New-York tribune., 1902-07-24
TROUBLES OF THE POOR.
THE PART MRS. UPSHAW PLAYS IN
HELPING WOMEN OVER HARD
PLACES

A private room in which Mrs. Ida T. Upshaw in
spector for the Outdoor Poor Department Of Pub
lie Charities. may listen TO the plants Of desert
ed wives and other wronged women who apply to
the city for aid will be feature Of municipal
philanthropy. Until last winter women brought
their griefs before the common tribunal the super
intendent of the department, who listened 10 their
stories while of men and women waited
their turn within hearing. With the beginning of
the new administration and the appointment OF
Homer Folks Commissioner Of the Department
of Public Charities and r. L. Merwin Superin-
fendent Of the Outdoor Poor Department, several
reforms were instituted in the offices Of the East
Twenty-sIxtt-st pier, where city charity is admin
istered. Among the changes was the selection OF
Mrs. Ida T. Upshaw as inspector for womens cases.
Mrs. UpshaW is the widow Of the late General Al
exander B. Upshaw who was Indian Commissioner
during Cleveland administration. Mrs. Upshaw
previous to her last appointment was hospital ex-
anner for public charities.
In her present position it is Mrs. Upshaw's office
TO investigate all complaints of abandonment made
by women and al statements regarding Nlegiti-
mate children before arrangements are made for
their support She also attends to getting requi-
sitions for warrants for the arrest Of delinquent
husbands and TO securing the release from prison
of husbands whose wives have decided that the
family is better off with faulty father than it is
without any
"a woman no sooner gets her husband locked up
for six months than she wants him out again.
said Mrs TTpshaw yesterday. She explained that
nrornise that she will rot prosecute her husband
again for year. and that she herself will refrain
from becoming public charge for the same lehg
Of time.
Then there are women who have asked for ad-
mission TO the Iyng-in hospitals and other private
bosnitals All such applications are referred to
Mrs Upshaw who decides whether or not tney are
able 10 pay for and treatment or whethei
they will be charity cases. For not few OF the
cases which come TO Mrs. Upshaw clever detective
work is required, and in its prosecution CORE
spondence with the police departments OF an lhe
cities OF the land is Of the details.
business was duh yesterday in the Department
Of outdoor Poor, but the long line OF chairs set
anart for the waiting thrOng of unfortunates was
not vacant Among their occupants was an ageu
colored couple, neat and intelligent IN appear
who wanted 10 go to the Coored Home 1heS were
sent instead the almshouse because sem G Ia
room there and the expense to the city WIN pc ieS
than il their board e Wa5 P,a II was explained that
Within few months the inmates OF the @ - y
and C. and that 50 far circumstances sTO" T e PTs
OF similar station are placed Zach other
wives and husbands however, many OF wIloin @ IN % IN
se5srate ggea t9hs houses and eat at different tables
Whether reform will be WI wrongh5Ii Igi5icf n 'HS pa
Among those who came 10 her yesIeroaS os Teen-
sweet faced giTIlsh yGuns7 young i said to be a good
for naught and incapable OF SoppoI 1d lives in
handsome uptown house. The woman mas a aainted T
ir six Years old VINO. it was asserted Is i.So ia beT
With Consumption which her her m9[hsr hS Is IS new
sef-in the incipient stages. ne a emu ion m the
Threatened with appendicitis. and an 8petaCio; -; me
docfors say Is imperative The grahoialAS., a. S a
behest ~ the department, has been payttS - r.
week for his srandchilds support, OUt .tS,Ited NV
give more fhan that. SUIT VIII De Ih9''' -
The cifv n compel him care LOT heI, mos cry.
Another woman followed and sne' o,,iTo ooO, s15 2
ing pififully Her husband. VINO - Id baby IRON
week has iaker her three months oIo ThijS etorI
her and pfven II his sister 10 Iea b cbild vii
Will be looked into ana IL - -
stennnofIer appeared 10 answer ST. 81 ndISitt 20
cruelty 10 her husbands chliareNn en- 90; ueek ant
Thai her husband earns from SO 70 S-i o5ger IN,
that with The money received Iios1 ~ ,nonth Sh,
rt ses h- te1enaent Is reduced 10 81 a inontn d 81
baS driven from home boy or seNeil,e 20
20 aisstaa1 Hlears because they are IN,
Tr5., Sorsf1rrffon and she feareo -'s and m,
st % ~ We 70 contribute 10 the ooy anu W
girls support .te,,i yvouan appeared, anC
vttb1n, an Exclamation handed j., nor her hands
Typshaw and then buried her Iace an ~ oef anothe
TIE note was brief. il read: You you oa anded r.
liver Goodbv' And the signat9nIe esiidren and 81
The wife is left wIIh two hhue ~, sear Of breakinl
frail health is tortured with the ISi search vii
down and being separat ted from tasi and sin wer
be made for the man
prime factors IN all the stotiSH 20 man and Womel
IN tbe line were a number ollihsais ol lii before the
yyho had been discharged from nosPro home and NJ
we're sisie 10 work and who nav - furnishes on
frferas 10 whom 10 turn. THIS cli,,- cllsi1 confrontn
~ fbe most complex and SAD pfoD''
this section OF municipal ~ofS'