The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-04

The following plan outlined by Mr..
G.. II. Fisher is intended for per
fectly systematized and business-like
plan of furnishing relief to the families
of soldiers away at war, who have left
their families without adequate means
of support. 1t will accomplish the fol-
lowing desirable objects:
1.-Assurc to such families as are in
need of help u weekly sum of not to eN-
ceed 500
2.-Assure them in case OF the death OF
the soldier during the war or within SIX
months after its termination from causes
connected with his service as soldier OF
the United States Il sum not to exceed
$500, enough to enable them in most cases
10 find suitable means of support.
3-Supply them in cases OF excessive
sickness with medical treatment ana nee
essary medicine.
4.-Rclicvo the anxiety of men at the
front concerning the welfare of their
families.
5.-Remove the fear of want from the
families of patriotic men who would ike
to serve their country actively, but are
deferred by this obstacle.
6-Enablc men. women. boys and girls
who desire to render patriotic service. but
cannot go to the front, 10 bear Il share of
the burden Of active warfare otherwise
falling exclusively upon the soldiers and
their families. 1t goes without saying
that the present arrangement is unfair,
and does not give opportunity for the dis
play of patriotism on the part of non
combatants.
7-Furnishcs a means of forwarding
supplies. dainties, medicines, clothing
etc. to the front, or when called for, to
Cuba for the poor and starving there
after the manner of the sanitary commits
sion of the Rebellion. As soon as Cuba
is opened, it will be necessary to forward
supplies in large amounts, and an or
Eanized means should he furnished for do
ing this: if not, the work will be done
sporadicdlly, as 1t has been thus far,
where half the effect is lost through the
lack of system in doing it. There is no
one who will not want to help in this
work as soon as it is ready, and an OPP
portunity Is hereby given for every per-
son to do his or her share.
RAISE FUNDS QUICKLY.
Sat the close of the war it furnishes a
means for quickly raising funds, if de-
sired, for a soldiers and sailors monu-
ment. or other token of regard that the
people may see fit to raise in honor of the
dead.
9.-EQualizes the burden of relief work
by enabling those in thinly settled dis.
tricts, and in sections from which few en-
list, to do their share in helping sections
from which many go and where the bur
den of helping the families at home would
fall too heavily to be carried effRtively.
These ends will be accomplished by
organizing the relief work by coun-
ties, every contributor in the county
sending his or her money in to COM
mon fund. from which all disburse-
ments will be made, and by or through
which organization all supplies would
be forwarded to the front or to Cuba,
as soon as the need arises.
The organization for this county will
be called the Soldiers Relief Commit
tee of Lackawanna county, Pa, and
those Of other counties will bear SINH
lar names. 1t will have as president
an influential citizen of this city. 1t
will have as secretary, another citizen,
who will give part of his time to the
work as his patriotic service to the
country; and as treasurer, preferably,
a man of such prominence and stand
ing as to inspire universal confidence.
Since the last two handle trust funds
they should be bonded for a suitable
sum to cover all that they may have
at any one time this not from dis
trust, but as a measure to inspire still
more commence III the DuSlneSS-llke
conduct of the work.
DUTIES OF PRESIDENT.
The duties of the president will be
those usually falling to that office
Those of the secretary will be to re-
ceiVe and pay out money, keep records
print pledges and see that they are
distributed, keep files of persons pledg-
ing and the amounts and payments of
each, send out notices that pledges are
due whenever the funds in the treas
ury fall below some sum decided upon
by the executive board, say 81, 900, s., ,O0C
or $4,000, etc, see that auxiliary COM
mittees are organized in every ward
and township of the county to push
the work locally, keep in touch with
the work i'm other counties and states
and with the state and national eX-
ecutive boards, get free transporta-
tion of supplies to the front and to
Cuba, agitate for legislation exempt
ing the checks used by the Soldiers
Relief Committees from the war tax
attend to the payment of doctors and
druggists bills for soldiers families
etc, as opportunities for furthering
this good work may present them
selves. He will do most of this
through necessary clerks paid out of
the common fund.
The treasurer will receive money
from the secretary as fast as he col.
lects II, keep ii in bank, and pay ii out
in checks at the order Of the secre-
tary, and keep records of same. Both
secretary and treasurer should make
monthly rpDOrtg tO ba ruhIicbod will,