Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-02-14


Distributi"n of the Money Contributed
To Flood sunerers-The Favored Got
Double the Amount OF Those Net in the
Inner Circle, Though Their Losses
sample c. sss.
Pittsburgh Times, Saturday.
JoHNsrowN, Pa, February THE
snow that covered the housetops of ILL
fsted Johnstown to. day is much purer and
more Innocent in the eyes of the people
than the way in which the big Relief
Fund was distributed. The mutterings
of dissatisfaction grow louder day by
day, and when the complete report of the
Flood Commission is published it will not
be oil on troubled waters, but more likely
torch to start an explosion. Ii was to
be expected that many would be dis
pleased with what was given them, and
people who got much more than they
anticipated or supposed was just are not
putting that fact on large placards.
FAvoRITIsM CHARGED.
That faN oritism is openly charged in the
distribution of the funds in the hands OF
the Commission will be seen from inter-
views obtained to-day from several cit
gems, who told the amounts of their losses
and what they got from the Commission.
Frank w. Hay conducts stove and
tinware store. His estimate of his loss
by the flood was $4,000. The Commits
sion for some reason thought they would
add $500 to his own estimate. He got
$2,50O for his share.
I" Do you think the Commission has
performed It's task satisfactorily ?" was
asked Mr.. Hay.
"Oh yes, as far as stealing is con-
cerned," he replied.
In explanation Mr.. Hay said that in the
buying of goods for Johnstown there was
remarkable recklessness. He said that
loads Of bread unfit for food were sent up
to Johnstown and had to be dumped into
the river. Mr. Hay did not say he was
dissatisfied, but he thought it the duty OF
everybody to see that a proper accounting
Of all the money be had. He furtaer as
serted that several Pittsburgh firms had
in the first flush of charity in June sent on
their contributions, and were afterwards
reimbursed in cash for that which was
given as charity. Continuing, Mr.. Hay
said: THE money that went to other
towns belonged to us. Besides the Com
mission gave up $4,000 for hospital
here. Now we don't want hospital
as far as know. twas intended, sup.
pose, to give positions to certain people.
During the flood men were getting $40
day who couldn't get 81 day at any
other time for their work. believe that
the people should take steps to
have wasted and stolen money refunded.
A steal and swim lie are evident some
where"
G. T. Frazer is one of the best known
citizens of the town. He was asked what
he lost and what he got from the fund.
I" l got nothing, and l won't state my
loss just now," was MIR. FraZer's reply,
and he looked as if he was sharpening
some weapon for the Commission. He
refused to be interviewed further, simply
remarking that he understood $4,000
was to be used TO print the report and he
was anxiousto get hold Of a copy.
FEW SAMPLE CASKS.
Captain W. B. Keller made up for Mr..
FrazeI's reticence. He was found in his
office across the stone bridge. He is an
.old soldier and SAID know of seven
or eight cases which to me seem remark
able. l refer to young married men, not
over twenty-five years Of age, some hav-
ing two or three children and some none.
had family of six. Yet they got as
much as did, but then they were in the
ring. One mans sworn loss was half of
mine, yet he got 800 more than re-
ceived.
/" The soldiers Jared the worst of all,
though there are Grand Armv men on the
Board of Inquiry and on the Commission
The ward bummers and rinLsters had to
get the money, and l told as much to
Governor Beaver in letter. Remember
that think we got more, perhaps, than
we expected, but do object to the dis
elimination and favoritism that has been
practiced. There is William Warden, who
lives in the. Fifth ward, and his was most
meritOrious case. think he got only
$500. His neighbor below him lost per-
haps only oDe-third of what Warden did,
and yet he got 81 900. Many people got
100 per cent. / know OF one man who
lost $500 and he got that amount AS
said / wrote to Beaver. Well, l got
this" and the Captain showed a type
written letter from the Governor in which
he stated he knew noll ing about the dis
tribution of the fund at Johnstown, that
the Board of Inquiry end Secretary Kre-
mer were attending to business in that
line, but that he would refer the matter to |
Mr.. Kremer. The Governor then goes on
to tell how he started OIIt to help the peo-
pie and how all his nticipations were ex-
at-z