The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-08-31
SUPPLEMENT.
Friday Morning. August 81, 1866.
Report of Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee for the relief of
sufferers by the fire, deem it proper to present
to the public briet account of their organiza-
ton, objects and labors, believing that the
more generally information is diffused as to
their plan of operations, the more hearty CO.
operation and assistance they may expect
from their fellow citizens. tt
On the morning of July 9Th. while the fire
was yet raging, a meeting of citizens was
held to arrange for the care and comfort of
the thousands who had been so suddenly de-
prived of shelter, food and clothing; and for
whose relief Immediate attention was requir-
ed.
The Mayor presided at this and an adjourn
ed meeting the same morning, which result
ed In the appointment OF committee, con-
slstlng OF one from each religious society in
the city, to whom was entrusted the work of
providing for the wants of the sufferers.
mat committee subsequently organized the
present executive committee and committed
to them the general management and care of
the work of relief it4 aaa0#ri ia1i&
ORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMIT
TEE.
The executive committee at once organized
by the choice of Henry Fox as chairman, and
proceeded with their work. They arranged
various sub committees, employed such assls-
Us
time to this the executive committee has been
the effective working organization for relief of
the sufferers. .ethrs
our primary objects were to provide food,
clothing and shelter, and thus relieve the inn
mediate wants of the sufferers
E0e 4ats FOOD.
AT first we were dependent upon the
prompt and generous supplies OF cooked
food, forwarded by liberal friends in cities and
towns Tar and near, as well as by our own
fellow citizens, but, as soon as the pressure
had passed, we were able to arrange more per-
manently for their supply, and furnished food
regularly and with good degree of order and
comfort
We ted at first about seven thousand per-
sons daily, but we have now reduced their
number to an average OF about six hundred.
The committee have full account of each
family supplied; and by reference to their
books can at odce trace any reported case OF
imposition and stop the issuing of rations to
improper persons They have issued food of
good quality and with as much variety as is
possible; and although they have doubtless
been imposed upon in some instances, vet they
believe there have been as few cases as would
be possible in any benevolent operations on
SO large scale. In many instances they have
been obliged to issue rations regularly to fam
Lies, the heads of which are at work, but who
have no means of cooking, being only shelter
ed by tents. They do not intend, however to
give rations to those who are earning living,
or are able to earn living and have proper
facilities for cooking .s4 90
It's very likely, also, that in some instan-
ces they have led persons whose character
and habits before the fire were not above sus-
picion, but they have done this because true
charity required that sufferers by the fire
should not also suffer for past misconduct,
but should receive food at least from this COM
mittee.