Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-06-16
Official.

The following Submitted TO The City COun
ell at its regular meeting June II, 1904, was
ordered to be printed
Alexandria, Va, June -, 1901,
To the Board of Aldermen and City Council
of Alexandria Va.
Gentlemen: The ladies of the Cooperative
Charities Association to whom was entrusted
an appropriation by your honorable bodies for
the distribution Of relief 10 the poor of the
corporation, submit herewith their report OF
the methods employed, together with a state
ment of receipts and disbursements and ac-
cOmpanying vouchers and orders.
The constant endeavor has been to afford
assistance to the worthy only. Each case has
been carefully investigated and in most cases
the applicants have been visited. In this part
of the work the police force Of the city have
been. most efficient; giving courteous and
prompt attention to the many calls which
have been made for their service and the
ladies Of the committee appreciate and thank
them for the assistance, which has helped to
make'th somewhat new movement in NUM-
cipal affairs a success.
Ii was decided that where applicants were
able 10 present themselves they must appear
personally, and receive the assistance pro-
vided. This arrangement enables the COM
mttee to see and know upon whom the corpo-
ration was bestowing its charity. Written re-
| quests Dl messengers were UOl EttogDiItu.
Two rooms In the city building were al
lotted for the use Of the committee. Supplies
of groceries, flour, meal, meat and vegetables
were purchased in quantity at wholesale rates
and put up in suitable packages by the ladies'
| and delivered to the applicants in person.
This was q departure from the old system Of
corporation orders which wholesale dealers
would not accept and gave applicants better
| returns for their orders than could be furnish
ed at retail prices. The possibility Of the
misuse of the orders was also reduced TO the
minimum by this method.
After assuming the trust the committee
were daily in attendance at the rooms and
personally engaged in the work of distribu-
ton. Each worthy applicant was furnished
| by authority Of the president with an order
for The amount of supplies or fuel considered
| necessary and upon presenting the order To
the committee was at once supplied.
A record was kept in which appears the
name Of each applicant, with residence; also
every order for assistance Of such person dur
ing the winter so that ut any time the full
amount of relief to any one applicant or all
applicants to given date, could be imme-
diately ascertained Attention is invited TO the
fact that from December IL, 1903, TO April |,
1901, S07 orders were issued and SOP supplied.
Five were rejected by the applicants and were
Cancelled Six were issued for the Colored
Home and represent assistance for 10 persons.
The whole number of families assisted was
POP, at cost of S32625 for fuel, S29L57 for
groceries, and $3.50 for incidentals; making
a total expenditure Of s699.S2 from the corpo-
ration fund.
In submitting the report the ladies request
aud invite careful examination Of their
methods and accounts, and feel that tbs due to
them and to the community that such mem
tion of their work be made in the official
report of your proceedings rs will enable the
citizens of Alexandria TO know the facts.
Respectfully submitted
VIRGINIA r. BURKE. President
Ladies Committee, Corporation Branch Of the
Cooperative Charities.
Attest: EDNA II. ALEXANDER,
Secretary.