The New York herald., 1922-03-15


needed it. and that self-respecting
men, even though they were penni-
less, would not go to the Municipal
Lodging House because of the treat
ment they received there.
Roy p. Gates, director of the joint
application bureau of the Charity Or
ganization Society, who stirred UP the
present controversy by asserting that
some of the Bowery missions were in
league with sightseeing bus companies
and that they sent beggars in the
streets to arouse interest in their work
denied himself to reporters yesterday
and declined further discussion of the
matter. The Salvation Army issued a
statement regarding the danger that
the ranks of criminals would be re-
cruited from the hordes of beggars
here.
Calls City's Facilities Good.
'In the last four years the city
hasn't refused any one nights lodg-
ing" said Commissioner Coler after his
observations regarding the bread lines.
mo surgical operation has been too
difficult for us to perform and there
isn't a single destitute child who hasn't
been taken care of. If men refuse to go
to the municipal lodging house it is be-
cause they don't like to take baths.
which we require. Then again, some Of
them have diseases which cause us, in
the interest of public health. to keep
them under treatment until cure is
effected. Those who sleep in the parks
do so because they want to panhandle.
"Some of the missions are good and
some Of them have slipped from grace.
There are one or two charitable organi-
zations with wonderful names behind
them who have collectors who are no
good. I believe in person giving to a
charitable organization of his own faitn,
but. If they go out in the street and take
money from the public, we should know
where the money goes and would like
to see a law passed at Albany which
would give to the State Charity Depart
ment, or my department, authority in
this matter"
1t was said at the Bowery Mission
that comment on Mr. Coler's statement
would be deferred until after confer
ence to be held by the president ana
other officers.
"St. Marks Church is not here to
knock, but to do its work" said A. w.
Randall. its business manager. I'VE
don't care if there are panhandlers In
our bread line. They are hungry and
want help and that is all we need to
know. A majority of the missions In
the Bowery are run on business lines
They give their visitors a cup OF coffee
and make good money.
Some of the sight seeing buses wanted
to stop at our church, but we refused
to let them and threatened to have the
drivers arrested II they did. The men
are not on exhibition here and we don't
regard Ii as charity but as simple JUS
tice. / wish Commissioner Coler would
say what makes panhandlers. There are
normally from $4,000 to $4,000 In New
York city and now there are $4,000
largely because of his attitude"
II is the belief of George b. Ellis,
who has charge of the st. Marks bread
line and who has been connected with
the church for thirteen years. that
published statements credited to Mr..
Gates to the effect that there are rich
financial rewards for street beggars. has
done more to promote the art OF PAN
handling hereabouts than has the bread
line.
"I met a young panhandler I'D town
the other day who told me-" Mr.. Ellis
said, that he got his idea of going into
the business through reading what Mr..
Gates had said and that he hadn't
previously any idea that so much money
could be made at ii. I went up to the
Joint Application Bureau and asked for
work once. had references and told
them I'd be willing to do anything. They
told me to come back in a couple OF days
and they said they didn't have anything
for me. I was willing to do anything,
mind you.
BreadIines Are Filmed.
Believe me. panhandlers don't stand
in a bread line. No man Will stand Tor
hours, sometimes cold and wet, waiting
for a cup of coffee and a roll unless ne
really needs II. They won't go to The
Dump, az they call the municipal lodg-
ing house. because OF the brutality of
tho system Of ordering them about prac-
ticed there. Then their clothes are
steamed and come back with an unmis-
taxable stamp when their wearers APP
pear in the streets. A resident or New
York city can only go there five days In
n month and an outsider but one day.
"A new crop OF buns and hoboes,
vagrants unwilling TO work when they
can live by begging and likely to slip
at any moment from the class OF va
grancy into the ranks OF criminals, Is
certain to follow the present period OF
Industrial depression and compulsory
unemployment" according to Major
Underwood of the Salvation Army. head
Of the Mayors Committee on Housing
and Relief He bases his belief upon
the fact that many OF the applicants for
aid at Army shelters are under 1S and
fully a fourth under rs years old.
"In many cases they have made their
loss OF job an excuse for starting out,
leaving their home towns and home in
fiuence." said the major.
THE tramp problem In the United
States is going to be serious one for
the next ten years. We will feel the
effects OF the unemployment situation
we have faced this winter for long
time, and one Of the chief reminders will
be the number OF men riding on freight
cars and begging a handout at the back
door or whining their plea for a nickel
TO get cup Of coffee"
Eugene O'Brien. motion picture actor
was host to the St Marks breadliners
Yesterday. He had given enough money
TO pay for weeks provender and was
on hand TO pass tin cup OF coffee,
quarter OF loaf Of bread and coffee
ring TO the men at the head or the line
Two OF them told him they had acted
with him as extras. whereupon O'Brier
slipped them several bills and bade them
buy shoes. a movie camera man photo
graphed the scene. then O'Brien and his
yrlends went back uptown
4 The feed at St Marks normally begins
an a n NJ II hogan thraa hpttra ao rltaf