New-York tribune., 1907-12-25
NO AID FOR POOR JEWS
UNITED CHARITIES COLD.
Trustees Order Doors Closed Be-
cause Money Is Ill Gone.

The trustees of the United Hebrew Charities tn.
organization to which all the poor of Jewish faith
in the city referred for assistance gave orders
yesterday morning that the doors the main build
ing, at No. 35S Second be closed to all who
might come for reuef. and at the time that
the three district offices, No. 1s5 East Broadway.
No. l49 Rivington street and No. 15o Columbia
street, be closed permanently. The main building
will be opened again, Il is said, January I.
An insufficiency of money to meet the many de-
mends of the poor is the cause OF this action. As
explained by official, the plan on which the
organization Is working is TO assign 10000 a
month for relief, and when that is expended to
close the doors for the remainder of the month
In this way the closing of the doors for any long
period avoided.
Twenty thousand dollars a month" said this
official, lis far too small with which 10
relieve the poor people who come to There
were $50 families who made application for
assistance last year, representing forty thou
sand persons. Among these many who have
received weekly support for food. Such persons
not TO be relieved by unless they arc almost
entirely helpless. We obliged to stop CIV
ing them support.
There other cases where clothing
given medical supplies; where employment
procured through employment bureau; where
transportation was granted TO Europe, and
conducted workshop to give work to poor women.
Moreover. gave half ton Of coal each winter
to the pensioners. representing about $500 Every
Of these benefactons have been forced 10
discontinue. besides cutting down in admin
iStration expenses.
"AI that do is 10 pay to give the
poor shelter. We are almost compelled to pay
rents for we cannot allow the poor to be thrown
out into the streets. And the $4,000 apportioned
each month is just sufficient that purpose with
doing anything else. Most OF the rents
due the first of each month. and most of the
$4,000 is expended then"
The scenes at the Office Of the Charities
sir trustees
were compelled 10 give out the order to cut down
expenses Applicants came day after day. if
not understanding what told them, that tlere
was money with which to relieve their distress.
II almost impossible. it was said to make
them go away.
Yesterday morning there was large crowd at
the doors waiting to get in Early in the morning
there were few groups and through the day tie
applicants came after the other. read the Yid-
dish sign on the door that the place closed
and walked away silently. There disturb
At the formation OF tho new Council OF Jewish
institutions last week that body, representing ell
the institutions. appointed committee 10 raise
money for the United Hebrew Charities. Nothing
as yet has been done by it. 1t said.
When asked what those who were turned away
would do, DR.. Lee X Frankel MANAGER of the
organiZa ton. said:
Why. II means that they will get along as best
they They are probably already going about
to their neghbors and to the tradespeople asking
for food. Sooner or later they will come to the
uptown districts. and you will find them going about
from door TO door We grant support unless
q case is practically helpless. and that means, I
suppose, that when support is removed they
are reduced to a state of beggary."
The district Office. at No. 80 Columbia street.
has been closed since December /. The other two
branches were kept open appeal and a
promise from East Side Jews that money would be
raised for their support. Only $3.50 was raised,
however an amount. II said. barely sufficient
70 run one Office for a week II the pensions were
paid