Evening star., 1915-01-09
Real Work; Not "Hand Outs"

1T is an encouraging advance ovel
any other period Of industrial hard
ship that in most cities which have
made appropriations with the emer-
gency in view action has taken the
form Of providing real work at real
wages. Philadelphia is the only large
city that has voted money for emer-
gency relief only. City money to the
amount of $4,000 is to be disbursed
there by the emergency aid committee,
committee of women organized
originally for war relief work. Phila-
delphians have made no successful at
tempt as yet to increase the number of
men employed upon needed public i'm
provements. The leading secular chari-
ties of the city have urged the extern
sion of public work and have refused
to act as distributors of the city's SUBJ
stitute relief fund.
"Chicago's public policy presents a
contrast. That city is not only hold
Ing public works employees on for three
OF four months longer than usual, but
Is doing extra park development work
extra street widening and extra school
construction-schoo that is, which
were to have been built next spring
have been begun now. Chicago social
workers and certain of her public Off
eials are also using their influence to
persuade larger employers of labor to
pGSh pTOJecteu WOTk sooner llldn ndQ
been intended. The new Union station,
for instance, was to have been started
In March, but special committee is
urging an earlier start.
TN New York city Mayor Mitchell
has appointed a committee which is
now proceeding along the lines of a
plan carefully drawn by City Cham
berlain Bruere. This covers both emer-
gency relief-with continuance of work
already contracted for on public i'm
provements as part of the program
and long-range study of methods
whereby unemployment may be pre-
rented in the future.
Pushing Public Improvements.
workers. have made a special study of
the public moneys already appropriated
FOR public work but unused. Pitts
burgh is now spending. in this way
100000 in public work that might not.
otherwise. have been under way. A
delegation representing the leading
family rehabilitation agencies of Bal
.imore urged upon the mayor an extra
appropriation for street cleaning and
$4,000 has been voted for this purpose
recommendations such as these have
usually been accompanied by the Sug-
.estion that the work be given to resi-
tents and heads of families, and that
he choice of workers be in strict ac-
.ord with the principles of business
efficiency.
In Minneapolis a mayors committee
.ecured increased city work and new
work at sewer building. In addition
.he park board turned over to the As
,ociated Charities. for the employment
If men whose families were in distress
:he task of clearing a strip of lowland
loon to be flooded by the building of a
lam in the Mississippi. There were no
commercial bids for this clearing; it
Eill improve the city's appearance and
janitation, and the work itself Is in
eresting. thing which cannot be said
bf most task work.
Next to furnishing additional public
employment under good work con-
litions. the most important service
probably, that a city or state can rem
Ter at a time like this is to apply
,cience and brains to the disorganized
business of finding employment But
II most cities the development of pub.
ic employment bureaus is coming toe
Jlowly to affect this winters situation
rhe emergency has given this form OF
iervice new stimulus, however.
Homeless Wanderers.
Nothing demoralizes a local unem.
,loyment and relief situation in any
.ity more completely than the crowd
ng in of homeless wanderers for whom