The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-05
RELIEF FUND PROJECT.
Probabilities That the Board OF Trade
viii Take Charge of It...Meet.
ing TO Re Called.

The several ideas advanced through
The Tribune's columns to the effect
that a relief fund should be created
for the benefit of the families Of Lacka-
wanna county soldiers in the Thir-
teenth regiment, has met with prelimi-
nary action by board Of trade officials.
Yesterday it was decided that the fund
should be created and handled by the
boards secretary, d. b. Atherton, or
by the board itself, according to the
decision of a citizens meeting to be
held during the next few days.
The foregoing conclusion was not
reached as something final unless with
the approval of this community That
some plan to be fathered by the board
or its secretary would be successful
is indicated by that body's feat of
raising $4,000 for the relatives of the
Twn shaft victims. To a Tribune re-
porter Mr.. Atherton said yesterday:
Yes, | have been asked by num-
Der of officers and leading members
of the board TO help bring the fund idea
to definite plan. Several plans were
suggested but our discussions led to
the generally expressed opinion that
the people of the city should he heard
at a public meeting before we took
any action.
1T was suggested that the board as
body might assume charge of the
fund or that | should do so personally,
with, Of course, the approval and su-
pervisiOn of officers TO be selected at
public meeting. We decided to dis
cuss the matter tomorrow Thursday
| and then call meeting on Friday or
Saturday evenings.
Whatever fund is created here
would be for only Lackawanna county
members Of the Thirteenth. Company
| G., of MOntrose, has its membership in
Susquehanna county, and Company T..
| of Honesdalei is from Wayne county.
| The citizens Of the former town have
| already pledged $4,000 for their SOL
| diers, and Honesdale people will proba-
| bly, do something for Company f.
My idea is, in substance, this: A
small percentage OF the subscriptions,
| say 10 per cent, should he paid at
| once. When the sum thus raised is
| exhausted, further assessments would
| be made according to circumstances
| now unforeseen. When the regiment is
| recruited up 10 its full quota, the Secre-
| tary of the relief committee would re-
| ceive from Adjutant Mates a certi-
| fed roster from the colonel down.
| Thereafter the same officer would per-
| iodically inform the committee of the
| membership. Relief could be distribut-
| ed according TO the judgment of the
officers in charge of the fund or ac-
| cording to a schedule. But this point
| could be provided for by an executive
| committee, rules committee or in any
way the relief organization might de-
| termine"
Mr.. Atherton will gladly confer with
| any persons interested He will be at
his Office in the Board of Trade build
| ing from to II and to 4 o'clock today
| The Tribune's columns are oDen for
any signed communication on the sub
| jeCt
| The relief fund idea is strongly an
| proved Of by representative citizens
| generally. City Treasurr Boland said
yesterday that his contribution Of S25
| is ready for the fund as soon as il
| is formed,