New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-16
ACCUSE RELIEF BOARD
Charges of SIocum SurriUors Re
futed bg MeSsrs. Ridder and Haas.

Declaring that the General Slocum Relief
Committee appointed by Mayor Mcclellan, had
practically ignored their application for financial
assistance and had failed TO pay undertakers
bills submitted it, two hundred and fifty rela-
tives of the victims of the Socum disaster and
survivors met last night at Schuetzen Hall. st.
Marks Place. The Rev, Mr.. Haas the pastor
of the stricken congregation. was spoken OF IN
bitter terms. statement by the clergyman
that there was absolutely ground for COM
plant. and that the committee had already ex
pended $4,000 in relieving distress and paid
four hundred undertakers' bills, was the
of his unpopularity.
According to figures compiled by those at the
meeting. out of two hundred and fifty sur
vivors who had applied for payment of under
takers hills only fifteen had received payment
in full from the committee.
Men and women told at the meeting of pre-
senting bills OF from 5000 TO 500 to the
mittee and receiving SIS and SO bills with the
remark that they would have to be satisfied
with that amount.
An officer OF the organization formed at the
meeting declared that unless redress forth
coming the complaint would be taken to the
courts and effort made to force that COM
mittee to show its books.
The Rev. Mr.. Haas out Of town last night,
but his son. George Haas. said
This agitation is quite unwarranted. My father
is satisfied that the relief committee is attending
every worthy He has no complaint
make whatever. and is personally cognizant of the
thorough in which the relief committee is
going about its work. Many applicants for fnan-
cial relief may have been turned down because
they were not really in need OF the money. They
collected insurance money with which 10 bury
their dead, and do not need the money subscribed
by the public The relief committee Is not going
allow anybody to make financial capital OF
a bereavement. Then, again, really deserv
ing have not been passed upon yet. The
work before the committee is heavy. If some Of
these people will have patience they may hear
from the committee later when their turn comes
around. All the cases OF distress have been at
tended TO. The undertakers' bills can naturally
afford TO wait little. The undertakers not
going 10 sue.
Herman RiddSr said last night:
There is absolutely nothing this charge. II
denies itself by ITS very indentteress. L have al
ready offered a reward for the report of any SO
where relief refused when asked We have
held meeting OF the committee since and tried
to locate definite cases, but cannot find any. Tho
facts that we have paid the expenses OF four
hundred funerals. and have given temporary
lief 10 more than that many persons. We
now preparing 10 give permanent relief IN the way
OF caring for orphans and widows with no means
OF support. Already $4,000 has been spent from
the funds intrusted TO OF course, there have
been some absurd requests, which found IT
necessary TO refuse. and is always the case.
there some persons not satisfied.
II the charges be made definite will
gladly investigate but il is l do think they
ere worth serious consideration.