The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-02-22
THE DECREASE AND INCREASE

IN NUMBERS REPORTED.
 The decrease of the wandering class, which is unusually large, 430, Is ap- parently due to the favorable condition of the labor market by reason of which working people readily find employ ment. The genuine tramp, who always refuses, or evades work, still finds plenty of people ready to give him something for nothing" and thy thus pay for and thoughtlessly greatly en- courage idleness and imposture.
 The reported increase of the resident class, 1S9, is mainly the result of the increasing use of and cooperation with the association in reference to the in- vestigatlon, resignation and proper dis posal of subjects, and is not an indica- ton of increased distress. This is clearly shown by the very small in- crease in emergency relief expense which is but $53.4 above last years dis bursements.
 GENERAL FINANCES.
 With the exception of collections from churches, contributions for the support of the work were substantially the same as for last year, but they were not full ly adequate to our needs. Through for tuitous conditions in the labor depart- ment, by which they were able to ex- tend some help, the year was closed without debt, but as 1t has long been our policy to nullify the possibility of profit from these department, seeking only return sufficient to balance ex- penses this cannot be depended upon. THE SPECIFIC WORK OF THE
 ASSOCIATION
 As the city grows and the population changes, and the agencies to help peo- pie multiply, our position requires the constant reiteration of the principles and objects, for they seem easy to mis- understand.
 We were not originally organized as "a relief society" nor have we devel- oped into such, according to the usual l definition of that term, which means simply an agency for the carrying of material help, such as coal, food, rent, etc, to needy people.
 It is therefore much better for peo- l pie to be encouraged, helped, or even forced to self-support, tGlan 1t is to di- rectlt or indirectly suggest to them that they are in need of charity, but, when such need is actually apparent, to possess an approximately correct knowledge of their past and present condition is the surest way to deter mine their wlsest help.
 What all should aim to accomplish Is the immediate abolition of help to "out- side poor from public funds, and then to lead people to accept, as the special privilege of the benevolent, the ade- quate care of the honest and needy un- fortunates. Why should a respectable person be subjected to the humiliation of becoming a town pauper' in this city, full of churches and charities, with their generous constituents, when the annual amount to be raised in order to cover all the towns present cases is less than $7,000?
 Practically all social students and workers are now agreed that municipal help is demoralizing to both giver and receiver So long as a disbursing agent is the appointee, direct or indirect, of a political party, his sincere desire tc deal fairly and justly with these mat. ters is prejudiced by subtle or oper pressure, and his honest purpose many times defeated
 Suggestions as to the course and needs of the organization are also in. cluded in the report. These are as fol, lows;
 The purchase of yard, convenient to frelghting facilities, to be used fol storage of wood and the installation oi a power saw.
 A branch for the development of ca, pablo servants.
 A home where aged couples may spend their last days together.