The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-08-24
.'c0UcINc" IN FRISCO
Getting All One Can the Rule at
Earthquake Stricken City.
APPREHENs1oNs FOB THE WINTER

Refugess-Relief Fund Of q, coo, 900
q Magnet Which IL Drawing People
Back-General Greedy Favors MAXI
ing Army Of Unemployed Work and
Cutting Down Relief Distribution.
1t Is every mans opportunity to
"gouge" just now, and everybody
seems ready to take It. This rather
pithy summing up of the situation in
the stricken city of San Francisco is
becoming rule of action. "Gouge'
on this side of the Sierras is synony-
nous with graft or grab, and gouging
Is going on In many fields OF political
and commercial activity, says special
San Francisco correspondent Of the
New York Post
The landlords are still raising rents,
the unions are still raising wages, tho
merchants are raising prices, the cost
Of building materials is doubling-in
fact every possible advantage is being
taken of the pressing need. You might
say that the goose is being killed be-
fore she can lay one golden egg. There
will be need of splendid fortitude be-
fore the winter rains come. Then
there Is the growing fear Of the pau
perization Of the army Of refugees.
The $5,OOOOO0 relief fund Is beginning
to appear as q handicap rather than a
blessing. The members of the finance
committee and the relief commission
ers are showing evidences of uneasl-
ness.
LET Us spend it as quickly as posi-
ble," advises James D. Phelan, chair
man of the finance committee. DR..
Edward T. Devine seconds this sug-
gestion. In several lectures delivered
by the Schiff professor Of social econ
omy lately he has urged the expedi-
tious spending of the relief fund. F..
". Dohrmann, member Of the rehabil.
itation committee, a wealthy and pub
lie spirited citizen, Is also in favor Of
the rapid distribution of the relief
fund. The army Of refugees Is grow
ing now instead of diminishing. Thou
sands who sought refuge with friends
and relatives in the country seem to
have worn out their welcome and are
coming back. There are more than
$4,000 In tents and barracks, and there
Is grave apprehension that there may
be double that number before Christ
mas.
A rumor that the millions of relief
money were to be divided up pro rata
proved great magnet. Families who
had been fairly comfortable in outly-
ing regions packed up and Travelled
back to the tents IN hope Of getting a
few hundred dollars, ready money.
Then the relief committeeman and
commissioners have been suggesting
all sorts Of ways and means of spend
ing the money intrusted to their dis
tribution. The bread line will soon be
abolished, but this has not proved a
deterrent to. the. returning refugees
They argue thatathe money is theirs
by right, and some are even organ
ling to bring the matter into the
courts
Worry Is writing deep lines in the
foreheads Of those who have under
taken the responsibility Of working out
the problem. DIR. Devine has handed
in his resignation and will be quit Of
his burden Of responsibility on the day
set for cutting out the food supplies.
Colonel Puppy. one Of the three new re-
lief commissioners, is talking of re-
signing. He is a politician, and his
position is delicate. He has not be-
come hardened to criticism, and both
commissioners and committeeman are
meeting storm of bitter complaint
wherever they turn The prospect Of
being assailed by 10000 refugees is not
an enticing one, though there will be
an ample number of ring politicians
ready to Jump into DR.. Devine's shoes
of authority.
1t Is expected, however, that only
100000 of the relief fund will be
distributed by the commission, for the
plan to spend 100000 in building
Ing. This money will be turned over
to a corporation to be known as "San
Francisco Relief and Red Cross Funds.
Corporation" The scheme Of home
building has met with q good deal Of
criticism, for it has the appearance of
being forlorn hope Of solution. 1t is
proposed to finance the home building
refugees through a sort Of building
loan association. That Is, they will re-
ceive bond that will give them sort
Of fee In the home, a fee contingent
upon their payments of stated sum
per month for term of years. If the
payments lapse the refugee property
owner, so called. will forfeit his bond
and the payments he has already made
will be considered as merely rent.
Considering the character Of the ma
Jority Of the refugees, there may be
more forfeitures than continued pay
ments, SO that in the end much of the
property may fall back into the hands
Of the relief building loan companies
Several private corporations have