The San Francisco call., 1906-06-24
SOUP HOUSES
STIR STRIFE.
Refugees Make Formal
Appeal to the
Mayor.

Representatives from many refugee
camps met at 1949 Market street Fri
day night and discussed their future
plans All present agreed that the
souphouse should be dispensed with.
Delegates of the committee waited
upon Mayor Schmitz Friday afternoon
TO urge upon him the necessity of i'm
mediate action TO defend the rights of
the refugees The Mayor assured them
that his sympathies were with the peo-
pie and that he did not and would not
approve of any measure that worked
a hardship upon them
He had left the Red Cross relief work
in the hands of the military authori-
ties. he explained, as he had been very
busy with the affairs of the city lie
had not heard much complaint until
recently, but in a few days the mill
tary would be withdrawn, and the civil
committee would take UP the work, and
abuses that now exist would be cor
rected He asked the committee to de-
lay further action until that time ar
rived Accordingly a resolution was
passed to that effect. In the mean
time the committee will go on per-
fecting it's organization The follow
inc open letter was addressed to the
Mayor:
To his Honor Eugene E. Schmitz
Mayor of the city of SaneFranelsco;
ing you in the name of the people or
our beloved city for what you nave
done in restoring order and for hand-
ling the municipal affairs with sucn
skill as to merit the praise of the
whole world
we respectfully pray that you will
continue the good work until san
francisco is herself again and the
city is rehabilitated and rights OF the
people protected; until they are as
prosperous as in the days past We
call your attention to the fact that W 3
have many reasons to doubt the ability
of the finance committee, whose ad-
ministration has not been the W1sest or
the most economical or just Affairs
have not been administered for the best
under the circumstances, doing justice
to the refugee and carrying out the
desire of the donors.
Again we call your attention to the
many hardships worked upon the peo-
pie by the military authorities and
ask that you do not accept the offer
of General Greely to retain any officer
or any other part of the United States
carry out any of the oppressive meas
ures adopted by them or their co-work-
ers. We also beg that you will not re-
appoint the same finance committee or
other heads Of departments or sections
of the relief committee who have ap-
plauded any oppressive measure that
worked hardship on the refugees and
deprived than of what the bountiful
givers desired that they should have
had
We further recommend that n build
ing or rehabilitation committee of five
honorable men be appointed by you
one at least should he a representative
Of the Red Cross relief, two from the
Building Trades Council, one OF the
finance committee, one from the people.
and that all contracts given for the
building of houses shall be signed by
at least three members of the commit
tee after public bids have been con-
sidered and accepted. The committee
should be paid out of the Red Cross
relief fund.
We further recommend that as far
possible house lots should be
bought by individuals on the install
ment plan and tent or shack be put
on it. Then help the people until they
can help themselves. Wherever a lot
can be secured erect two-story house
or fat unfinished, two-room tenements
apd outside kitchen, bath, etc. These
places should be let for a small rent.
Representing as we do about $4,000
refugees, we believe that we are
speaking to you for their best in
terests Yours respectfully,
COMMITTEE or ONE HUNDRED.
GEORGE F. HEGARTY, Secretary.
Camp Lake appeals to the public to
assist them to establish a school or kim
dergarten at their camp.