The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-14
Municipal Lodging House Could Have
Accommodated 200 More Than Ap-
Piled at Night During Winter

IT WI statements ol Unusual lnNeI .
est were made yesterday at the
Offices OF the Department %
Public Charities on the tenth
floor Of the Municipal Building. one
vas that while an unusually large
number Of men are out OF employ ent
n New York, yet the stories OF desper-
ale poverty, close approach to literal
,,arvation. exhaustion from hunger
and cod have been greatly eXagger-
ated
"In many parts OF the city We may
see bread lines composed Of those will
ing TO stand hour after hour to get tn.
food provided ny generous priva'c
donors said Stanley B Howe, secre-
,ary 10 Commissioner Kingsbury. yet
i sa fact that not for a single night
during the present winter have either
homeless men or homeless women
al'ed the accommodations ready for
them AT the Municipal Lodging House
There has not been a night. even in
the worst weather, when the city could
not have cared for at least 200 or 300
more than actually applied. Their.
me building has stood, fully equipped,
lighted. heated. with n sufficient mum
her 81 attendant. ahd there have stoo |
200 or 900 vacant beds, comfortable rs
any homeless man could reasonably
wish for and provided with plenty Of
clean. warm blankets.
1T is cause for wonder to all OF
u. familiar with the real conditions why
90
men apparently willing to accept pri-
vate charity while the city of New
York stands ready to help them in
such way that they will not feel
themselves in any sense the recipients
Of bounty 20 which they are NOT really
entitled"
That is the first OF the two state
ments, and later it was Endorsed by
Commissioner Kingshury, who had
delegated Mr.. Howe to obtain accurate
and special information for readers OF
THE SUNDAY SuN In order that they
may know exactly what is going on in
these times and not be misled by
rumor or hearsay.
The second statment is no less sur
prlsing no less interesting II power
70 do so IL granted him Commissioner
Klngsbury will put in operation with
out delay his plan for establishing and
maintaining a human repair shop
through which the city OF New York
will endeavor to rebuild crippled.
weakened units OF human machlners
and send them forth to do their work
the world, 10 become self-support-
ing TO stand on their own feet, instead
Of having them come back time after
time to be cared for at municipal eS-
pense and finally to sink out of sight.
Commissioner Kingsbury believes
his can be done He knows that II
mas been done in hundreds Of instances
through private agency OF sympathetic
uplift conducted on basis OF common
sense. And In this effort OF recon
struction he sees opportunity for add
ins ~ the municipal wealth ~ making
self-supporting men and women who
otherwise would increase the popula-
lion of almhouses. asylums. hospitals
and penal institutions.
~ New York city BY means OF
Intelligent effort can help a man 10
Vet on his feet again who is down and
ont temporarily II il can help him
once more To become self-supporting,
Il Is far better business proposition
han TO have that man coming back
year after year for more assistance
paid for out OF taxes. And this \. not
taking into account the enormous
value OF retaining a man to good
,.tizen hip who otherwise would get
lower and lower and end az a derelict.