Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-26
RED CROSS DOING
EXCELLENT WORK
WEARING OF THE BADGE, HOW
EVER, Is ABUSED
Various Relief Societies and Emer-
gency Committees Come to an
Agreement on Distribution of
Money and Supplies
BY Associated Press.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 25-Dr. Ed
ward DeVine of New York, agent of the
Red Cross and the designated represen-
tative of the president of the relief OF
San Francisco, made a statement to the
beneral relief committee this morning at
it's meeting, which made 1t clear that
there will be no conflict in the man
agement and disbursement of the funds
in the hands of the Red Cross and
those appropriated by congress for the
relief of San Francisco. He said:
Il have communicated to the author
tiles at Washington the character of
your organization and the splendid
work it has done. l have also in
formed them of the result of my con-
ference yesterday with the heads of
your organizations and Gems. Greedy
and Funston, which was to the effect
that there should be a coanJlUr OF the
Red Cross finance committee with your
finance committee, and l have received
in reply thereto the following message:
Message Received
WASHINGTON, D. c., April "a
Red Cross No. II executive committee
gladly recognizes committee of relief
and Red Cross. viii forward funds to
credit of James d. Phelan. Require
Red Cross account to be audited by
war department. Please keep accounts
so that this may be done.
OR. NJ. O'REILY,
I" Surgeon General, U. S. A, Chairman
of Red Cross Central Committee
Speaking now for the coalesced COM
mittee L wish to announce that it has
been decided that beginning Thursday
at noon all relief stations will be taken
over by the quartermasters' department
of the United States army. After that
hour no free distribution of food VIII be
made through any other agency and all
of food and supplies Will
be diverted into the hands of that
agency.
Statement Emphatic
Let this be clearly and emphatically
understood. But it must be understood
that this committee will not Interfere
with anyone engaged in the sale of
goods, which it is the purpose to en-
courage.
while I am making this statement
let me add a word as to the use of the
Red Cross badge. There has been great
abuse of this insignia. For the purpose
of those who may not know, l wish to
inform you that congress has made 1t
an offense against the United States
to wear this badge without authoriza-
ton.
''See to it that any man or woman
having this badge carries with him or
her written authority from the Red
Cross to wear it. Otherwise remove 1t
at once"
Committee Appointed
Mayor Schmitz supplemented DR..
DeVine'S statement by announcing that
the following gentlemen had been ap-
pointed part of the Red Cross to act
with Mr.. Phelan and finance commit
tee: Horace Davis, John F. Morrell
and United States Circuit Judge w. w.
Morrow. He added:
Il fully indorse all that DR.. Devine
has said with reference to the abuse of
the Red Cross badge, and in this con-
nection 1 wish to speak of these So
called vigilance committees that are
taking upon themselves to police the
city,
"These men have no authority what
ever Let them understand that they
must stop this interference with citi-
zens or they will fall under the ban of
the law. If they do not cease their
activities they will be treated as
looters."
Stores Will Reopen
Former Chief of Police Whitman, re-
porting on the resumption of retail
business a most important matter, in
formed the committee that he had in
duced the following to reopen stores:
Twenty-eight grocers, eleven butchers,
seven creameries and nine bakeries in
addition to those previously authorized
to reopen, and four restaurants.
The number of each of these would
be largely augmented during the course
of the day. His committee had also
fixed the retail prices.
T0KI0 EXPRESSES