The San Francisco call., 1906-07-16

get TO them, instead Of going into
well-to-do folks pockets.
SnarIed by Red Tape.
The attempt to keep count Of
those tenters who have enough
and who too much is gone at
backward. Red tape IS snarled
about them so that for the sim
plest things they must linger
about for DAYS in order TO obtain
duly signed acquisitions. And this
IS but one step in the process.
Each person IS given a blue Gen
eral Supply Card, which entities
Shin, according to the size of his
family, TO a certain number OF
articles Of clothing, bedding and
a few simple kitchen uten-
sis, the latter mostly OF tin.
Furniture. beyond tents and
cots. Is not considered nee
essary for refugees, and,
except Tor a few odd boxes, those
who escaped without saving their
effects have nothing in the way
OF tables or seats. The more en-
terprising have fashioned furni-
ture from odd boards, building up
tables, cupboards and even bed
steads. But the general supply
card is not an open sesame to
the warehouse, for each time a
refugee finds a pressing need he
must take his place with a hun
dred others outside the door OF
the quartermaster's headquarters
and bide his time to get a spe-
cially countersigned order from
the officer in charge.
With this order he must pro-
ceed TO whatever warehouse dis
tributes such goods as he wishes.
If he finds long line of campers,
many OF whom have brought their
breakfast along and been there
since 6:3o or I o'clock, the
chances are that new stock has
come in, and if the supply holds
out till his turn at the window
comes he may find what he re-
quires. That is just as sure as
he can be of getting it.
] say he" but there seemed to
be few idle men around. Most
had found some little employ
ment. My husband is working"
one wife said, but he doesn't
know how long the job will last,
and we can't afford to pay the
rents demanded for houses or
rooms now. A friend of mine,
whose husband has started a
small fruit store, is paying $22
for two bare rooms. Lots of
people here are earning a little
money and managing to keep out
of the soup kitchens, but they
can't afford to buy clothes or
many dishes. 1t takes a long time
TO get on your feet after such a
terrible loss as that fire meant to
people like US. Lots OF men can't
get work that they are strong
enough to do, and the women,
poor souls, they are worse off
still. Look at all the mattresses,
chambermaids and seamstresses
thrown out, to say nothing of the
women dry goods clerks and the
like. They offer you work in
pickle factories or picking fruit
up country, and the men in
charge here wonder that we don't
take it. Why, those who went off
to pick fruit are coming back and
telling US that they couldn't earn
enough to keep themselves" :"
Yes, they try to get US all out
to work. Now, we can look for
work ourselves. All this crowd
of refugees in this park was not
a gang of lazy loafers before the
fire and it isn't likely that it's go
ing TO turn into one now, but we
are looking for permanent work, -
insisted one vigorous matron.
"We-want a chance to find places
we can depend on, and that's what
the people sent out this money
fOr-to give US that chance"
Margaret Jennings Start.
On Tuesday, having donned
my Disgusting costume, had a
woman friend take me to the As
sociated Charities headquarters
in the Hamilton School, and
there, introducing me as Mar
garet Jennings, ask that | be adj
mitted to one of the relief camps
The girl at the desk did no;
glance at shabby, apologetic me,
but directed my well-dressed