ELEVENTH ORDINARY MEETING. 103 



tary of tlie 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 

 beneficence, into one harmonious and co-operative body, maintaining 

 intercourse and comparison through one central agency, and pledged 

 to united and concurrent efibrts for the suppression 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 

 reduce vagrancy and pauperism, to relieve the destitute, and to give 

 relief in return for employment. It has its agencies, its branch 

 offices, its paid and volunteer officers, and as efficient a system 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 foi 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. " Circulai'S 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 



