The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-08-02


naGnet Which Is Drawing People
Hac:z-Genercl Greedy Envors MAX
lag Army of Unemployed Work and
Cutting Down Relief Distribution.
1T is every mans opportunity to
'souge' just now. and everybody
seems ready to take it. This rather
pithy summing up of the situate in
the stricken city OF San Francisco is
becoming Il rule of action "Gouse"
OF this side of the Sierras is synony-
nous with graft or grab and gouginy
is going on in many fields of political
and commercial activity. says Il special
San Francisco correspondent of the
New York Post.
The landlords are still raising rents,
the unions are still raising wages, the
merchants are raising prices. the cost
of building materials is doubl:ng-in
fact, every possible advantage is being
taken of the pressing need. You might
say that the goose is being killed be-
fore she can lay one golden egg. There
will be need of splendid forttude be-
fore the winter rains come. Then
there is the growing fear of the pau
periZation of the army Of refugees.
The S5,000,000 relief fund is beginning
to appear as Il handicap rather than
blessing. The members of the finance
committee and the relief commission
ers are showing evidences of uneasi-
ness.
Let us spend it as quickly as posi-
bic" advises James D. Phelan, chair
man of the finance committee DR..
Edward L. Devine seconds this sug-
sestion. In several lectures delivered
by the Schff professor of social econ
omy lately he has urged the cxpcdi-
tious spending of the relief fund Y.
w. Dohrmann, member of the rehabil-
itation committee. wealthy and pub
lie spirited citizen. is also in favor Of
the rapid distribution of the relief
fund. The army of refugees is grow
ing now instead of diminishing. Thou
sands who sought refuge with friends
and relatives in the country seem to
have Worn out their welcome and are
coming back There are more than
10000 in tents and barracks. and there
is grave apprehension that there may
be double that number before Christ
mas.
\ rumor that t!ie millions Of relief
money were to be divided up pro rata
proved great magnet. Families who
had been fairly comfortable in outly-
ing regions packed up and Travelled
back to the tents III hope of getting il
few hundred dollars ready money.
Then the relief committeeman and
commissioners have been SUGGESTING.
all sorts OF ways and means OF spend
ing the money int.usted to their dis
t"ibution. The bread line will soon be
abolished. but this has not proved a
deterrent to the returning refugees.
They argue that the money is theirs
by right, and some are even organ
iZinS to bring the matter into the
courts
Worry is writing deep lines in the
foreheads of those Who have under
taken the responsibility of working oft
the problem. DR.. Devine has handed
in his resignation and will be quit of
his burden of responsibility on the day
set for cutting out the food supplies.
Colonel Puppy. one of the three new re-
lief commissioners. is talking of re-
signing. He is Il politician. and his
position is delicate. He has rot be-
come hardened to criticism, and both
commissioners and committeeman are
meeting storm of bitter complaint
wherever they turn. The prospect Of
being assailed by 10000 refugees is not
an enticing one. though there will be
an ample number of ring politicians
ready to jump into Dr. Devina's shoes
OF authority.
1t is expected, however. that only
$2,OoO.000 of the relief fund will be
distributed by the commission, for the
plan to spend $3,00o,o00 in building
homes for the homeless is cIystalliz-
ing. This money will be turned over
to corporation to be known as san
Francisco Relief and Red Cross; Funds,
Corporation" The scheme sof home
building has met With Il good deal of
criticism. for it has the appearance OF
being forlorn hope OF solution 1t is
proposed to finance the home buildilg
refugees through Il sort of building
loan association. That is. they will re-
ceive L bond that will give them Il sort
OF fee il. tie home. u fee contingent
upon their payments of stated sum
per month for Il term of years. If the
payments lapse the refugee property
owner. 50 called. will forfeit his bond
and the payments he has already made
will be considered as merely rent.
Considering the character of the ma
Jority Of the refugees, there may be
more forfeitures than continued pay
mentS, so that in the end much OF the
property may fall back into the hands
of the relief building loan companies.
Several private corporations have
eagerly offered to work out this home
building scheme. All they ask is
loan of enough money to enable them
to buy the land and put up the houses.
OF course, the loan will have to be
made at a minimum rate of interest.
The company is perfectly willing that