The San Francisco call., 1906-08-18
BOARD OF RELIEF.
WILL ERECT
BARRACKS.
Forced, Through the Lack
of Funds, to Give Up
Plan for Individual Homes
NO MORE LOANS
TO REFUGEES
Claims Against Treasury
Reach Enormous Sum and
Bring About the Change

"HE Relief Corporation has un-
officially decided to receive no
more applications for building
bonuses, or for loans on build
ings, or for the purchase of buildings
on the installment plan. This action
lacks the official touch. to be sure, but
those who know the condition of the
relief fund, the demands on that fund
and the tremendous expenses which
drain it see in the unofficial action of
yesterday the ending of the original
plan of the corporation to house the
people in Individual homes. If any
other evidence were necessary the fact
that the members of the executive
committee appeared yesterday before
the Park Commissioners and secured
permission to erect barracks in the
parks in which to house the people this
winter would be sufficient.
CLAIMS NEARLY A MILLION.
The informal action was taken at
luncheon yesterday which the five
members of the corporation attended.
The figures showing the inability of
the corporation to carry out its plans
for building houses were gone into
They made a depressing array The
fact vas apparent that on the present
showing the corporation had no S2500-
900 to invest in buildings to be sold on
the installment plan No definite de-
cision was reached-that is to be
passed up toethe special meeting of the
directors to be held next Tuesday-but
it was decided that no more applica-
tions for bonuses, loans or houses
DE received and that action on the ap-
riications already received should be
delayed until after the meeting of the
directors next Tuesday.
1t is interesting to note that the
Tuesday meeting was called originally
against the relief fund Tor goods al
legged to have been confscated during
the fire. These claims aggregate about
SS00000
DOHRMANN GIVES WARNING.
The plan which the executive COM
mittee has practically abandoned had
three features. The first of these set
aside $4,000 for bonuses for those
who wished to build on land in the
burned district. These bonuses were
not to be more than one-third the cost
of the building and in no case to be
more than $500 The second feature
provided 100000 to be loaned to per-
sons wishing to build security being
taken in the form of second mortgage
on the property. The third feature
involved the expenditure of $4,000, 900
in the purchase of land and the build
ing of houses, the houses to be rented
or sold to tenants on the installment
plan, the payments to be completed in
five years.
i. Early last week Chairman Dohrmann
or the rehabilitation committee point
ed out to his fellow directors that Il
was possible to exhaust the fund in
ninety days. Gradually the several
members have come to his way of
thinking. Garret McEnerney's state
ment at the meeting of the directors
last Tuesday that the claims for con-
fiscated goods should be paid even
though the housing of the people were
allowed to go is in line with the policy
OF those who have advocated payment
of the claims.
BARRACKS IN PARK.
James D. Phelan, chairman of the
executive committee of the Relief
Corporation, admitted yesterday that
applications for assistance under the
building plan have been suspended.
mo more applications for bonuses
loans or buildings" said Phelan. will
be received for the present We have
received so many applications that we
must stop for time and find out how
we stand We must measure our
cloth. Those who have already made
application for bonuses will be given
consideration, but applications for
loans and for houses to be built bv tbe
corporation will be suspended until
further notice.
We found many difficulties in the
way of carrying out our plans. we
did not secure the necessary land as
readily as we supposed would he nos
,sible. Then, there was the enormous
cost of building the houses, which we
found beyond the limit of our funds
On Tuesday next the matter of claims
for goods confscated during the fire
will come before the directors. The
whole matter will be brought before
them. Some definite action will nroh-
ably be taken.
You may" continued Phelan. "+e11
the people to look out for houses out
side the relief fund. At present tba
committee will use all haste to secure
portable houses and build barra clxs
in the parks against the needs Of the
winter"
BUILDING MUST WATT.
Chairman Dohrmann of the rehabI-
litation committee stated in regard to
the proposed change of plan that the
matter would probably be decided at
the meeting of the directors on
Tuesday.
Our first duty" said Dohrmann. "js
to house, feed and rehabilitate the
people. If we find that we have NOT
money enough to do this, the buildine
plan will have to be abandoned.
I'VE have been criticised for chang
ing our plans" Dohrmann Continued
but when I am convinced that 7 am
in the wrong / am always willing to
change my plans This is no exception
to the rule. If the building of the
houses is not practicable. the plan will
have to be abandoned
ASK FOR PARK SPACE.
Yesterday the directors of the cor
poration appeared before the Park
Commissioners and asked permission
to erect barracks in the parks of the
city to house the refugees this win
ter.
The desired permission was granted.
with the understanding that the bar
racks are to be removed within one
year.
Just what part the disagreement
among the directors as to the dispo-
sition of the claims for confiscated
goods played In the cnange of policy
Is problematical. but that such dis
a aoraement existS is evident f,a,,, -.