New-York tribune., 1907-11-27
HARD TINES FACE JEWS
MANY NOW IN .W4NT.
United Hebre10 Charities Forced
to Close lis Branches.

Many poor Hebrews were alarmed yesterday
when they learned that the United Hebrew Char
tiles would close its branches at No. 1SJ East
Broadway. No. 149 Rivington street and No. 81
Cannon street at the end of this month. TINS
information reached the Hebrews who have been
benefited by the organization almost as soon as
the board of directors decided upon the move
The closing of the branch offices is due 10 lack
of funds. The society spent 100000 last year
in helping destitute Jews, 1t is understood that
the organization is absolutely sure of SlooooV'
and that it can also depend on S1OOOOO under
certain conditions but even then its fund would
be $4,000 short of the required to carry on
the work
An official of the organization declared yester-
day that everything had been done to raise the
necessary sum to keep the branches going out
it had found it an impossibility.
At the annual meeting of the United Heore"
Charities held on November "a Edward Lauter-
bach appealed to the wealthy Hebrews OF tl's
city to contribute freely toward the support VI
the destitute members Of their race. Follo"lhs
his appeal for assistance the annual report VI
the board of directors was read, and II sho"eu
that at no time before had the financial con-
dition Of the organization been so precarlous VI
critical
Tho esc,I ,,aar ended on September 30. and.
according 70 the report was closed without
deficit but only through the use or lesdcleS'
amounting to almost 100000, which were not
specifically designated for endowment purposes
Rabbi stephen s. Wise. the head of the Free
Synagogue, declared that the report mace
"pitiable showing Of what we liked to call the
unstinted generosity Of the Jew" and moved
that committee OF seven or nine men, not di-
rectors Of the United Charities. be appointed 10
investigate Immediately the Hebrew charities
Of the city with a vigorous appeal to them for
nded
L. sulzterger. and thirty days were set as the
time within which the committee should make
its report
While there are nearly million Jews In New
York City it is understood that there are only
$500 contributors 70 the chief charity organi-
zation Of their race. The report of the board of
directors, which read by DR.. Lee X.
Frankel. superintendent of the organization.
showed that in the fiscal year ended Septem-
Der 80. approximately S295.O0O had been ex-
pended. OF this amount S217,OO0 had been ex-
pended In cash relief. while the rest had been
used for the maintenance of the medical and
immigration departments supplies and trans
portation The report further showed that the
largest income of the United Hebrew Charities
last year had been from membership fees, which
amounted TO S67TOO The rest of the money re-
Ceived by the organization was from different
societies. from commemorations and appeals.
from special and general gifts and from the
three years guarantee fund. In addition nearly
$4,000 was obtained from legacies. without
which It would have been impossible to meet
the demands
On November Il a conference was held at
the Temple Emanuel. 42d street and Fifth
avenue between the officers OF the United He
brew Charities and persons interested in its
work AT this conference it was shown that the
affairs Of the organization were in a critical
condition. and that there was sufficient funds
in the treasury 10 last for only sixteen days
and that unless aid came Immediately the in
sttution would either have to close fits doors
to the poor or cut down its relief
The closing Of the United Hebrew Charities
branches the East Side means much to hum
dreds Of poor families From present indica-
tions. and taking into consideration the money
on hand an official connected with the society
said yesterday that the only relief the orEani-
zation could hope to give would be i'm the way
of paying rents. Not more than $4,000 a month
will he used for this charity.
Asked IL he did not expect the poor 70 anpIv
for assistance at the main building Of the or
ganization at No. 356 Second avenue. the ofrcia1
replied in the affirmative, but added that many,
would have to he turned away
While no definite report has been recaivad
from the committee appointed to look after the
raising or the required money. II Is understood
that many persons have pledged themselves 80
contribute.