The San Francisco call., 1906-07-17

of. When money has been raised in
other cities. instead of being sent out
| mere much of 1T has been used to pur-
chase supplies of home merchants.
Many of these supplies have turned out
unsuitable for the needs of the refu-
gees.
For example, Chicago sent out a
large number of shoes. Some of these
snoes could be used, but good proper
tion of them We're odd sizes. TOO mar
row Tor use in the refugee camps. And,
TOO, many were not mates.
rms feature the commission pro-
poses TO correct by the Introduction of
system and business methods in the
purchase of supplies Bids from home
merchants to furnish necessary articles
nave been asked for. applicants will be
given orders for what they need, and
VIII be allowed to make their own Sc
lections.
Ihe division of authority, too, has
lea TO much confusion and lack of sys-
tenn. For example, the water on Sunday
was turned off at two of the camps 1t
developed that no provision had been
mace 10 pay for the water. The com
MISSION is trying to get the relief work
down TO a business basis, to concen-
trate 1t and to prevent waste of effort
Ihere is no good reason why the work
shouid not be so systematized that bet
ter service will result and a large re-
duction be made in operating expenses"
James ID. Phelan, chairman of the
nnance committee, was of the opinion
that system was necessary to prevent
fraud, but that in an emergency case
there should be some one on the ground
with the necessary authority to go to
retail store If need be and purchase
the supplies necessary for the appli-
cantS relief.
But" said Mr.. Phelan, when such
authority is too freely given 1T is very
apt to be abused. There should have
been some one with authority to take
upon himself purchase of supplies nee
essary for relief in an emergency case
1t may not have been known to those
to whom Mrs. Dean applied that DR.
Dev1ne and Mr.. Pollok were authorized
to do this very thing. This authority
has now been transferred to the re-
Mobilization committee, which has been
authorized to make purchases on its
own judgment when emergency cases
are brought before it,
'On the other hand, the emergency
period has ended and that of rehabilita-
ton begun. Had 1 been one of those
TO whom The Calls representative ap-
piled for aid l would have immediately
asked myself how it was that after
three months she was without mattress
or blanket, and would certainly have
instituted rigid investigation of her
case. There is maintained also an en-
ployment agency for women, to which
she might have applied. Under the cir
cumstanceS l consider that she was
very well treated. She was received
without suspicion and volunteer offers
were made to personally attend to her
wants.
The idea is now to abolish all ac-
! La To-
give worthy persons who are INDECENT
and destitute orders on retail stores.
But those who are well and able must
seek employment"
COLONEL PIPPY,s OPINION.
Colonel Pippy, member of the relief
commission. is of the opinion that 1t is
easier to locate effects than causes in
the relief situation.
'As effects of the SYSTEM" said the
commissioner, there are lots of people
getting supplies who do not deserve
them, while there are many worthy
persons who are not receiving the as
sistanee to which they are entitled
have no criticism to make of the work
of investigation as carried on by the
Red Cross and Associated Charities. DR.
| Devfne has done an enormous amount
of work-much of 1t unappreciated by
the publc-and has done ii well; San
Francisco is deeply indebted to him.
so much for the effects of the system
But I am of the opinion that the n
cipal cause for the conditions at the
camps has been due to lack of supplies
At such times there have been no
blankets and mattresses to give out
they could not well be distributed"
DR.. Devine was out of town yester-
day and did not return until late last
night He gave only a general view OF
camp conditions.
The general fact in regard to the
working of the relief system in San
Francisco said DIR. Devine, is that
the refugees have not been hungry
and nave not suffered from exposure
because of lack of shelter and clothing
They have had hardships and incon-
veniences, some of which could have
been avoided had individuals done their
work better, some of which were un-
avoidable. A very large quantity OF
clothing and bedding has been dis
tributed and on the whole, in my judg-
ment, 1t has gore to the people who
have needed 1t most.
SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES.
"A great deal of hard work has been
put in to accomplish this result There
has been a shortage of certain kinds of
supplies that have been greatly needed
at times, especially mattresses, shoes
and other lines of clothing. One rea-
son for that is that there are more
difficulties in the way Of buying in the
| local market. Consequently such
things as were purchased were pur-
chased in Chicago from funds raised
there for relief and there was delay
in getting them. That has been REM
edied under direction of the relief com
mission and especially by the recent
assistance of the army In purchases
from the Government relief fund,
which is entirely at the disposal of the
army.
"A large number of mattresses which
were ordered to be purchased ten days
ago are now being delivered. 1t has
taken ten days to receive and open
bids and award the contracts.
Il would not suppose it possible for
woman to go to the camps and not
be given shelter or supplied with what
she needed. But the presumption is
that three months after the fire there
are few persons without the necessi-
ties of life. Such persons as are now
coming into the camps are those who
left them during the first rush. 1t is
reasonable that these should receive