The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-05-04
STATE CHARITIES
Bureau Of Associated Chari-
ties Reports On the Past
Years Philanthropy.
Especial to .The Jersey city. News. y

tion of the Bureau of Associated Chari-
ties was reviewed at the adjourned an
nual meeting of that organization in the
Free Public Library Monday night. The
new constitution changes the time for
the yearly meeting from January to
April. At the January meeting officers
were elected, but the presentation of
reports was left until last night. Large
sums of money have been expended in
giving relief to the poor, homes have
been found for the homeless and employ
ment for those who were willing to work
and many individuals have been helped
from dependence on public charity to
positions.
Reports were read by Benjamin Atha,
treasurer; Arthur w. McDougall, super
intendent; Mrs. Laban Dennis, for Mrs.
Henry H. Dawson, president of the
Friendly Visitors, who do volunteer
work among the poor; Mrs. Joseph
Belcher, chairman or the workroom
committee, and Mr.. McDougall, for Miss
Bertha Clark of the Provident Savings
Fund. An address was made on "The
Need Of Training in Charitable Work"
by Mrs. Anna Garland Spencer, director
of the Winter School of Philanthropy of
New York
Mr.. McDougall reported that 1,204
cases had been taken up by the bureau.
There were SS2 resident applicants, 181
single and homeless and 141 applications
for admission of children to institutions.
Each case was investigated and emerg
ency relief was provided where there
was pressing need. Though many appli-
cants we1e kept by the bureau, others
were turned over to other sources for
help.
The report shows these figures: Emer-
gency relief given, $40 cases; special re-
lief provided by appeals to individuals,
and through the daily papers, %; loans
provided, Sc; instances in which tempo
rary work at office or at wood yard was
provided for men in emergencies, 269;
number of women given temporary work
in workroom 103; number of days of
work given, 1,0l9 number for whom
transportation was provided by bureau
"a; number recommended to railroads for
reduced rates, 20; employment secured
for 125; employment offered and refused
to take it, 48; referred to charitable or
ganizatiens, churches or city officials,
230; referred to trained nurse, 45; refer
red to relatives, 10. There were 141 ap-
plicants made for children, representing
2O6 children.
In the superintendent report he call
ed attention to the need for doing posi-
tive work instead of merely investigat-
ing so that the dependent might be help
ed to become independent and be taught
how to help themselves. He said that
while for a number of years the society
had stood almost exclusively for discrim-
ination in giving relief, so that the un-
worthy should be sifted out and fraud
and begging discouraged, there was
further stage of Development in its
work. While material relief was given
when necessary, said Mr. McBougan, Of.
ten the best help for the family lay in the
direction of obviating the need of Civ
ing relief.
Mr. Atha's report showed that the re-
ceipts for the emergency and special re-
lief amounted to 81 ,168.49 and that all
but 500. II had been paid out for this re-
lief work The contributions for the gem
eral fund reached $3,s59.22, and with the
addition of special contributions for pay
ment of Indebtedness, provident savings
collector, Investigator or expenses Of del
egates to Atlanta the total reached
s5,24266. The sum Of $4.S56.11 had
been expended on the conduct of the reg
ular bureau work, he said.
Mrs Dawson's report showed that
there were fifty-two volunteer visitors,
and that eighty families had been visit
ed and assisted by personal effort The
chairman, Mrs. Spencer. in commenting
on the report Of the volunteer visitors,
said that it was the best report of its
kind she had heard except in Boston.
The speaker emphasized the need Of
training for Dhilanthropic work, and
traced the development of the present
method Of helping the poor to help
themselves from those of the past She
said that in ancient times charity was
dispensed with the sole purpose of doing
good to the donor in the coming world.
The second period, she said was when
the person to whom the aims were given
was considered. and the last aud present
period Of philanthrDpic work was char
acterized by social aspect and the prin-
ciple of finding out what caused poverty
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