Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-30
GROWS
IN METROPOLIS
Less Favorable Year for Labor
New York Has 500 De-
serted Families.

New York, Nov. 2.-The annual report
OF the Charity Organization society for
the fiscal year ended September 10. 1911,
was circulated among the members OF
the society and subscribers to its charities
to-day. During each month OF the year.
the report shows. the number OF families
helped by the society has been greater
than ut the corresponding period OF the
previous year. The year closed with
lb'o families under care which was nine
per cent. more than at the beginning OF
the year. The whole number OF families
under Its supervision during the year was
6"12, an increase Of 10 per cent. over the
preceding year.
Less employment and n steadily main
tanned high cost of living explain the rise
The report says:
THE Industrial conditions during the
year have generally been less favorable
for unskilled laborers, and particularly
for that group engaged in seasonal and
casual labor from which the main body
OF dependent families is derived The
change has been much moro marked in
some districts than in others I. has not
been sufficiently great to cause soriou-
consequences. were it not for thc steadily
maintained high cost Of l:ring which
came. ana remains unaccompanied by a
corresponding increase IN wages
There has been Uniform testimony from
the district committees that Il tho cog, #
living Increases without IL corresponding
increase in earnings, tho term poor"
must embrace i large group each year
Tho universal tenn Of family budgets
which Is most inelastio ,s rem. MANY
families have been obliged to move to
noorcr quarters. though the expediont
more usually adrpr,d Is TO take dodgers
r cither case the net result Is increased
orercrowding Of rooms. 10 the detriment
NJ health and morals"
DESERT1ON OF HUSBANDS
The desertion of husbands is one NJ tho
constant causes of dependence, the whole
number of deserted families under care
during the year being 592. The new court
of domestic relations has been of great
assistance in dealing with this situation
the report says. not only because il af-
lords opportunity to obtain definite and
adequate information but because women
have been more ready to appear in this
court and complain than they were to
visit the police courts.
soCiety's resources. the amount of mate
rial relief obtained and used by the or
Eanizat!on during the year was $3.50, or
one per cent. less than in the eceding
year Th!s, however. does not include
the probably larger amount obtained for
the relief Of families which they received
directly. and not through the society as
intermediary.
The services of the society must not be
measured by the material relief admins
tered; the report Is emphatic on that
point Material relief was provided In less
than half the cases under care many
families being helped to basis OF self
support without It. while in other cases
instruction. encouragement, prevention Of
disease or care OF the sick was the neces-
sary assistance.
The joint application bureau in the
United Charities building received s,3S1
calls from representatives of families in
residences. as compared with S,737 in the
preceding year Calls from homeless APP
plicants, almost all of whom were mon.
numbered $3.50. az compared with 1883
the year before.
FARM WORK SOUGHT.
Persistent efforts were made TO and
employment for men on farms and In
the construction of public works outside
the city. During the year permanent
work was found for $40 men. and tenn
porsry work for 15s The committee IN
charge of the bureau conducted n sue
ccssful campaign for the enactment Of a
law establishing a compulsory farm labor
colony for Migrants in this State,
The report pays special attention TO the
prevention OF tuberculosis by the orEani-
zation OF fresh air classes in the public
schools. In the fall OF 1910 there was only
one such class, in public school q at Mott
and Spring streets. During the year the
societys committee in charge OF this work
opened four more such classes ana three
others We're projected. This committee
also conducted a campaign 10 obtain ad-
dtional tuberculosis hospitals, having
found the situation to he critical As a
result Of the campaign the city appro-
priated $4,000 for the erection OF addi-
tional hospitals, which will provide. when
completed. l,O0 beds for tuberculosis pa
TENTS. making "A total of 400 beds at the
city'S disposal
IF similar increase can be made for
two succeeding years" the report goes
on to say, the hospital situation will
then be properly provided for"