Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-07-12
THE BOARD OF INQUIRY.
THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO I'VE
STATE COMMISSION.

the Needy ut Once.
'sne fsosrd of Inquiry has maze COM
Llete register of all the property losses in
the valley. For the past week they have
beet giving the matter their undivided
attention. and in each district three resi-
dents have been added, as local members
of the board. In this manner very full
and complete returns were obtained, and
after giving each case most careful atten-
tion it was classified and filed. The man
ner in which the committee performed Its
work, Is best explained by the following
letter from the Chairman of the Board to
Mr.. Cummin, who has been here repre-
senting Governor Beavers Commission.
JouNsTowN Pa, July 4, 1889.
Hon. Httga CttnaDsia JOhaot0'oR, Pa.
DEAR SIR: The Board of Inquiry con-
sists of Chairman, Tom l. Johnson, of
Cleveland, o., and five members, being
Representative citizens of Johnstown and
neighboring boroughs. The Board ap-
pointed and advertised eighteen meetings
which so tar have been well attended. At
each meeting Local Committee of citi-
Zens consisting of from three to five were
selected by the Board from number of
persons chosen by the meeting. This
commit e examined carefully the state
ments OF loss prepared by the clerks of
the Board in the presence of the person
claiming to have lost friends, relatives or
property, each statement being made in
the name of the head of the family. The
estimate OF the loss OF property made was
modified and changed as in the judg
ment of the Local Committee it became
necessary. The Committees estimate is
the estimate of record. The present con-
dition of each applicant was considered
and finally the best judgment of the
Board was exercised in recommending
the family for assistance into the various
classes ON the basis of their present needs
rather than upon the extent of their loss.
Glass is the class to which the Com
mittee assigned the most needy, generally
woman who had lost her husband or
son, and was left with large family to
support with scarcely any property
saved A few men whose physical con-
dition was such that they were unable to
earn living and had large family with
no property were assigned TO this class.
Glass III, is the class to which the Com
ullllSG dSSlHltN luC uGAl must uVONN1 ldlll-
lilies, following the same general rule as
above, being people who had lost some of
their family and had more property, and
whose physical condition in the judgment
of the Committee was somewhat better.
Glass III, is the class to which the Com
mittee assigned the next most needy to
.clast two, generally families who had re-
covered something from the flood; but
very little but to whom small amount
OF money was of great present need.
Glass ", is the class to which the Com
mittee assigned families generally small
in number, and having some member of
the family able to work, and either had no
property saved from the flood or very lit
tie. In some cases the parties owned n
lot which had no present value, but on
which they could possibly borrow some
money to help them to erect building
together with any assistance received
and would put them in Il shape to very,
soon be selt-supporting.
Glass Y, is the class to which the Com
mittee assigned the parties in the iudg.
ment of the Committee requiring assls-
tance promptly, but in smaller amounts,
gennerally in case where a man was en-
ployed and had lost heavily, having
smaller family depending upon him than
in the other classes, and to whom a small
amount of money would result in great
present good in providing the family with
some of the necessares of life.
Class VI, is the class to which the Com.
mittee assigned all other cases no matter
how severe their losses, but in which the
Committee considered the present value
Of property such that the persons were
not objects of immediate charity. This
class contains great many vino should
be considered and assisted after the firsts
i've classes have been taken care Of and
provided for. In other words, this class
it was considered could wait. while all
the others were cases of great pressing
need.
The foregoing are the rules established
by the Board of Inquiry and which have
been fairly well carried out by the local
committees always acting with the assist
lnce OF M least one member and some
times two or three members Of the Board
Of Inquiry. Respectfully submitted
Ton l.. JOHNSON,
Chairman Board of Inquiry.
Glass one, to which the largest amounts
were recommended, consists in nearly
every instance of widow, or widow and
child. and in whose ease the husband and
father, or other members who helped sup
port the family were drowned. In these
cases the Committee did not consider
whether the family before the flood
were worth 5000 or - 600. If they lost
ALL and the bread-winners in addition.
they were placed in the highest class and
entitled to the greatest bounty. The
other classes were determined also with
the end III view of bencdtting the most
needy.
The committee worked hard day aud
night and completed their work SATURDAY,
and through their chairman will present
the following recommendations to Cover.
nor Beavers commission on Tuesday,
their report having been sanctioned by
the local finance committee
In class No. they have placed 2O5
cases, to which they recommend the pay
ment of 81 900 EACH
In class 2 there are 237 eases, each to
receive 5000,
Glass 2 contains 2~0 c,ses To aoch Of