Evening star., 1933-04-22
ADEQUATE RELIEF
FOR NEEDY URGED
Society of Natives Appeals
to Commissioners After
Noyes' Plea.


gart, attorney prominently mentioned
Cor the post Of judge Of the Juvenile
Court. It followed reading Of parts Of
letter from Newbold Noyes, chairman
Of the Community Chest Campaign
Committee for the last drive, explaining
the urgency of the situation.
The resolution, unanimously adopted
by the society, stated that there is
grave danger Of collapse of the local
unemployment relief structure due to
lack of funds. If this occurs, it was
stated, many families in the District
will become hungry and homeless un-
less some action is taken before Con-
gress sdjourns Therefore, it was said,
the Commissioners, as the responsible
governing heads Of the District, are
urged to take immediate action.
In his letter Mr.. Noyes told the So
ciety that the private relief agencies
will have to close August l unless they
can come from existing public funds,
since these already are inadequate to
meet calls being made upon them.
Thousands in Need.
Thousands are in tragic need Of
aid" Mr.. Noyes stated, and added that
their situation will be still worse un-
less something is done to meet the
situation at once.
1.-The Commissioners should and
must face the problem" the letter con-
tinued 1t urged that the Commission
ers coordinate operations Of public and
private relief agencies to take care ade-
quately of distress, and then formulate
and direct campaign to obtain what
ever funds are necessary to carry out
that program-whether by additional
private subscription. by further Con-
gressional appropriation of District tax
funds. by borrowing from the Recon-
struction Finance Corporation. or by
obtaining Federal assistance under the
Wagner bill.
In a second resolution presented by
Miss Taggart. the society reaf1rmed its
stand for national representation for
District residents.
The Society of Natives" the reso-
luton set out, "favors an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States
providing for national representation
for the people of the District of Co.
lumbia by which they will enjoy vital
and fundamental rights as American
citizens.
1t stated that Senator Arthur Cap
per, of Kansas, has introduced Senate
joint resolution No. 9 providing for
this amendment. and mdorsed this
measure.
Congress seems little inclined to do
its share" in the care of INDECENT per-
sons who come here from other cities
because this is the National Capital,
James F. Duhamel, historian Of the
society, declared in an address on the
history of organized charity in the Dis
trict.
He cited the demands which have
been made on the city since post-Civil
War times, when thousands OF former
slaves descended on the District from
surrounding States. Since then, ne
Coxey's army in 1894, several Commun-
ist marches and the recent visit OF the
Bonus Expeditionary Force.
Recalls Early History.
washington was incorporated May 3,
1902. Mr.. Duhamel related, and one
of the first acts Of the City Council
was to appoint three trustees Of the
DOOR, Joseph Hodgson, Griffith Coomhs
and John Kearney, and an overseer OF
the poor, Benjamin Burch.
The first year Of the city's incorporate
existence, the historian said, $500 was
appropriated for relief of the needy and
the trustees of the poor were authorized
to order aid for poor, infirm and dis
eased persons not to exceed 81 week
each.
BY 1906 the appropriation for the
poor had been increased to $1,000. with
an additional $500 for lunatics and
81 500 for an infirmary.
During 1908 the tax rate on real
estate was raised to so cents on the
500 and 1 cents Of the so went to
the poor.
Besides the liberal donations by the
municipality" Mr.. Duhamel continued
1T became the regular custom OF the
citizens, both of Washington and
Georgetown, to provide funds for the
DOOR. and the Washington Humane So
ciety and the Washington Benevolent
Society were organized during this early
period. The Thespian Society gave en-
tertainments for charity, and during
1914 raised over $1,000 for that pur-
pose. Churches also made efforts tc
raise funds for the poor and charity
sermons were preached"
Seek Memberships.
The names of three candidates foz
membership in the society were pre-
sented by Mrs. Roscoe L. Oatley, chair
man of the Membership Committee
They were William Sheriff Jones, Mrs
Annie E. Callahan and George B. Jack
son. Their applications will be acted
upon at the next meeting, the last be.
fore the Summer recess.
Mr.. Duhamel who also is correspond
ing secretary Of the Association OF Old.
est Inhabitants of the District of Co.
1,,v,ohio inyitod tho enriofv fo hold ifs
| May 10 meeting in the Oldest Inhabi.
tants' meeting room at Nineteenth anC
H streets. The natives voted to accept
| Mr. Duhamel informed DR.. Clarence A
! Weaver. president, who presided las
night, that a gavel used a number o.
times by Benjamin Franklin would bt
| at his disposal for the May meeting
Miss Edna Buckler. musical comedy
actress and playwright. entertained witt
skit from one of her musical comedies
"Bucdies," and recited THE Edge o.
! the World" Miss Buckler is a nativ,
of Washington and Is the daughter O.
Mai. and Mrs. George Buckler Sh'
was accompanied at the piano by Mrs
| Lewis Battle.
| Miss Dorothy Davenport, lyric so
prano, offered several selections. ac
companied by Mrs. Elizabeth Gardnel
Combs The entertainment program
was arranged by Mrs. Oatley.
| After the meeting, refreshments wer
served under the direction of Mrs
Johan c. Kondrup. refreshment chair
J man. The hostesses were Mrs. Dora K
! Muir and Mrs. Lisle S. Lipscomb. The,
| we're assisted by Miss Clara Bright, Mrs
Lee B. Sudwarth, Mrs. Frederick Umhal
and Mrs. Annie M. Keller.
| The meeting was held in the Wash
| ington Club, Seventeenth and K streets
| | ><Gh<