Omaha daily bee., 1895-01-23
ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION
Workings Of the State Relief Commission to
Be Inquired Into,
RESULT OF THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
Statements Made by Secretary Ludden Lead
to n Desire for Further knowledge
of the Operations of tho
Commission.

house today decided upon an investigation of
the actions Of the State Relief commission.
The investigation is the natural elimination
of long series OF complaints that have
been made in the public press, and in scores
OF letters to individual members of the
legislature. While II is true that no par
ticular effort has been made to ward off an
investigation, 1t is nevertheless true that
the house has been 10th to institute an in
quiry into the workings of the commission,
from the fact that, in spite of the numerous
complaints there has been a general feeling
of confidence in the ability and integrity of
Rev. l.. =. Ludden, the secretary of the
commission and, in fact, its general man
ager and director.
The house has gradually worked itself to
the point of declaring for an investigation
The first noticeable feelings of hostility were
aroused in the all-day debate on the gene
raj relief bill last Saturday. The house, by
decisive majority, was in favor of the
appropriation of 500 900. Individual mem
bers who opposed so large an appropriation
quoted the secretary of the commission as
authority for the statement that from $685.
900 to 900 would be sufficient. Brady
the live and energetic member from Buffalo
county was one of the leaders in the move
ment for the larger appropriation.
This forenoon Brady offered resolution
calling for the immediate resignation of
Secretary Ludden. The house was in no
mood for so radical an act, and the reso-
luton was tabled by heavy majority
Later in the session Brady renewed the at
tack by offering the following resolution:
Resolved, That committee of five be ap-
pointed to Investigate the complaints made
against the State Relief commission and
ascertain, If possible, the cause, and report
the same to this house; also to report .hc
amount of goods already delivered to wae.-
ern sufferers.
Cooley OF Cass county endeavored to head
off the investigation by moving to table the
resolution, but only nine members were will
ing to oppose the object of the resolution
Then 1t was adopted Speaker Richards has
not yet reported the names of the members
to serve upon the committee, but is expected
to do so in the morning.
HOW 1T WILL PROCEED
There is some doubt as to the precise
manner in which the investigating commit
tee shall take up the work. 1t is conceded
that mere inspection of the letters of
complaint received from the several coun-
ties Of the drouth-stricken districts would
hardly be a fair basis for the proposed in
vestigation, for there would be no means
OF verifying the truth or credibility of the
complaints. 1t is also conceded that a
personal visit to the thrty-six counties in
cluded in the drouth district would be i'm
practicable, as the investigation could not
be made soon enough to alleviate any gen.
erai suHerins now neglected by the state
commission.
Many members of the house have expressed
their belief that wide range should be
taken in looking over the books and records
of the commission. and that a statement
should be prepared showing in detail all
donations received by the commission, the
names OF the donors, wherever they can he
obtained, and the towns and states from
which the donations were received; that a
second statement should show in detail every
shipment made by the commission, the town
ana county to which the shipment has been
made, and the names Of the. committees or
individuals receipting fer the same; that
another statement should show the cash re-
celpts and disbursements by items and that
st'il another statement should show the
names OF the clerks employed in the COM
mission headquarters, the salaries they are
expected to draw, and the actual incidental
expenses of tho commission up to date. The
exact course that will be pursued by the in
vesugating committee is something vet to be
decided upon. 1t is conceded that Repre-
sentative Brady OF Buffalo county will he
chairman Of the committee
The State Relief commission as organized
at present was appointed by Governor
Crounse about three months ago. 1t is
composed of the following well known citi-
zens of the state: w. ~ Mason of Omaha
chairman; l.. p. Ludden of Lincoln secre
tary; J. ii. McClay of Lincoln, treasurer;
s. B. Thompson of Broken Bow c. j. Ernst
OF Lincoln, Rev. james Duryea of Omaha.
Henry Sprick of Fontcnelle, ]. w. Hartley
ana a. j. Sawyer of Lincoln.
SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS.
While the personnel of the commission IS
perhaps all that might be required to give it
standing in the state, 1t yet remains to be
SAID that several circumstances have COM
bined to render the commission poorly
selected body Of men. A. ]. Sawyer is the
United States district attorney and the duties
or his Office have reQIlirpu
Rev. DR.. Duryea has been seriously i'll for
many weeks and could therefore give the
commission no part of his time. r. r.
commission no part Of his time. Chair
man Mason has been unable to give the
necessary time to the active duties of the
commission.
Secretary Ludden has been the head and
front OF the commission. That he should not
have been compelled to bear the whole bur-
den OF the immense amount of labor involved
In the relief work is admitted by himself and
conceded by all who have informed them
selves as to the workings of the COM
mission.
The individual members Of the commission
1t Is urged. should have resigned when Gov
ernor Holcomb was inducted into the office
he now occupies. This would have permitted
the reorganization OF a commission which
after more than two months Of actual work.
ing experience proved itself unsuited for the
task assigned to It. No one is disposed to
criticise or call in question the individual
ability or integrity of the commission. In
dlvidually the members are able, conscien-
tous men. Collectively they have been a
practical failure.
WHY 1T is NEEDED.
Representative Brady says that he desires
to cast no reflection on the honesty of Rev
L. p. Ludden but there is certainly unex-
planned delay In the shipment Of supplies
donated by the people of this and other states
He says that he is daily receiving letters
from his constituents asking why the prom
ised relief does not come. There are he
says, large number of cars standing on
the track loaded with supplies and days 20
by without an attempt to move them In the
direction of the suffering destitute. There is.
possibly, reason for this In the statement
made by certain parties that the railroads
have been waiting for the house and senate
TO pass the 100000 appropriation bill in
order that they may receive pay for hauling
the goods. Mr.. Rrady feels that the com
mlttee should be appointed at once and begin
work and such work as will expedite mat
tiers.
In this connection there Is a movement ON
foot to give Mr.. Ludden more assistance II
was stated ON the floor of the house this
morning that he was at work In his Office
from o'clock in the morning until IL at
night
ISRAEL FRANK IN EVIDENCE.
The house committee on cities and towns
CT which Representative Johnston of Omaha
is chairman held n long sassInn ,hts os.o.