Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/656

 banians,

Arabians, Egyptians, Persians, Hindoos, Siamese, Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Negroes, Indians, Eskimos, Mexicans, and all the South Americans, besides Kanakas and cannibals from the south seas.

And about twenty of them maintain separate and independent societies to help their fellow countrymen in time of need. All these societies for aid to for- eign nationalities have been called on for reports of their affairs, but only two have responded — the British and the German.

The British Benevolent Society is in a very prosperous condition, with cash and invested funds amounting to $4,771, and the relief committee, requiring $732.85 to meet all calls.

. Mr. J. C. Robinson, from the board of relief, reports for the past year that on account of improved business conditions, the applications to the society for aid have been fewer in number.

Temporary inability to work through sickness or accident has been the only excuse recognized in a request for aid by able-bodied men, except during the win- ter months, when there was insufficient employment, and the weather was severe. It was during this period that 60 per cent of the expense for beds and meals was incurred.

In other directions, the society has been called upon for assistance in a greater degree than ever before. At the present time the society is making monthly pay- ments of $50 in aid of three families and two old ladies. This is a large amount in the year and absorbs a considerable proportion of the income of the society.

The number of cases relieved by expenditure of money was 161. Six cases were sent to the Good Samaritan Hospital, i to the Open Air Sanitorium, and work was found for 19 men. The number of days during which the hospital beds were occupied was 514. The sum of $110.30 was paid to the society by for- mer beneficiaries.

DETAILS OF EXPENDITURE.

Beds and meals $123.20

Rent and provisions 56.00

Transportation 75-35

Employment offices 4.50

Open Air Sanitorium and medicine 68.25

Funeral 1 5.00

Monthly allowances 305-00

Cash 85.55

THE GERMAN AID SOCIETY.

The report of Mr. Reisacher, the president of the German Aid Society, is a very interesting document, as it throws a flood of light upon the ideas, thoughts and habits of his steady-going part of the foreign immigration coming to our shores. It would be a happy solution of many troubles, and set at rest a vast deal of unnecessary agitation about the influences of foreign immigration, if all other nationalities would imitate the example of the German population. The report of Mr. Reisacher is given in full as follows :

"the GERMAN AID SOCIETY."

"The terrible hardships that German immigrants had to endure, the ill-treat- ment and abuses they had to submit to, the undue advantage that was being taken of their ignorance of the English language, often by swindlers and kid- nappers of their own nationality, led to the organization of societies for their protection and assistance.

The first one was organized in Philadelphia over 150 years ago. New York soon followed, and nearly all the larger seaports followed their e