The San Francisco call., 1906-07-08
ITO THE BOTTOM
OF The NESS .
THEY SAY.
Grand Jurors Whetting Long
Probe to Dip Into Alleged
Graft Under the Red Cross
COMMITTEE CHOSEN
Digging Into Ugly Stories Of
Larceny and Abuses to
Be Directed by w. Scott

The Grand Jury is to investigate the
administration of relief affairs by the
Red Cross
Rumors of such an investigation have
been circulating for some days. It was
definitely ascertained yesterday that
action was 10 be taken. The known
stories of graft and stories of many
other instances where supplies have
been stolen and fraud boldly practiced
have forced the determination to hold
an inquiry.
The scandals and ugly rumors that
have arisen will he traced down as far
as in the power of the Grand Jury.
Two men are already in jail for the
theft of a large quantity of blankets
Others are Gnder suspicion of having
misappropriated goods. or connived at
criminal imposition Some refugees are
suspected of having aided Red Cross
employees in carrying out thefts
The foreman of the Grand Jury, John
z. Brannan, has been diligently gath
ering evidence. He refuses to divulEe
edge that the Grand Jury is preparing
to investigate. but 1t is asserted on
good authority that he is preparing to
name a subcommittee of the Grand
Jury. in order that a thorough prelim-
mary inquiry may be made.
SCOTT TO LEAD INQUIRY.
1t is not definitely stated who will
comprise the committee, but 1t will be
headed by ". P. Scott, who, to use tho
words of a member of the jury, will
get clear to the bottom of the mess and
will not be stopped by the money, name
or station Of any person found rnisusing
the public funds intrusted to his care"
The appointment of the committee
and the consideration of complaints and
evidence that is already in the hands
of the jury will take place next Monday
afternoon. The inquisitorial body will
meet at the Lowell High School at 1870.
For the last month the Grand Jury
has been in receipt of accusations and
anonymous letters charging that graft
existed from top to bottom in the Red
Cross Society. It was not until last
week however, that anything OF suff1-
cient weight to warrant the Grand Jury
in starting an Investigation developed
1t has been shown that stealing is
sxtant. and that the system of the Red
Cross is not efficient in preventing dis
honest employees from looting the
warehouses. The stealing of the blan-
hets from the park warehouse of Sec
ton 2, under control of the section
chairman, the Rev. Frank S. Ford, has
shown that Red Cross methods cannot
prevent graft.
The officials Of the society assert that
graft can only be prevented by the ad-
dition of more red tape
SIX STOVES FOR ONE FAMILY.
Among the rumors that have reached
the jurymen is one that claims for $40
and $15 silk nightdresses and S. and
SO waists destroyed in the big fire are
being allowed. Another is that at one
of the supply depots refugee. through
the connivapce of an employe. secured
six supply tickets. and by the aid Of
members Of his family, who each pre-
sented a ticket, secured six frst-class
stoves The refugee put these stoves
into six small shacks built by him and
rented the structures to those of the
refugees who possessed little money
The question was raised yesterday
by a Red Cross official as to whether
the Grand Jury had the right to inves-
tigate the affairs Of q private organ
ization. The answer was made by a
juryman that the Red Cross is "thc
biggest kind Of public body; that it
is intrusted with public funds, and that
tho public has the right to know every
move being made by those directing the
expenditure OF vast sums contributed
by the people" The Grand Jury will
Investigate the acts of the officers Of
the Red Croes. and where misuse of
public money has occurred will bring in
s.n Indictment
The local inouisitcrial body will pre-
sent the results Of its deliberations and
Investigations to the Federal Grand
Jury, as the Red Cross is national. or
ganization. affiliated with the Govern
inent.