Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-15
SIGNS OF A SQUALL.
Mr.. McCreery Persists in Having
That s125,OOO From Gen. Beaver.
THE LATTER DENIES A PROMISE.
Treasurer Thompson Tells of One Who
Wanted to Borrow 100000.
A DISTRIBUTION OF $1,6OO,OOO SOON

The proposition contained in Governor
Beavers letter in answer to the demand
made upon him for S125, 900 by William
McCreery, Chairman of the Plttsburg he
lief Committee, is now made known by
member of the latter organization. DlVesteo
of the arguments and statements MADE by
Governor Beaver, the sum and substance OF
the proposition is that the tools bought by
the Pittsburg committee will be paid for out
of the remnant of the $500, 900 raised by the
Governor among his friends.
& Treasurer Thompson, when asked as to
the amount paid out for tools in the early
davs of the flood, stated that it might have
been close on to $4,000, but would hardly
exceed that sum. 1t is hard to predict what
will be done, as several members of the COM
lnittee are pacifcaIly inclined toward Gov
ernor Beaver. Chairman McCreery, it is
understood, sturdily maintains that Gov
ernor Beaver made distinct oral agreement
to return S125000, and not SO, 900, or any
minor sum. What will somewhat compl-
cate the situation is the fact that even if
Governor Beaver should decide to repay the
money, and should pay over the money from
the funds in his hands, the fact that the
money would reach the people eventually
would not save the Governor from further
criticism. 1t is stated that he emphasized
this point in the letter 10 Mr.. McCreery, but
the Executive reiterates in most positive
terms his disavowal ofSny language In the
shape of a contract to return the money ad-
vanced by the Pittsburg committee. On
the other hard, Mr.. McCreery has received
letters from prominent Johnstown people
who were present when the conversation
took place, which are in direct opposition 70
the statements made by the Governor.
A COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY.
Mr.. VIM. r. Thompson was asked yester-
day whether a committee meeting would be
held shortly. He said: "Yes. The Pitts
burg Relief Committee will hold a special
meeting next Tuesday. Governor Beavers
answer to Mr.. McCreery will be discussed
and some agreement arrived at without
doubt. There are number of small bills
to come before the committee for action, and
if all goes well there will be little difficulty
in winding up the work of the committee
and making public statement of its af-
fairs. We will then turn over the balance
of the money in our hands, only preserving
a small fund for contingent expenses
Mr.. Thompson related several incidents
in connection with the custodianship of the
large sum of money directly contributed to
Pittsburg which exhibit an amusing side of
human nature. He said:
'Some time since one of the best-kuown
business men of Pittsburg came into nv Of
fee and stated that he wanted to borrow
500, 600 OF the funds for the Johnstown suf-
fererS. L said that it was preposterous, but
he stated that he had the most undoubted
securities for the money; that it was the
common belief that year might elapse be-
fore the money would be wanted for pay
ment, and that the money would be much
better employed in drawing interest than in
lying idle. l repeated that it would be i'm
possible to lend a cent of the money on anv
security, owing TO the fact that it might be
called for at any moment. My visitor then
quoted the scriptural parable Of the talents,
and tried to convince me that holding such
an amount of money in idleness was doing
as the slothful servant who hid his talent in
a napkin. But it was simply out of the ques-
ton to allow any portion of the money to
pass from immediate control. Others have
come into the bank and urged me to deposit
the money in savings banks, or to invest it
Il
suppose, that fluctuations might take
place"
William R. Thompson has received TWO
letters from S. NJ. Dickens. Commander of
the Tallapoosa, and J. H. Gibbs, command
ing South American station, United States
Navy, Buenos Avres. South America, in
closing checks for S185 so and SSS respect
lively, collected on the flagship Richmond
and Tallapoosa, for the relief Of the Johns
town sufferers.
THE COMMISSION MEETING.
James B. Scott has returned from the
meeting of the Flood Commission at Harris
burg. He reports harmony and expedition
OF business during a consecutive session of
eight hours Mr. Scott states that the matter
of Sl25, 600 was not discussed, and is left to be
settled by the Governor and the Pittsburg
committee. 1t was resolved that the s.. .6OO,-
600 be distributed among the sufferers in
one large distribution; and it cannot be
done before two weeks. as the classification
cannot be completed before that time. Dis
tribution will be made by j. B. Kreamer.
Secretary of the commission. The jersey
Shore Committee got $50, 900 for their con-
stltuents, and were satisfied with it.
In the PittSburg fund there is still S164-
600; in the Philadelphia fund S4OO, 900. and
in the New York fund $3.50. 900. and Mr..
Scott states that after the 81, 600, 900 have
been distributed there will be remainder
Of $4,000 to $3.50, 900. He thinks the COM
mission can do better work by meeting in
JOhnstown than elsewhere. The work in
the Eastern part of the State has been about
completed, and the commission expects to
finish the bulk Of its work within month.
The next meeting will be held at the call of
the Governor, who is Chairman of the COM
mission.