Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-17
THE DISPENSING OF CHARITY
Need of Better System in Bur-
lingtOn Is Recognized.
Nabit of Asking Aid So strong In some
Families That II Passes TO second
md Third Generation.

The meeting called by Mayor Burke
Tuesday cvcnine at the city clerks otfice
OF tho heads of the various charity or
ganizatons, the members of the board
of charity oversccr of the poor, mem
bers OF the police department, district
nurse, representative Of the committee
on social survey, etc, was held as sched-
uled and the question of the methods and
value OF dispensing charity in the city
was thoroughly discussed. \ committee
consisting of Mrs Mary Il. Burritt
A. r. clifford, II. J. Bray, Mrs. w. j.
Casey, Prof G. G. Groat, Mrs. Paul
Alix, Or. J. T.. LaRocque and Mayor
Burke was elected for the purpose OF
making inquiry into obtaining a better
system Of dispensing charity. If such
can be brought about.
The discussion brought out much In
formation. Several cases were cited by
Officers Bray. Collins and Miles which
have come under their observation OF
children who were in need of food and
clothing. In most cases they seemed to
be the children Of fathers who have left
the mothers or were improvident or dis
sinated II was also shown that n large
| number who were constantly asking for
city charit~ or help from the local or
Plantations had been doing so for years.
It also developed that there were many
who were undoubtedly in need of charity,
| but who were dsinclined to ask for It
. from feelings Of pride. 1t was further
shown that families were repeatedly
helped who seemed to use up food and
clothing provided more rapidly than it
could be furnished. All the families
seemed to be known to the overseer of
the poor or to the charity organizations.
So far as ascertained, the organizations
were covering the field, but the mayor
took occasion to rap the board of chart
ties which, he said, was inclined to be
stingy DIR. LaRocQue chairman or the
board, replied to this by saying that
the amount of appropriation was fixed
and that there were many who imposed
upon the citys charity and that the
pverseer had .or these reasons been eau
toned to make inquiry and investigation
before help was given. Alderman Crane
who was present said that cases had
come under his observation whore the
IA rites needing charity had not been
properly supplied by the poor depart
ment.
where children could not attend school
because they were without proper cloth
Ing He wanted to know II the poor
denartment did not have authority to
furnish such clothing. The mayor re-
plied that II had and said that II was
mandatory He read the law on the sub
ject
The KEYNOTE Of the subject was sound
ed by Mrs Burritt, who stated that
the Howard Relief society had been
withholding It's work Of relief for certain
families because II had been ascertained
that something more than shoes and
STOCKINGS were needed and that there
were certain underlying causes of which
she knew not which kept the familie:
In poverty.
These underlying causes, II was decided
after the subject had been thoroughly
discussed were due to improper environ
ment. drunken and lazy fathers, IRE
sponsible mothers the presence of seconC
class license saloons in the Residential
sections OF the city, etc. DR.. LaRocQu
stated that on his books were the name
of people who were in the pauper elias
sixteen years ago when he was cit.
physician and that their children ant
grandchildren were also in the sam
class
It was the opinion of those presen
that whatever system was provided TO
the better distribution Of charity woul
be only temporary relief unless tn
original cause Of pauperism wa
remedied 1t was suggested that tn
punishment of the improvtdent father
hnd husbands was one way towards
pollution instead of bringing them int
city court and continuing their case
hirty days with a promise to do better
The committee appointed will look afte
this part OF the work and will also con
Eut with the social survey committee.