The San Francisco call., 1906-08-01


sine die yesterday on motion of
DR.. Devine after winding up its
affairs, turning everything over to the
Relief Corporation and listening to con-
gratulatory remarks from the various
members.
An inventory OF all supplies on hand
was ordered taken, and the goods were
ordered transferred 10 representatives
OF the Relief Corporation. To this cor
poratiOn was also referred all the re-
ports and complaints before the COM
mission and an order made that all
records OF the commission be turned
over TO it
Commissioner Pippy thanked his fell
low commissioners and the employees
present for the consideration they had
shown him and told OF his appreciation
OF their efforts and good will.
1 am at the disposal OF the executive
committee for any service which they
may ask OF me-" be concluded.
Mr. Moran pointed out that the time
that the committee had been in charge
had been short, but that the commits
sion left the work in better condition
than il was in when theecommittee took
charge. The corporation" said Mr..
Moran, will take up the work where
we leavesit and carry 1t 10 successful
issue"
DR.. Devine went somewhat extensive
y into the work OF the commission. In
part he said:
II viii be recalled that the formation
or the relief commission was a make
shift arrangement suggested by Gen
committee, the Mayor and the Red
Cross, because il seemed the best that
could be done under the circumstances.
At the time when the commission was
Organized-a month agO-for reasons
which we need not discuss here the
present plan that is about to be in
augurate6 would scarcely have been
possible. This is a better plan. 1t is
q simple organization, and II Will be
more effective than any complex Or
ganiZatiOp could be.
I wish 10 express my personal
opinion that the relief work is in bet
ter condition at the end of the month
lief commission has. in my judgment,
discharged the responsibilities that de-
volVed upon II as well as could have
been eXpected-certainly TO the best OF
their individual abilities. / want to tes-
thy that all OF the members OF the
commission haze worked diligently and
conscientiOusly, and that in spite OF
any sensational reports to the con-
trary, people in the camps who have
been dependent upon the relief fund
have not been suffering by lack Of
food: shelter, or clothing They have
suffered hardship and Inconvenience,
but 1 know Of no way in which a city
and fire, could be without people suf-
fering hardship and Inconvenience. l
do not believe that they have been un-
necessarily increased by the neglect Of
any member OF this commission. Mis-
takes have doubtless been made, and
hone and expect that the corporatfon
viii profit by the mistakes that have
been made by the Red Cross and by
the army and the relief commission. 1
don't believe that those mistakes have
been numerous or serious or more than
could be reasonably expected under al
, the circumstances The fact that the
funds Intended for relief have not been
sQuandered or wasted either by graft
or eKtrava gance means that the largest
possible amount Of money is now
available. as 1 have pointed out before,
for the Two things for which the
largest amount Of money ought 20 be
expended, namely, grants OF money for
rehe ebilitating people in business re-
storing incor1es and homes, and for the
building OF homes.
Ny belief is that your emergency
work is very largely over There is
larger part Of il is over. ] believe that
after three months people who are eveI
TO be self-supporting ought not 10 de-
shelter and clothing, and consequently
the great tasks that remain are TO get
people out Of the camps. get people
who are now dependent on their own
feet and looking after themselves. 1t
IS fortunate that things have ebeen so
managed that the largest amount Of
money is available for that purp@se,
making grants for building h. and
restoring business and incomes, and
loans in the form or money TO people
who viii make use of il.
You have a corporation to do this
work, and that corporation has and
deserves the confidence OF the COM
mUnity and the confidence OF all the
people that have contributed 10 this re-
lief fund from all parts OF the world.
and I congratulate the community that
you have a corporation of that charac-
ter and an executive committee OF
which that can be said, as I believe il
can be truthfUlly said.