When Seattle's Mayor Took on Poverty: The 1895 Charity Bureau Meeting

The annual meeting of the directors and friends of the Bureau of Associated Charities was held last evening at the Chamber of Commerce, and in addition to the regular election of officers a very interesting musical program was rendered. It was also announced that on next Friday evening the Seattle Athletic Club will repeat the production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' at Cordray's theater for the benefit of the bureau.

Mayor Phelps presided and the following directors were elected for the ensuing two years: Frank Coombs, George R. Fisher, Jerome Catlin, Mrs. William T. Wickware and Mrs. Wallace Kutting. The retiring directors were: Jerome Catlin, M. L. Young, T. R. Fleming, George R. Fisher and Rev. D. C. Garrett. Mr. Garrett remains a member of the board of directors by reason of his position as rector of St. Mark's church. The meeting throughout was very interesting, remarks being made by Rev. D. C. Garrett, Rev. W. F. Taylor, Mrs. George H. Heilbron, Mayor Byron Phelps, Joseph Shippen, Fred Gasch, Winfield S. Smith, J. N. Gitner and others.

The musical program consisted of a vocal solo by Mrs. James Farrell, with piano accompaniment by Miss Churchill and violin by Miss Masel, a piano solo by Miss Churchill and a vocal solo by Mr. Frank Alkine.

The meeting opened with a few introductory remarks by Mayor Phelps, followed by a short prayer by Rev. D. C. Garrett. W. S. Smith, the secretary, made a verbal report of the affairs of the bureau to such an extent as they came under his jurisdiction. He explained that the regular subscriptions to the maintenance of the bureau at one time amounted to about $60 a month but fell off to about $9 a month. With the beginning of the year, however, the revenue again went up, so that now it is about $87 a month. He explained that this was not enough, for it costs about $95 a month to keep the bureau up, that amount including rent, salary of the agent, telephone and car fare.

Agent Gitner said that during 1893 the bureau received 2,706 applications; 1,301 were given aid, 476 sought work and employment was found for 308. During December alone there were 241 applications, of which number 74 wanted work and were supplied, while 43 families were furnished with provisions and 102 were given clothing. During the month just closed there were 295 applications, of which number 41 asked for work and 16 were supplied. Eighty families were furnished with provisions, 9 with fuel, 6 were cases of emergency relief, 402 garments and 67 pairs of shoes were given away.

Mrs. George H. Heilbron, chairman of the Board of Friendly Visitors, made a short informal talk, giving those present an idea of the excellent work accomplished by this mode of charity. She explained that not alone does the board of visitors aid the needy of the city by contributions, but aids them by calling on them, sympathizing with them and extending to them the hand of fellowship and giving them words of encouragement. As an example of the work being done by the board, she pointed to the single case of the family of an accomplished and educated man who came here without any means to speak of and whose wife had been lying at the point of death. When the members of the board first heard of the case they wanted to send the woman to the hospital, but after investigation they found she was being excellently attended by her husband and they decided to allow her to remain. It being necessary for the husband to remain at the bedside of his wife and thus unable to make a living, the board took the case under its protection and has provided the necessaries of life, proper medicine, etc., and the woman is now on the high road to recovery. Mrs. Heilbron wanted the city to find more work for the needy, idle men of family and also desired that the county aid more in alleviating the existing distress.

Mayor Phelps made a few remarks explaining the position of the city and said that as far as possible the men of family had been given preference in all lines of work and the work had been divided up as far as possible. He asked anyone finding that the work was not properly apportioned to make the fact known and it would be remedied.

Mr. Taylor made the address of the evening and, though he spoke but a few minutes, he said a great many things that were to the point and touched the popular chord. Mr. Taylor gave evidence of having examined the workings of the various charities and organizations of the country and is thoroughly interested in the work. He believes the bureau is the proper channel for all persons needing aid to make their wants known.

Fred Gasch, chairman of the board of county commissioners, was called upon and gave a short, interesting talk and told of the policy pursued by the commissioners in aiding the poor and announced that he believed the bureau was doing a great and good work and was especially valuable as a means of ferreting out the professional vagrant class at the time finding aid and relief for the deserving.