"I also confer upon them a continuance of the same power here tofore exercised by the Citizens' Committee, namely, the power to impress teams and labor, and to procure quarters, so far as may be necessary, for the transportation and distribution of contributions, and care of the sick and disabled. General Sheridan desires this arrangement, and has promised to cooperate with the Association. It will be seen that every precaution has been taken in regard to the disposition of contributions." This society had been incorporated in 1857, its objects being stated in the act of incorporation as follows : "The objects of this corporation shall be strictly of an eleemosy nary nature: they shall be to provide a permanent, efficient, and prac tical mode of administering and distributing the private charities of the city of Chicago; to examine and establish the necessary means for obtaining full and reliable information of the condition and wants of the poor of said city, and putting into practical and efficient operation the best system of relieving and preventing want and pauperism therein." The acceptance of the trust by the society was made known to the public through an associated press despatch containing directions regarding contributions, an appeal for the continuance of such contributions, a preference ex pressed for money rather than contributions in kind, and a definite announcement that no more cooked or perishable food was needed at that In order that there might be no confusion, the mayor added to the previous an nouncements a signed statement in the public press of October 19 that the mayor and the citizens' relief com mittee had turned over all contributions to the Chicago Relief and Aid Society, and that aside from that society there was no other authorized to receive contributions for general distribution. "There are many special societies," added the mayor, " as well as individuals, to whom special donations have been directed. These are doing an excel lent work and cannot be dispensed with. Our object is to direct attention to the fact that there is no conflict in the work, and that contributions for the general fund should come to this association." 3 The society found it necessary at the same time to pub lish a statement, requesting all newspapers at home and abroad to give circulation to it, as follows : "The response to the sufferings of our stricken citizens was so spon taneous and universal, that money, clothing, and provisions were sent not only to the authorities of our city, but to many individuals, some of which, owing to the derangement of all business, may have mis carried.
"To the end that these unparalleled contributions may be preserved, judiciously applied, and sacredly accounted for, we ask all persons and committees everywhere to send to this society duplicate statements, so far as possible, of all articles and especially of sums of money sent for our aid, together with the name of the person or society to whom sent. "A complete record of the sources of these contributions, together with the history of their expenditure, will be preserved for future publication." Act of Incorporation of Chicago Relief and Aid Society.
2 Report of Chicago Relief and Aid Society, 1874, p. 135. 8 Ibid., p. 136.
2s New committees were now appointed to replace those which had previously been authorized by the citizens' committee. Of the present list, one was on employment, to provide labor for able-bodied applicants; another on reception and correspondence, to receive and answer de spatches and letters. The chairman of each of the new
committees was authorized to add as many citizens to his committee as he chose, making the committee as large as the magnitude of the work might require, he himself being responsible for its doings. All persons engaged in relief work were requested " to stop hasty distributions, and to give applications as much examination as possible, to the end that we may not waste the generous aid pouring in, as the work of relief is not for a week, or a month, but for the whole of the coming winter, and to a great extent for even a longer This plan remained in forte subsequently with the ex ception that at the following annual meeting of the society an executive committee was chosen by the board of direc tors from their own number, and invested with power to transact all business subject to the supervision of the The members of the executive committee with one or two exceptions gave their entire time to the work during the winter of 1871-1872, and without any financial compensation for such service. During the early weeks of the winter the committee gave the entire day to the work of the various departments, holding nightly meetings at which reports from all departments were received, plans for the following day considered, necessary changes in the methods made, so that a picture of the situation was thus constantly in the minds of its On February 1, 1872, the following announcement was made through the Associated Press : — " The continued donations since our last report, together with the twenty days of mild weather in January, enable us to say that the re sources of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society will meet the wants of the present winter. By resources we mean not only what we have actually received, but various sums of which we have been advised, such as the New York Chamber of Commerce Fund, and the subscrip Report of Chicago Relief and Aid Society, 1874, p. 138.
2 Ibid., p. 138. 8 Ibid., p. 139.
tions of several cities delayed by negotiation of bonds and other causes, which sums, we presume, will be subject to our order when needed. We regard it as a duty to make this announcement the earliest day that it could be made with reasonable assurance of its correctness. We can also say that there will be enough to make temporary provision for our charitable institutions whose resources were cut off by the fire. A careful examination of their affairs is now being made by a com mittee appointed for that purpose. In our next report, to be published in February, mention will be made of all contributions, both of money and articles, so far as information can be had of the same. Every thing received by this Society will be acknowledged, and we ask all other societies of Chicago to send us an account of their receipts. But, as much was given out by various agencies in the first days after the fire without record, we also request all societies and committees elsewhere to send us an account of their donations not mentioned in our next report, to the end that in a still further and final report proper acknowledgement may be made of the entire contributions to our people." I After the confusion and disorder of the first few days after the fire, during which period food was given to all who asked an attempt was made to reduce the work of relief to a system for the sake of economy in the ways and means, to secure to the real sufferers the needed aid, to detect and defeat imposition, and to aid in establishing order by withholding encouragement to idleness.