The Washington herald., 1906-11-16

''Thst the sensational stories regarding
the misapDropriation Of the funds OF the.
Red Cross Society IN San Francisco are in
great measure unfounded. is evidenced
by the fact that the Citizens Relief As
ISOLATION Of that city has requested that
its funds. amounting TO about &.00V90.
be audited. as are those of the Red Cross
Society, by an officer Of the War Depart
ment." said Miss Mabel Boardman. secre-
tary Of the National Red Cross Society.
last night.
1T seems hardly possible that the af-
fairs Of the Red Cross Society could have
been so grossly mismanaged as has been
stated in the sensational reports Of the
last few days" continued Miss Board
man. The funds Of the society have
been most carefully audited. attention
having been paid 20 the most minute de-
tails As was said by Mr.. Dohrman, in
an address al an informal meeting Of the
executive committee to-day, the work is
of great magnitude, and there was no
precedent by which we could be guided
Red Cross Funds Honestly spent.
Money in large sums flowed into San
Francisco soon after the disaster, and
opportunities for graft were undoubtedly
offered to those ever ready TO take ad-
vantage Of such occasions OF the
s., q90,009 fund belonging 10 the Red Cross
Society. 10000 has been sent thus far TO
San Francisco. and have no reason to
doubt that there has been a careful
and correct account made Of its expendi-
turc.
''The stories Of municipal graft in San
Francisco. which probably have some
foundation in fact. may have led to the
report Of the misappropTiation Of the
funds of the Red Cross Society"
The headquarters Of the American Ns-
u9nal Red Cross viii tomorrow send
Se55go0 to san Francisco 70 assist in the
further relief Of the fire and earthquake
sufferers. The amount is for the month
Of November only. and is one-half the
estimate made by those in charge Of the
work in san Francisco Of the total sum
needed. The largest item. amounting 20
$4,000, comes under the head of -'reha-
biHtatiou-" One hundred thousand dollars
Is wanted for the home Of the aged and
taaaf4 anu FfiArtA rAitatatk AtA
tion IL varying sums as bonuses 10 these
who proceed at once with the rebuilding
Of destroyed property. The committee has
adopted a plan of paying one-third Of the
cost CT a structure 10 the owner who
proceeds at once TO rebuild. The total es-
timates forwarded to the headquarters
here amounted 20 S5s6 000
How City Is Being RehaBiIitated.
F. W Dohrmann, of san Francisco. who
was in charge Of the Red Cross work IN
that city for d time. yesterday addressed
an informal meeting Of the executive com
mittee Of the national organization at the
Wa. Department. Mr.. Dohrmann said he
knew nothing Of the charges Of graft
which had been made. He gave an inter
estlng account CT conditions in San Fran
cisco, ard explained the work Of re
habilitation." it is the desire Of the Red
Cross Society. ne said. 10 restore. as faI
as possible. 70 professional men and me-
chanics. the means by which they former
I ly earned a livelihood. For this purposs
/ large sums have been appropriated in or
/ der that the lawyer who lost his library
the physician and dentist who were de
+ prived of their instruments. and the mu-
sician whose piano was destroyed may
be furnished with the means by which
+ they may be enabled TO again engage il
their professions.
An effort is being made. also. 10 pro
vide suitable housing conditions, and
number of small houses have been erect
ed for which nominal rental IS charged
/ AS wages are high. this rent Is easily
paid. bat. Mr.. Dohrmann said. there hat
been many objections TO paying rent bl
those who had erected structures OF th'
public parks and reservations Of the city
Mr.. Dohrmann viii sail on Tuesday fol
! Germany TO adjust fire and eSrthquak,
( losses with German insurance companies