Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-16
SCOTT vs. SHEPARD.
The Commissioner Thinks the Col
OneI's Letter is Forgery.
NO MONEY LYING AROUND LOOSE.
There let Remains $25O,OOO for Distribu-
tion in the State.
FINAL MEETING OF TIE COMMISSION

james B. Scott, Of the State Relief Com
mission, which was formed for the purpose
of distributing the money contributed by
the general public Immediately after the
Johnstown food, is considerably exercised
over the statement made by Colonel Elliott
F. Shepard, of the New York Mail and Er-
press, to the effect that there ere still 81
O0O, 900 of the relief fund rema. ling undis-
tributed in the various banks all over the
State. Mr.. Scott was seen by DISPATCH
reporter last night, and when asked what
he had to say in regard to Colonel Shep-
ards charge, he replied;
s'I really do not know what to make of
Colonel Shepard's very remarkable letter.
1t is not a criticism of the work or methods
of the Commission, but point blank charge
that we have, to say the least, been negli-
gent in our duties. am inclined to look
at the matter in different light. When
the letter was first brought to my attention
1 thought that it was forgery, perpetrated
for some reason unknown to me. II the
letter is genuine, the Colonel may have
made mistake in his lenses, and SAID is 70
be distributed instead of was distributed.
Or he may have been misinformed, though
Just why q man in Colonel Shepard's posi-
ton should write such q letter before
making thorough inquiries, passes my COM
prehensi0n.
NEW WORKERS MISTAKES.
During the whole time of the excitement
at Johnstown, and even after, there were
several New Yorkers, bright intelligent
men, BY the way, who kept what they called
a pretty close watch for cases of destitu-
ton which might be missed by the Com
mission. They found several cases, but in
yestigation showed that each and every one
of these cases had received relief in the
shape of cash, but the money was spent for
drink.
'sI have no wish to criticise Colonel Shep-
ards action in giving $1,000 to Rev. DR..
Beale, because do not know exactly the
nature of what is called the Mail and E1-
press fund, or under what condition it was
put in Colonel Shepard's care. The money
may have been given him for the
purpose of aiding and rewarding
Protestant ministers, or its distribution
may have been left entirely to his own dis
cretion. In either case, 1 have no desire to
object to his disposal of it, merely saying
that every minister who was lett alive by
the food did good work. Several were
drowned, but the remainder worked like
beavers Then again, Colonel Shepard is a
man Of large wealth, and if he wishes to
make DR.. Beale a present of s., 900 it is the
business of no one but the Colonel and the
reverend doctor.
A FALSE STATEMENT.
"But this is getting away from the most
important part of the letter. If the Com
mission has 81, ,000, 900 lying in the banks it
is to the public's interest to know the fact.
However, you can say that there is not any
thing near that amount still undistributed.
There we're over 5000 applicants for relief
in the Conemaugh district alone, and not
more than 35 or Sc were refused. So you can
see that any such statement as Colonel Shep-
ard makes is preposterous. As to there being
any unrelieved cases of destitution still in
the Conemaugh Valley, 1 will say that I do
not know of one. There are people there
without money, probably, but it is their
own fault. The Commission was organized
to give relief, not to support those too lazy
to work.
''The Commission distributed S400, 900 on
the first appropriation, and 81, 600, 900 on the
second, making 81, ,OOO, 900 distributed. There
are between 5000, 900 and $3.50, 900 still un-
distributed, but this money cannot 60 to the
Conemaugh Valley exclusively. 1t must go
all over the State wherever the food did
damage. You know that the loss Of prop
erty in the eastern part of the State was far
greater than in the western. 1t was the APP
palling loss of life at Johnstown and
vicinity that drew all eyes in that
direction"
Mr.. Scott also said that the Commission
would hold a meeting shortly and make
final arrangements. After the remaining
money is distributed, and reports published,
the Commission will be disbanded.