The sun., 1907-12-28
TO KEEP UNEMPLOYED AWAY
WORK TEST SUGGESTED BY THE
CHARITABLE SOCIETIES.
Internal Meeting to Consider Heading on
the Rnsh That Is Already Reginnlng
One Plan Is 20 set the CttyS
LOdgers at work on RlaekweII's island.


Ono Plan Is 20 SET the City's
Lodgers at work on BlackweIls island.
That an army Of tramps and unemployed
IN headed for New York is the opinion OF
Nonne Of the experts here who have been
lately studying the situation an revealed
thus far this winter. A sudden jump in
the number Of applications at the Municipal
Lodging House and some Of the bureaus Of
the Charity Organization Society gives rise
70 the belief that the advance guard Of such
an army is already here.
With a view to meeting this situation
and to protect New York from such an
army q conference Of persons Interested
In the charitable care Of the homeless was
hold yesterday afternoon in the United
Charities Building at which = number Of
plans we're discussed.
The meeting was the second conference Of
q committee formed at the instance Of
Robert ". Bruere, general agent of the
New York Association for Improv ng the
Condition Of the Poor. The committees
Includes o. r, Lewis, superintendent Of the
Application bureau Of the Charity Organiza-
tion Society; W. Frank Persons. assistant
secretary OF the society; Supt. Merrill Of
the sOciety's wood yard; Supt. William &.
Yorke Of the Municipal Lodging House
and Leonard =. 0pdycke. secretary Of the
Association for Improving the Condition
of the Poor. Representatives from the
State Board Of Charities and other organi-
Sations conducting relief work met with
the committee. Charities Commissioner
Hsbberd and Health Commissioner Oar
hngton also attended the conference.
Il was said that the purpose for the con-
ference was to talk over the general situa-
tion. but that II had Ieen prompted more
especially by the conditions 1T the Municipal
Lodging House, which might or might not
be an index Of what was going on.
Figures were presented at the meeting
by the superintendent showing that not
only was the present lodging house. which
accommodates somewhat more than 300.
full every night, a condition most unusual
in itself. bat that il had been necessary
lately TO use for the overflow the pier "
the foot of Fast Twenty y-sixth street, whore
Commissioner Hebberd has his Offices
From fifty to sixty men a night have
been sent over there. On the night of
December IA, when there was a snow
storm. the number sheltered on the pier
rose 10 SiS. All that the men get on the per
10 bench to sleep on.
The total overflow at the Munic' p,l
Lodging House from December 1 to de-
oember ~. MIR. Yorke said. was 2.3SS In
1905 the overflow for tine entire year was
only l0sT
An interesting aspect was given TO these
figures when Mr. Yorke said that at lens;
two-thirds Of the number now applying Trr
shelter seemed to be men from ont oi town
Such jump In the number OF npplicatic ns
has never been known before
While these figures would seen to ndi-
cate an unusual amount of distress due to
hard times the statements raie ~ re re-
sentatives of some OF the societies engage
largely in house TO Eouse work rong the
poor showed apparently that tho situation
In this city as regards the lbneloss is not
bad As a matter OF fact. il was sail. a
canvass. 30 far a. one could be rade. has
shown that 80 far as ersons actually liv-
ing in New York and belonging bore wore
concerned tho situation was not much dif-
ferent from what is usual at this season OF
the year.
The fear that tramps and unemployed
II into their heads to move on New York
led to the discussion OF plan to head OF
such an invasion before Il was too late.
As possible deterrent. il was suggested
that the Department Of Charities should
require those whom il boards for the night
to do a little work. What is known as tho
work test has been tried before in other
cities, but never in this. Some of those
At the meeting thought it. would be a goot
time to begin. and Commissioner Hebberi
10 to take this plan under advisement. L.
was the opinion Of some Of those prese1,
that with New York fying such a signal
the homeless from other parts Of the coun-
try would turn hack.
The plan suggested yesterday involves
the use OF an old stone quarry over on
Blsckwelrs leland. II hasn't been used
for a good many years, but there is still a
lot Of stone there and Il was suggested that
able bodied dodgers at the city's boarding
house who were without employment
might he sent over to the island early in
the day TO break up stone, returning after
q few hours work. The stone could be
used for making macadamized roads on
the island.
Commissioner Hebberd presided at yes
terdsy's meeting. al which this and other
plans were considered. o. +. Lewis OF
the Charity Organization. who acted a.
secretary. made brief statement after IL
was over. in which he said that the need of
such a work test FOR the Municipal Lodging
I House had been particularly emphasized
a. the meeting. He said that the desira-
bility Of making arrangements between
public and private charitable societies and
the snow contractors had also been recon-
msnded. Under sllch a plan, he said. in
the event OF snowstorms large numbers Of
men might be placed quickly at the disposal
OF the contractors.
ANY general relief measures for the
unemployed seem entirely unnecessary at
this time said Mr. Lewis. The increase
in the destitute homeless class has not by
any means been 80 noticeable as to war
rant an assumption that an abnormally
large number Of men are now destitute
in New York for whom large relief meas
,,raa ah0uId ha nlannAd Al the aarna time