. | ELEVENTH ORDINARY MEETING. ° z 103 
tary of the Associated Charities of New York City, “an alliance 
offensive for economy, thoroughness and efficiency of all such organi- 
zations of public official relief, and of congregational and individual 
beneticence, into one harmonious and co-operative body, maintaining 
intercourse and comparison through one central agency, and pledged 
to united and concurrent efforts for big SappEeon of the pauper 
and the rescue of the deserving poor.” 
It means a common field in which men of all beliefs and men of 
no belief can work side by side in the cause of humanity. It means 
an examination into the cases of individual destitution by a personal 
canvas, and it means a thorough investigation of every applicant, so 
as to detect and expose imposture, and is, therefore, a comparison 
and exchange of information in confidence. 
This central agency or bureau does not interfere in any way with 
the workings of the existing charities. It gives no relief except in 
rare, urgent cases. It excludes no worthy applicant, and it frowns 
down any attempt at proselytism. It aims to prevent imposture, to 
Teduce vagrancy and pauperism, to relieve the destitute, and te give 
relief in return for employment. It has its agencies, its branch 
offices, its paid and volunteer officers, and as efficient a cee of 
registration as possible. 
This last—a registration of the names of all in the city in receipt 
of private or official relief—is not only one of the first things insisted 
upon, but it will be noticed in comparing the reports for different 
years that it is considered of very increasing importance. The 
report from Baltimore (and I quote the latest issued) says that the 
charity directory has already proved of valuable assistance. In 
Brooklyn, Boston, Detroit, and many other cities, a map is prepared, 
the names of applicants collected as far as possible, and a list of 
those obtaining relief from the circle of charities in the city. 
The manner in which this was done in Buffalo is a fair example 
of what can be done with little expense. ‘‘ Circulars were sent to 
all church societies, relief societies, benevolent societies and fraterni- 
ties, and to all asylums and hospitals, asking for particulars as to 
their mode of operation, the kind of relief given, &c. Then the 
books of the Poor-master’s office were copied, and shortly after, 
through the kindness of the Superintendent of Police, blanks were 
delivered at every house in the city by the police, asking for full 
particulars of any relief that any citizen was giving at that time to 
