, 1875-03-03

NAclA 6VAh y LLtAstEC Ill ElEa
e--......'-..e..
THE RELIEF FUND.
We nre glad tlat the Common Council has
appointed Committee Of ita own number, in
accordance with tho demands Of tho Com
1nuniats, to examine the books Of tho Relief
ansl Aid Society. There il no spcodicr nor
more thorough way Of silencing tile innanl-
orablo alantlers which hnvo been about the
only public reward tho officers and manage
1ncnt Of the Relief and AID Society have re-
ccived for their Injurious and conscientious
administration of their trust. Tho Secretary
Of tho Society announced lust week, rs l,as
frequently been announced before, that tho
books Of the Society would be open for
inspection ut my timo TO o Committee of
tho Common Council or Of citizons, wl,cn-
eror tho demand should 10 1lnio in proper
manner and unaccompanica by n riotoua
demonstration or threats Of violence. Tho
Committee appointed by the Common Coun-
Gil consists Of 1Iessrs. QUINN, MCDONALD,
sTouT, LESaAcnEn, r. SroaE, md j. g.
CLAnKE,-two from each Division of tho
city. Their examination should be thorough,
mud conscientious, that lilo report may dl,nlly
set at rest all future resort to irresponsible
charges md malicious 1ibcls for tho purpose
Of melting tho Communists mud tho unem-
ployed workingmen to violent attempts to
possess themselves Of the funds that rc,nain.
Wo believe that there has never beon q
public fund moro honestly and diligently i'd
1ninistered in this country tlan tllo moneys
sent here from all parts OF tho world for tho
rotfof ef 1,1rf f3,n {trn cf fT1,A
present Society was not primarily organized
for the purpose Of tal,ing charge Of these
funds. It already lal lcgal existence,
mud had demonstrated its usefulness
by tho voluntary subscription and
distribution Of funds nmong tho needy and
suffering not relieved by tho State and coun-
sy charities. Tho rolict fund called cut by
the fro was contided to tile charge Of tlis So
ciety by universal consent and With tho ap-
provh of the donors. The former experience
Of tho gentlemen forming this Society en-
abled them to proceed At once to systematic,
equitable, md business-1iko distribution Of
money, building materials, fuel, stoves, cloth
ing, the uocossnries Of 1ifo, tools, etc., etc.
Their purchases were made on tho most fa.
vorable terms by experienced buyers, and it
is safe to say that the money spent secured at
least double tho results it would have procured
il left to a reckless division among tho suffer-
ers. Tho caro- and thrift Of tho Society also
suggested tho sensible policy of rcaoring
portion Of the fund, after giving MI necessary
raliof during tho winter succeeding the fire,
for tho suffaringa of futuro seasons of want
and hardship which would he tho indirect
consequences Of tho common disaster of 1871.
Tho wisdom of this policy has been fully de-
moustrated this year al we'll as in tho winters
Of 1072-73 and 1854, whom tho capitalists
and businessmen OF tho city hnye not boon
in a position to subscribe largo sums from
their own pockets for the relief of tho poor
and suffering, as tAoy used to do before tho
great Gro.
Many Of tho gentlemen connected with
the Society gavs all their time and enorgy to
tho affaira of their trust for an entire year
after tho fire, to tho great sacriaee Of their
health and their personal buHincas, aud with
out pay, fee, or tho hope Of any other reward
thnn consciousness of wel1.doing. For this
they havo suffered periodical outbreaks Of
abuse, chiefly emanating from the very classos
for whom they havo malo their greatest Of
forts and sncrifices, and Notwithstanding they
have mado annual exhibita Of thoir affairs,
aud printed comprehensive report embrac-
ing the ontire administration OF thcir trust.
It ia high time TINT these ungracious aud un-
grateful slanaers DO siloncod; and we there
foro greet tho appointment Of Committee Of
Examination as q mems to this end. There