Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-14
THE RELIEF FUND.
THE CITIZENS OF JoHNsToWN PRO-
TEST AGAINST ITS METHODS
or DISTRIBUTION.
The state Board Believed. to Re Handling
the Money Adverse TO the Best
Interests of the People.
ley telegram 70 The n,sn..nh.

JoHNsrowS. Pa, July is.--The Presbyte-
nan church, with capacity Of twelve
hundred, was filed this afternoon with a
neutrality-suspicious. body Of citizens
90 protest against the manner in which the
relief fund was being distributed. Burgess
Herroll was called TO the chair. and in a
brief speech outlined the object Of the
meeting, and said that the people of the
Valley should themselves have the dis
bursomcnt Of the contributions intended
for them. as the State commission had
shown their iOcapacity for the work. A
committee on resolutions was appointed.
and the following adopted:
Rcso'rcd, That we respectfully but
earnestly request that the fund contri-
buted for the relief Of the sufferers by the
disastrous food which devastated the
Conemaugh Valley. be as speedily as posi-
hle distributed in money directly TO the
people. 20 whose bcnft IL was donated,
and that all purchases. contracts. and all
expenses % be paid for out Of this fund
Immediately cease that any boarding up
Of this fund 20 meet problematical future
wants VIII materially diminish its useful
ness and only result IN delaying 90 a more
distant time restoration Of homes,
of business, 81 industry. and Of conf
dence. IL viii do more good M the hands
Of tho people than at any time hereafter
that We rcpudiate as insulting 90 the man
hood and intelligence Of our citizens, now
that the avenues Of trade are opened up,
the imputation that they cannot and Will
not economically disbuTse any funds placed
i'm their hands. and because Of this imputa-
tion thearrogant sumption that guardians
must supervise our expenditures, control
our Disbursements. purchase our supplies,
and make our contracts.
Rssolrcd That If the statement imputed
20 his Excelcncv Governor Beaver that a
million and half If dollars have already
l,anst srf..rffa i IaNrfDf ID W. and vicinity y
hasnny foundation in fact. tits the strongest
pOsS bic argument that in eXpendIng the
relief funds in contracting for buildings,
quart crmastcr and cOmmissary supplies -
not wise. judiciOus. or an economical
method Of d,sbursug such finds when the
ordinary sources of supply are opened up.
Only hy gross extravaganza and careless
ness could such "a sum have been used
here. and the people have received no
adequate return for the expenditure OF 50
large an amount.
Reso's4d That the disbursement of the
fund subscribed for relief directly TO the
sufferers bv the flood Will stimulate busl-
ness. will provide work for our builders
and trade for our merchants, will provide
labor for 0ur artisans and Will tend to re-
store confidence in the community, and
Will thus directly and indirectly help those
for whom the fund was Intended, while any
other course al this dav saYOrs Of Jobs. re-
NOAlIlN 10 lil' Ufilful va Hbh-A'0ANiNiiA 'N'i-
tractors and businessmen having no IN
terests ina this community, and unlustly
discriminates against our own citizens.
Hcsolred That DO ia unfair and unjust 10
exact al oath a. 90 private income ana re-
lief before the bOuuteous charity of our
counirymen can be distributed to ITS bene-
hciaries.
Reso'oed. That we hereby appeal to the
custodians of the funds at Philadelphia,
New York, Pittsburgh, and other localities
10 transmit the funds IN thor hands IN
tended for the Conomaugh-N sui
ferers direct 10 our local Finance Commit
toe. to bc distributed by that committee
Immediately IN cash upon the requisitions
of the Board of Inquiry upon such FAR and
equitable basis as may be adopted, and we
invite the cooperation Of such custodlans
in making such distribution.
ReSolycd That this meeting express IFS
profound gratitude 20 the many thousands
of people in our own and other lands who
have So spontaneously and generally con-
tributed to the relief of our people.
Speeches were made by Colonel Linton,
Colonel Rose, Captain Kuhn, ex-Burgess
Dick. Rev d. j. Beal Rev. W. b. Bates,
Hon. John NJ. Rose. A. j. Hawse. Frank
H. Martin. Esq. John Thomas, and num-
Der of other leading citizens, supporting
theresOfuuons, and they were unanimously
carried. There was a strong expression of
opinion throughout that tine fund was not
being handled for the best interests OF
Johnstown. and az the close an additional
resolution was passed requesting the state
Commission 10 furnish an itemized state
meut of the expenditure 10 date.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SEARCH.
JoHNsrowN, PA. July l3.-The body Of
Mrs. Mary A. Swineford. Of st. Louis, was
recovered IN the drift above the bridge to-
day. When found her gold watch was
sticking fast 10 her breast without being
held by any guard or chain. The body
was one of the best preserved found for
long time, the features being almost per-
feet. The Mrs. Swineford found was the
m0ther-in-law of young Mrs. Swineford,
whose brother. Mr. Bi-rhOf, has been here
for "a month hunting for the bodies of his
sister and her mothcr-in-Iaw Both ladies
were passengers on the Inflated day eX-
press. Since his search has been partially
rewarded Mr.. Eischoh expresses his deter
minatiou 90 remain until lac hnds his sister.