Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-06
TO SUE THE STATE.
This is Hinted TO be the Plan Of
Johnstown Malcontents,
BECAUSE THE TOWN ISN'T CLEAR.
Treasurer Thompson Tells of Coming Dis
bursements by Check,
TO AVOID HANDLING SUCH VAST SUMS

TO AVOID HANDLING SUCH VAST SUMS
Treasurer w. R. Thompson, of the Pitts
burg Relief Commission, returned from
Johnstown yesterday, after seeing his force
we'll at work upon the last week of claim
paying out of the $500, 900 fund. The force
of clerks began work at o'clock yesterday
morning, and continued until 6 P. M, add
ing two hours work per diem. This move
has been made in harmony with the policy
of ''bustle" which now imbues the whole
commission.
Mr.. Thompson said. in regard to the pro-
gress of the work: "We are rushing pay
ments on the $780, 900 basis, and will wind
up this week. Meanwhile we are perfect
ing arrangements for the next payment Of
money. Outside of losses we know Of and
which are not yet reported. and for which
a small contingent fund will be held by the
commission, it is the intention to make the
next payment practically final. We will
succeed in so shaping matters that we can
save ourselves
THE TROUBLE AND RISK
ofcarrying large amount of actual money
into Johnstown, and also the trouble, time
and expense involved in the present method
of payment. We propose to lodge the en-
tire sum to be distributed in the First Ma
tional Bank of Johnstown, and then pay it
out from the bank upon checks issued to the
individuals. We have all the names and
addresses of those who will be entitled to
money on the final distribution, and by
mailing their checks to them, the clerical
labor now necessitated will be obviated, and
Johnstown could be given 81 zoo. 900 or any
other snm, inside of "a hours. 1t is now i'm
possible to say jus: how large the availa-
BILE fund will be. 1t will be q large sum,
however.
,''The only present obstacle to this plan is
the slender clerical force of the bank itself
at present. But we could assign any num-
Der of clerks to the bank, and thus obviate
that difficulty.
"We have had every courtesy from the
bank. Their own business, however, de-
mands very hard work. When the water
subsided the interior of the bank safe was
mass of pulp, and there has been an oilstove
burning on the safe floor for weeks gradually
driving out the contents. The books and
accounts have to be taken out piecemeal
and embodied in new books. 1t is hard
and troublesome job; but they are getting
things into shape rapidly. believe there
will be no trouble in inducing the bank to
undertake our disbursement.
AS TO CHECK DISTRIBUTION.
has been made renders check distribution
possible. We have had to search the claims
very minutely. All who get money are
watched very closely, and each individuals
record is on file in our Office. We have thus
noted the payments made on the pending
distribution, and they will not get away
with us on the final payment. There is a
tendency upon the part of many to over
reach us, If possible. To illustrate, can
cite one case: A man came into our office
last Saturday and presented his claim. His
record showed that on July IL he made an
affidavit that his loss was S291, and that he
had 5children. On these children and himself
he got $50 head money from the local COM
mittee. On Saturday he swore to total
loss of S475, and to the possession of three
children. We simply confronted him with
the record, and he collapsed, very much
discounted. He was armed with an order
from the local committee, but we cannot
blame them, for they are compelled to still
the local clamor by giving people the bene-
fit of the doubt. This Just shows the exist
ence of natural inclination to take ad-
vantage of combination of circumstances
We would not know where we stand if we
did not apply q searching inquiry to all
cases. We
MUST PROTECT BOTH
the fund and those who are entitled to it,
and the percentage of overreaching would
seriously affect the gross fund if it was not
kept down. But the care taken in the pres
ent distribution enables us to know Just
what should be paid on the roundup, and
insures an equitable adjustment AS
matter of fact, almost every allotment made
by the local committee has been scaled
down on the admissions of the applicants
for relief themselves. Our list of questions
has been a very searching ordeal.
Governor Beaver is thoroughly in accord
with the policy of pushing things, and en-
phatically expressed himself to that effect
at the meeting on last Wednesday. think
can say, without drawing any invidious
comparisons, that the Pittsburg members of
the commission have steadily urged that the
proper persons to handle the relief funds
were the sufferers themselves, and it afforded
us pleasure to find the Governor outspoken
in behalf of the same view"
"Was that Boston Fund matter brought
up at the meeting last Wednesday," was
asked of Mr.. Thompson.
'Yes. One of the commission asked
Governor Beaver about the $3.50, 900 fund in
the hands of Kidder, Peabody & Co.,
of Boston, said to be awaiting draft from
some one. Governor Beaver said he had no
official intlmatlon of the existence of such
fund, and asked if the Pittsburg MEM
bers of the Pittsburg Relief Committee had
been officially notified by Boston authori-
ties. As they had not, the matter rests; but
believe that Secretary Kremer is to write
to Boston for information. The whole af-
fair is considered rather singular. 1t was
the generally expressed opinion that if
there is such fund at Boston it should be
forwarded without any red-tape or delay"
ADMISSION AND EXPLANATION.
"Do the property holders feel satisfied
with the action of the State authorities in
stopping the cleaning operations with the
restoration of the streets?''
Cranky, they do not. Although the
property holders are getting briskly to work
in the cleaning of their cellars and the re-
moval of debris off their lands, there is a
feeling that the State should have continued
work until the town site was absolutely
clear. The whole question of responsibility
is yet mooted point, and it may come up
in the future for settlement. 1t is a situa-
ton which does not call for an expression of
opinion; but it is generally assumed that the
State takes the attitude that its response
bility ceased with the restoration of the
highways"
Yesterday vas the first day since the food
upon which no contributions were received
L ID IL rrxI