The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-12-08
Relief in Tammany's Domain
By GROVER J. sHOHOLM

you get one night a month" said the clerk
with bristlng, black mustaches. I'VE take care
of New Workers only"
The man was obviously hungry and exhausted.
First-timerS who prove that they have lived
in the city for year or more are given lodg-
ings for five nights a month.
What they are to do the other twenty-six
nights is not considered.
AS a matter of fact, they sleep in the mis-
sions doze in chairs in the speak-easies, ride
the subway, or walk the streets.
If they sleep on the floor or on the benches
in missions, their clothing is soon over-run
with verinn
Some are able to panhandle but there Is an
impression that the situation is being cared
for by the relief agencies or by the city Only
the practiced moocher, who least deserves it,
can get by this way.
East Side Speak-eisies, scores of these places,
are crowded during the night with men trying
to get few hours of sleep. The air is foul
and blue with smoke
The unemployed are finding out what the city
will do for them.
First, the private breadlines are discouraged,
and men who are forced to resort to the lines
are herded over to East Twenty-fifth Street,
out of sight.
An old wharf has been renovated at consd-
cradle expense. A thousand or more double
deck cots have been set up and the whole
thing looks very neat and efficient to visitors
and in the news reels.
But there is only one warm place in the build
ing. and that is where the men take off their
clothing. The section where the cots are is
like a refrigerator.
steam pipe extends along the she'd and a
system of blowers attempts to distribute the
warm air downward, but in the freezing weather
of the past week this arrangement has not been
very effective.
The pier extends out over the East River
On the sides the only protection from the cold
winds is wall of corrugated sheet iron The
floor is concrete, and ten feet below is the
cold water
The cots are not furnished with mattresses.
blanket is spread over the spring and sheet
thrown over that 1t looks very neat when the
room is all made up. Then there is blanket
to wrap around you
Here the men lie, cursing the place all night,
frozen, trying to sleep Some try folding the
under blanket around them
If you are given a place near the outer bulk
head, you are just out of luck
You might as we'll freeze to death in back
alley
Facilities for washing are very meager and
not used Ihere is no soap in sight and the
water is cold. A man leaving the place in the
morning, tired-eyed unwashed, if not with a
cold would have no chance for a job.
On account of the system of hanging all
clothing in one small section, the men have
to stand in their night-shrts for more than a
half an hour before they can dress
The idea is simply to make a showing, to sat-
isfy the well-meaning people who think that
these destitute men should be considerably not
to say humanely, cared for.
Thousands of dollars have been expended in
fitting up this place. There is modern kitchen
equipment. Tables and benches are scrubbed
white by the who are "hooked" for work
In the morning
But no one wants to spend another night
there. This simplifies Sthe problem.
The food at the municipal lodging house is
prison fare: stew, bread and Coffee and in the
morning, oatmeal, bread and coffee The whole
regime is Jail basis, the men being herded
behind iron rails and gratings with sharp,
Get in line, there!"
They take 1t. The men are cowed by the
necessity Of getting a little food and shelter for
the night.
But they are learning Apart frcm aimess
Of the "Trud' as absolutely incorrect and re-
fleeing ant-Party "leftist' moods
3. To severely censor the responsible editors