Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-29
WORK OF THE COMMITTEES
Tabulated Statement Shows Co1lec-
tons Amounting to S28,0O306.
RETURNS NOT ALL REPORTED-THOSE YET TO
BE COUNTED EXPECTED TO INCREASE
THE AMOUNT TO $4,000

AS the city bells were tolling the
hour of II o'clock last night. the
tired workers at the rooms of the
canvassing committee for the Cali
fornia earthquake and fire relief
fund struck the total of the amount
that had been collected in the
houSe-to-house canvass which be-
gan Thursday morning, when con-
tribution blanks were distributed.
With twelve downtown squares
and eight districts yet to be heard
from the amount received and now
in the hands of Chairman Edison is
S2S,oo3.o6. This total also includes
sums that were sent in by mail. 1t
is expected when all returns from
the special canvass are in the total
will be over $4,000 and that the
grand total may reach 100000.
After thirteen hours of strenuous emer
gency work by force of accountants and
computers, under the director of Mr.. John
Joy Edison and Mr.. w. Riley Decide.
complete list of the contributions to the
California relief fund that resulted from
the house-to-house collection of Friday,
and the amounts sent to the canvassing
committee through the mails, was com
pleted about 10 o'clock last night at the
rooms of the committee in the Washington
Loan and Trust building To accomplish
To -nrl- tor md Soyy-
eraI adding machines. besides the regular
clerical force, worked necessarily. and at
its conclusion the subcommittee chairmen
and others who were present unanimously
pronounced II a magnificent piece of finan-
cial generalshp.
In the glare of the electric light at head
quarters last night the computers labored
in their shirt sleeves and according to mod
ern banking house methods in striking bal
ances and arriving at totals. When the
last sheet had been prepared and added
the tired workers gave sigh of relief. The
work of the commit eemen was not ended,
however for the force will resume this
forenoon. when 1t Is expected the returns
from the remaining districts will be re-
ceived through the mails or by messenger
The very last returns may not be received
today but 1t is the hope of Chairman Ed
son that they will all be in sufficiently early
to permit him to make full report to the
general committee when ii meets at IL
O'Clock tomorrow morning at the New Will
lard Hotel.
IL is the expectation of the committee
that when an the collectors have been
heard from the total amount contributed
in the canvass will exceed 100000 This
Will swell the contribution from all sources
in Washington for the earthquake sufferers
to nearly If not quite 81 per capita of the
population.
District Roll of Honor.
An officer of the committee, surveying
the piles of typewriter sheets contain
ing the names of the contributors said
proudly:
THAT is the Districts roll of honor :"
Another member of the committee re-
marked that the Sunday malls would I'M
doubtedly be heavy and bring in many be-
lated contributions.
The collectors report that many persons
gave as reason for not contributing to
the house-to-house fund that they had con-
tributed in other directions. Some said
they had given 10 the fund being collected
by their church or society, and others that
they had sent sums to the newspapers or
had purchased tickets for entertainments
that were given for the benefit of the
earthquake sufferers. AS rule those who
collected the relief money from the homes
and business places of the District report
that the amounts from small to large were
given cheerfully and In the true spirit of
charity.
One OF the contribution blanks received
by Chairman Edison through the mail was
from Miss Lydia NJ. Fox of the Colorado
building. who wrote in the black space for
the amount. this In stenographic service,
mimeographins. typewriting. etc. $50.
Experiences in Canvassing.
Some Of the experiences of one of the
ladies who canvassed district for the Cal
ifornia relief fund has been given to The
Sunday Star and it said to be merely a
repetition OF the experiences of others who
engaged in the house-to-house canvass in
the cause OF stricken humanity.
She was full of energy and enthusiasm as
she started out bright and early Thursday
morning to distribute $50 subscription
blanks among the jewellers and shopkeep-
ers of three not very prosperous blocks
When she returned home. about noon very
warm and more tired than she had thought
but the enthusiasm had not waned
Every one was so cordial and so inter
ested.' she said, and hearty expressions Of
sympathy for the poor hungry. homeless
Californians were universal. When I went
over the same route Friday, collecting the
sealed envelopes containing the contribu-
lions, the glimpses of human nature which
were vouchsafed me were most interesting.
For instance. one woman was being inter-
viewed by a collector. who reminded her
that she had not made the usual payment
for this month. In the same breath with
which she put him OFF until next pay day
she told me how sorry she was not to make
her contribution larger. and put a dollar
bill into the envelope. The collector did not
even protest at seeing the dollar which
should have gone into his wallet carried
away by q triumphant young woman with
handful OF fat brown envelopes.
At Corner Drug Store.
AT the corner drug store the envelope
was ready and waiting. to be delivered
promptly, with a smile and hearty good
wishes for the success OF the work. Not all
were so prompt, however, and waiting be-
fore obstinate front doors In sun of mid
summer fierceness while head was thrust
from an upper window and quickly with
drawn. or a surreptitious peep was taken
through Nottingham lace parlor curtains.
before the lady OF the house. opened to
my ring knock. made me feel like a
stranger knight of old being inspected
through the portcuilis before the draw