Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-11-24

For many months the people of AL
buquerque, Is we'll as the nation, have
been making effort to send aid to the
sufferers or the war stricken Coun-
tries Of Europe. 1t was very necessary
of course, and will continue to be nee
essary for some time to come. But this
only makes 1t mere imperative that
the poor at home shall not be neglect
ed.
The first two days of this week will
be devoted to a drive for funds, by
the Bureau of Charities Of the Cham
Der of Commerce.
DR.. Bergman who is acting secre
tary of the Bureau of Charities, is re-
sponslble for the statement that while
the organization at present is not in
debt, 1t will need at least SIC, 900 TO
carry ont the years work.
The Bureau of Charities OF the
Chamber OF Commerce, which is the
successor of the Civic Betterment
league, has been in existence only a
little more than year. During that
time II has had approximately 1900
calls for aid. All of which have been
taken care of in some way Some
times IL has been a case of giving food
and fuel or dlothing, at other times
sum of money. Sometimes it would
he case where the city physicians
services were needed, and medicine as
well as food and fuel had TO be pro-
vided. And sometimes it was a case
of pure fraud, Of trying to work" the
organization, and the latter kind of
thing is not. always so simple to
handle. But all of the cases are al
ways investigated and a record made
and kept of each one, so that the act
ually needy ones as well as the organ
izatlon are protected from takers.
There is the case OF the old Mexican
woman who has been the mother of
twenty-four children, all of them dead
except two who are both cripples
These two sons. thirty-two and forty
years old, have constructed kind of
perambulator, it could hardly be
dignified by the name wheel chair
Now they are able to move about a
little, even though not very comfort
ably. One fthe young men is a par
alytic and the other is a cripple from
rheumatism, while the old mother
who told Journal representative yes
terday that she was sixty-one years
old. does her best to get along but
finds 1t necessary to call upon the !
Bureau Of Charities fairly often for i
assistance. "If the one who is Grip
pied by rheumatism had wheel chair |
he could be Of good deal of assist
ance to his mother" said DR.. Berg
man
Again there is the case of the old
man, helpless, who was given SIS a /
month and whose daughter came
along and appropriated the SIS for
cleaning the old mans room. Then the |
daughter had to be dealt with
Then the woman and five children,
deserted by the man of the family. |
The mother and children all had the
''flu" and were cared for at the city
hospital. And the man who had been
charge for some time who persuaded ,
the secretary that he could raise rab-
bits and thus save the organization
good deal of money! and proved
it after he had been started in the
rabbit business by the organization.
Such instances as these could be
multiplied many times and still there
would be more to follow" All of
Them more or less pathetic; some of
them disgusting, as for instance the
deaf and dumb man who keeps sore
place on his side for the purpose of
showing the public and getting help
without working when he is perfectly
able to work.
Not only are these cases invest-
rated but when it is found that they
do not properly belong to the jursdic-
ton of Albuquerque. the proper au-
thorities are communicated with and
soon these are also disposed of. Or If
the person applying for aid belongs to
church or other organization that
organization liz notified and put in
touch with the one in need.
taly ~
been fgreat assistance to the Blu
reau of Charities In the matter of in
designations as well as in giving care
to the sick when needed.
With the aid of the Woman's club