Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-15
RELIEF FUND GRATING
Alleged Misappropriation in San.
Francisco.
NOT RED CROSS MONEY
No Charge Of That Sort Has Been
Made,
WORK OF BURNS AND HENEY
Investigation by Them Has Been In
Progress for Some Time
What ofacials Say.

Although official Washington speaking
unofficially) seems to have little doubt
that some transportation of money oc-
CURED in the first rush to give aid to San
Francisco and that there were opportuni-
ties for widespreading of official graft In
the chaotic conditions in the stricken city
just after the earthquake and confiagra-
ton, there has been no formal order issued
to set in motion the machinery of an in
vestigation under government auspices.
Declarations to this effect were made today
by Assistant Secretary Keep of the Treas
ury, through whose hands the final ac-
counting for relief funds now on hand In
the custody of the Red Cross must pass;
by Acting Chief of the Secret Service
Moran by Chief William B. Smith of the
Washington division of the inspection serv-
ice of the Post Office Department and by
w. j. Vickery. chief Of the entire inspec-
ton service of the Post Office Department.
President Roosevelt being In the canal zone
there was no opportunity to learn how
deeply he is interested in pushing an In
vestigation into the alleged graft but Sec
rotary Loeb today said that he knew moth
ing about the matter
Not Red Cross Funds.
Wherever the subject was mentioned to-
day there was much evidence that Wash
ingtonians generally are deeply interested
that unprincipled grafters took advantage
of the time of public suffering to steal
money that was so generously, In large
measure indiscriminately. poured into the
city. Following the publication of the
first story in The Star yesterday, an eff
fort has been made to have it appear that
the general implication was that Red
Cross money-that is. the funds which are
reaching San Francisco even now for re-
lief purposes-is coming within the grasp
of grafters. No such statement was made
in the dispatch from San Francisco to this
newspaper. but it was given out as au-
thentic that official grafters had applied to
their own uses funds sent to the "City by
the Golden Gate in envelopes, indirectly
addressed money orders, in packages and
otherwise.
1t is known that the Red Cross funds
have not been misapplied in any way, hut
there is no room for doubt that there
was opportunity for stealing in those
early days in April in Frisco, and it Is
known that the investigation being made
into official graft in that city has ex-
tended to an inquiry into the disposition
of the first relief funds.
Inquiry of Burns and Heney.
Former Secret Service Agents Burns
and Heney. who made their regulations
In connection with the expose of the Ore
gon land frauds. have been working for
some time in San Francisco under the
committee which is backed in it's efforts
by the Spreckels interests. Both of them
resigned their government positions to
take up this work, and Acting Chief
partment. today said that the misappre-
hension about the government being di-
rectly interested in probing the relief
fund losses probably grew out of the
fact that Burns and Heney are actively
engaged.
Chief Inspector vickery of the Post Of
flee Department said that his men would
not be directed to make an investigation in
Co Eran niC 10 PORN Shor oyadI
that some misrepresentation of money oc-
CURED while the funds were In transit in
charge of the postal service. or by forg-
ing signatures to postal or money orders
Any grating which might have taken
place after money was properly paid
would be matter entirely outside the
jurisdiction of the Post Office Department
Mr.. Vickery declared, and he added that
no charges, either direct or Indirect, have
yet reached him alleging stealing Of San
Francisco relief money while 1t was in
charge OF the postal authorities.
No residential Action.
White House officials state that Presi-
dent Roosevelt has taken no part in an in
vestigation In San Francisco. The Presf-
dent had nothing to do with funds that
might have been sent direct to the mayor
of San Francisco and could not use govern
ment machinery to prosecute any person In
San Francisco. None Of the Red Cross
funds ever passed into the hands of the
mayor or Otner city OmCfalS OF san fran
cisco. They were sent here to C. H. Keep.
treasurer of the fund, and then to San
Francisco. and the Red Cross authorities
disbursed all the money sent to them
through their own forces.
Executive Committee Meeting.
The members of the executive committee
of the American National Red Cross held
an informal meeting in their Office in the
War Department this afternoon. and re-
nrt frOy ~ Z Doh
mann, the special Red Cross representative
at San Francisco. who Is now in this city
on his way to Berlin to arrange. If possible,
for the settlement Of the German insur-
ance claims.
At the close of the conference Mr.. Charles
L. MCGEE, chairman Of the central commit
tee. said that the deliberations had been
purely informal and that no action had been
taken by the committee.
Local Subscriptions.
Remittances made on account Of the San
Francisco relief fund by e. 8. Parker.
treasurer of the fund In Washington, in
cluded the following:
April 20. Charles H. Keep. treasurer Red
Cross. $4,000: May 2. Charles A. Keep.
treasurer Red Cross. $20O0 May 8. Charles
H. Keep. treasurer Red oross. SIS. 600; May
8, James D. Phelan. chairman finance COM
mittee. from officers and members of the
fire department Of the District Of Column
bia, $271: May 10. James d. Phelan, chair
man finance committee from artists aggre-
gate salaries. $19o; May %. proceeds of con-
tributions of teachers and pupils Of the
public schools of the District OF Column
bia, 81 .168.O1: May %, proceeds OF lawn
fsssss Home a5 July 1Ur i James os
Phelan, chairman, $4,000.
UP TO THE ATTORNEYS.
No Meeting Of Plumbers .Arbitrators