud and extortion in
every form of business transaction.
The Legal Aid Society Of New York
was founded some twenty-five years ago.
1t is the mission of the society to bring
the machinery of the law within the
reach of these poor people, to collect
moneys out Of which they might other
wise be defrauded, and generally to re-
dress wrongs to~vhich they are subject
ed, and which, without the Intervention
OF the society, would remain unknown
and unremedied.
Mr. Arthur Won Breisen the president
of the society. writing Of the indirect
good accomplished by the society, says:
cit is not merely that we protect the
weak from being wronged and defrauded
of that which is their Just due; that is
other and collateral results which are of
value to the community and the country.
The Societys work makes good citizens
and arOUses q sentiment of respect for
the laws, and also, l may say, a senti-
ment of patriotism. Many of our clients
arc persons of foreign birth-people Oft
en-, who are Ignorant of the laws and Of
how to set the machinery CT the law in
motion. They have some vague idea
that there is law for the redress Of
wrongs, but they have heard that 1t IS
too costly a luxury for the poor; that
it is law for the rich and not for the
pcor. They know they have been
defrauded and wronged, but redress may
seem to them hopeless. They have 40
- boz kI,..xr
think it is not for them. The conse-
quence is that they become bitter, not
only against the particular person who
has wronged them, but also against so
which permits society to be organized OIL
so unjust basis. Such persons-and
they need not be confined to persons of
fCl eign birth by any meanS-are ripe to
listen to those social agitatorS and dis
tUrbers who are only too prevalent They
ere ripe for enlistment in the ranks Of
those who are regarded as dangerous to
the security Of law and oTder.T
The Legal Aid society has during it's
existence recovered something like $780,
600 for it's clients from persons who were
trying to defraud them. In the year 1899
alone the society received over 10000 APP
plcati0ns for assistance. The average
amount cf money involved in these
cases is IS. The society asks
for a fee of 10 cents for each
case, although where investigation
shows that the client cannot even pay
this sum it is RENTED. Where the sum
involved is over SO. and where over SO
is actually collected, the society charges,
in addition to the retaining fee of 10
cents, 10 cents for services In most OF
the cases the claims are settled by cor
respondence out of court, because, chiefly,
the debtor learns that there is a power
ful law society behind the effort to col
lect or to prevent the wrong or fraud de-
signed.
To those who are at all acquainted
with social conditions in the dig cities
the value of such a society as this must
be apparent. There are two classes OF
society which are peculiarly the prey of
social business harpies They are now
sailors and servant girls. The law in
most communities allow heavy costs AMI
exceptional processes in the legal en-