New-York tribune., 1922-06-04
PHI IANTHROPY'S HARDEST JOB
Mndd

continues and the money from sales Of Null
lanphy holdings is invested in bonds that the
income Of the fund will be increased % pos
siby 100000. But this will only give the COM
missioners more money than they know what
10 do with.
In rs practical operation the fund is con
trolled by three men, William F. Riley Sam
uel j. Russack and Alfred Fairbank. These
men are volunteer officers appointed for three
year terms By the Mayor Of ST. Louis. They
have Offices on Market Street, near the Union
Station.
The actual philanthropic work is done by
bureau Of the Mullanphy Emigrant and Iray-
elers' Aid Fund. located in the Union station
This bureau is in charge Of Miss {. K. Dunn
who has four women assistants. The bureau
is omen from 7 a. m. until II o'clock in the
evening. The assistants work in pairs lney
meet each train and are on the lookout ior
any case Of distress.
And here is the rub.
Bryan Mullanphy expressly stipulated ins'
M one should be aided unless he or she were
on their way bona fde 20 settle in the west.
His will did not say what sort Of help snouid
be given. But the omission Of instruction leit
the Interpretation Of the will TO the meticulous
exaction Of legal analysis. Therefore, the Null
lanphy Fund can only help those travellers VINO
intend 70 settle-actually settle-west OF the
Mississippi River Il cannot settle these
travellers. Il cannot even give them help IN
establishing their new homes. Thus 1t Is rele-
GATED 20 A fund Of a merely emergency nature.
Cases such as this are typical Of those which
the fund can help. We will suppose that an
Italian family comes 10 the Union Station on
a train from the East. The entire family IS
routed through on tourists tickets, say, % Den
YER A relative there is paying their way and
he has given them only a small sum for food.
s woman officer Of the Mulanphy Fund meets
The train. She discovers that the child should
have medical attention and medicine. Upon IN
ouiry she finds that the family has come from
Italy and obviously intends TO settle in Denver.
The terms Of the Mullanphy Fund permit the
bureau 70 aid this case. The child is taken care
Of by the proper persons and the Italian IS
supplied with funds enough 20 carry him IN
comfort 70 Denver
But instances like this are a rarity Most
Of the needy travellers who come through the
Union Station will not ~ so neatly into the
time-hardened cast Of Bryan Mullanphy's stip-
ulations. Perhaps a woman has lost her money.
She is travelling from Chicago 70 Fort Worth.
The Mullanphy Emigrant and Travellers Re-
lief Fund can extend sympathy, but It can
not legally even advance this woman money 70
wire home for funds.
Then there is the poverty in the great city
that roars outside the Union Station. Thirty
seven thousand dollars lies in the bank, but it
cannot be spent TO help starving St. Louisans.
The able workers who wait in the Union Sta
ton sometimes for days without coming across
a case ths. they are permitted 70 help might be
out relieving suffering that has no category
for legal terms. Hundreds Of travellers appeal
and are told that because they do not intend
70 settle in the West there is no aid for them.
With Sl.000,00O rendered Intellectual by a will
long out Of date. the Mulanphy Emgrant and
Travellers Relief Fund is slowly piling up more
money while charities in ST. Louis beg for help.
IS II any wonder that ST. Louisans who have
an interest in charitable endeavors gnash their
teeth when they think Of this throttled course
Of relief. Any one knowing the story
wishes Bryan Muanphy had .aken more time
and used more thought when he scribbled his
last will and testament back in 40