The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-14
[ DAILY, SO A YEAR, ! :.
( S CENTSA COPY.
| WEEKLY, 3l.25 A YEARb
A RELIEF FUND PROTEST,
JoHNsrOWN DON'T LIKETHE WAY
THE MONEY IS GOING.

A Citizens Mass Meeting Claims That
Residents Of the Valley Should Have
tho Handling OF the Funds - The
State Commission Asked to Furnish
An Itemizsd Statement.
JoHNsTOwN, PA. July I3.-The Presby.
terian church, with q capacity of 1000.
was filed this afternoon with thoroughly
representative body of citizens, to protest
against the manner in which the relief fund
was being distributed. Burgess Horrsll 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. Them
selves, have the disbursement of the contri-
buttons intended for them, as the state COM
missions had shown their incapacity for the
work,
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
A COMMITTEES on resolutions was ans
pointed, and the following we're adopted:
hesotued, That We respectfully but earnestly
request that the fund contributed for the relief
OF tue sufferers by the disastrous flood which
devastated the Conenaugh valley be as
speedily as possible distributed in money
directly TO the people 10 whose benefit Il was
donated And that all purchases, con-
tracts snr ana all expenses to be paid
cease; that any boarding up of this fund to
meet prooiematical future wants will fnate-
rally diminish its usefulness and only result In
uslaying TO a more distant time the restoration
OF homes, or business OF industries and of CON.
ndence 10 will do more good In the hands OF
people, now than at any time hereafter; that
we repudiAte as insulting to the manhood and
intslugence or our citizens now that avenues
or trade arc opened uD the imputatiou
Jhat they cannot and will not wisely
ana economically disburse any funds placed in
gt
the arrogant assumption that guardians must
supervise our expenditures, control our dis
OurseEnents purchase our supplies and make
our contracts
Resolued, That IL the statement imputed To
his excellency Gov Beaver, that "a million and
a haif OF dollars has already been expended in
Johnstowu and vicinity" has any foundation
Ia TACT, 10 is the strongest possible argumenu
that expending relief funds IN contracting for
DulldlnES, quartermaster and conlmissary sun
pheS IL not A wise, Judicious economical
method OF discussing such funds when the ordi-
nary sources OF supply opened up. Only by
gross extravagance and carelessness could such
a sum have been used here, and the people have
received no adequate return for the expendi-
ture OF 80 large a sum
hesolUed, That the disbursement OF the fund
subscribed for relief directly TO the sufferers bY
the hood will stimulate business; will provide
WORK for our builders and trade for our mer-
chent3; will provide labor for our artisans and
VIII tend to restore confidence in the commu-
nlty, ana VIII thus directly and indirectly help
those tor whom the fund was intended While
any other course, at this day, savors OF Jobs
rebounds TO the benefit Of nonresident con-
tractors and business men having no interests
III TINS community and uninsty discrminatea
against our own citizens
RESOLVED, That IL is unfair and unjust 10 exact
an oath as 20 private income and relief before
| the bounteous charity Of our countrymen can
! be distributed TO its benedciaries.
ResOiUed That we hereby appeal to the cus-
| todians of the funds at Philadelphia New York,
PittsburR aud other localities to transmit the
I'm al iufnp dad Far
maugh valley sufferers direct to our local
finance committee 10 be distributed by that
committee Immediately in cash upon reaulsi-
tions or the board Of inquiry upon such fair
and equitable basis as may be adopted, and we
invite the co operation OF such custodians in
making such distribution
Resotred. That this meeting express its pro-
found gratitude TO the many thousands OF
people in our own and other lands who have so
spontaneously and generously contributed to
the relief OF our people,
THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
Speeches we're made by Col Lytton, Col.
Rose, Capt. Kuhne, ex-Bnrgess Dick, Rev.
ID. j. Bssle, Rev. w. B. Bates, Hon. John
Nj. Rose A. j. Hawse, Frank II. Martin,
Esq, John Thomas and number OF other
leading citizens, supporting the resolutions,
and they were unanimously carried.
There was strong expression of opinion
throughout that the fund was not being
handled for the best interests of Johnstown.
and at the close an additional resolution
was passed requesting the state commission
to furnish an itemized statement of the ex
penditures to date.