New Britain herald., 1915-11-11
UNEMPLOYED ARE
 FEW IN THIS CITY
Local Charity Agent Finds Condi- tionS Different Than Last Year


 Britain Charity Organization last night Miss Elsie c. Osborne, the agent, gave an unusually interesting. report of recent activities Her report in dicates clearly that this city is en- toying unusual prosperity and that un- employment is little excuse for seek ing charity these days. In strong con- trast to conditions a year ago, the re- port shows that it is now difficult to secure workers and that those out of work have only themselves to blame. She also brings to light some of the clever dodges of fake charity hunt- CTS. Even children are included in this category, and the little ones seem to possess uncanny ability to deceive and impose upon people who are kind hearted and guileless. Miss Osborne's report in detail follows:
 Mrs. Osborne's Report. To the Directors of the New Britain
 Charity Organization:
 In the month of October just ended, we had 2S4 calls at our office; Al from consultants and 143 from people who had some boon to ask, There were 279 telephone interviews in be- half of those whom we befriended. and "A visits made. Permanent work was secured for four and temporary for six, amounting to ten days. One family received a pension, seven re- ceived temporary weekly aid and four teen families received emergency aid from the Charity Organization emer- gency funds amounting to $71.31. Five more received shoes from the special shoe fund at an expenditure of $6.59. Aid was organized from churches, so- cieties and individuals, for seven fam ilies,-much of which could not be accurately reckoned in dollars and cents, but $SS.79 could be accounted for absolutely, making a total of $166.69 in emergency relief admin 1stered by us during the month.
 Few Seek Money.
 Out of the 143 applicants calls for our service only twenty-six came for material aid, but eighty-six came for advice and friendly counsel This demonstrates a kind of service few societies in other cities are called upon to render-the interpretation of Am er1can life to those less familiar with it's phases. The questions put before us run the gamut of human knowl- edge, but we always strive to give a we'll considered, helpful solution.
 .s None Need Loaf.
 It is notable that there were seven- teen new families to deal with during h. iy9 oy,ico +Io; three a year ago. It is equally re- markable that in only three families was the need immediately due to un- as against ten in Oc- tober, 1914. And moreover in none of these three instances could we truthful1y recommend the wage earn CT as a capable, reliable person. This bears out the impression we have gained in the past few weeks, that no able-bodied, industrious person needs charity because of unemploy- ment at the present time. For the hrst time in many months we have been obliged to state often to people who asked us to supply them with men and women for factory work or house-cleaning that the supply was unequal to the demand.
 Conditions Better.
 This is in direct contrast to the sit uation a year ago when we made every effort to find employment for unfortunate people who clamored for work, not charity. After careful com parison of notes with other social workers about the state at meeting held recently, your agent has reason to believe that the present condition here are duplicated in surrounding cities. Intemperance, vagrancy, inn morality, accident, widowhood, deser- tion and old age may now take their