Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-08

SAN FRANCISCO, July 19.-It IS
every mans opportunity to "gouge'
just now and everybody seems ready to
take It. This rather pithy summing
UP Of the situation in the stricken
city is becoming a rule Of action.
'Gouge" on this side of the Serras is
synonymous with graft" or grab
and "gouging" Is going on in many
fields Of political and commercial ac-
tivity.
The landlords are still raising rents,
the unions are still raising wages, the
merchants are raising prices, the cost
of building materials is doubling. 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
VIII be need of splendid fortitude be-
fore the winter rains come.
Then there is the growing fear of the
pauperlzation of the army of refugees.
The S5,000,000 relief fund Is beginning
to appear as a handicap rather than
blessing. The members of the finance
committee and the relief commission
ers are showing evidence of uneasiness.
Let us spend it as quickly as pos
sible," advises James d. Phelan, chair
man of the finance committee. DR..
Edward T. Devine seconds this sugges-
tion. In several lectures delivered by
lately he has urged the experious
spending of the relief fund. f. w.
Dohrmann, member of the rehabilita-
tion committee, a wealthy and public
spirited citizen, is also in favor of the
rapid distribution of the relief fund
The army of refugees is growing now
instead of diminishing. Thousands
who sought refuge with friends and
relatives in the country seem to have
worn out their welcome and are COM
ing back. There are more than 80, 900
in tents and barracks, and there is
grave apprehension that there may be
double that number before Christmas.
Relief Fund a Magnet.
A rumor that the millions of relief
money were to be divided up pro rata
proved a great magnet. Families who
had been fairly comfortable in outly-
ing regions packed up and Travelled
back to the tents in hope of getting
ready money. Then the relief commit
tee men and commissioners have been
suggesting all sorts of ways and means
of spending the money intrusted to
their distribution. The bread line will
be abolished on August l. but this has
not proved a deterrent to the returning
refugees They argue that the money
is theirs by right, and some are even
organizing 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 out
the problem. DIR. Devine handed in his
resignation yesterday and will be quit
of his burden of responsibility on the
day set for cutting out the food sup
plies Col. Pippy, one of the three new
relief commissioners, is talking of re-
resigning. He is a politician and his
position is delicate. He has not become
hardened to criticism, and both COM
missioners and committeeman are
meeting a storm of bitter complaint |
they turn. The prospect of
being assailed by fifty thousand refu-
gees is not an enticing one, though
there will be an ample number of ring
politicians ready to jump into DR.. |
Devines shoes of authority.
The members of Abraham Ruef's
political machine are sitting back and |
awaiting an opportunity to wriggle In. |
They will soon have the chance, for no
one else want to shoulder the task. One
of the commissioners-Mor a Ruef
man. There will be two vacancies on
the commission when Col. Pippy gets
out, and Mayor Schmitz will get at
least one of the new appointments, |
giving the machine two to one on the
commission, whoever Mr. Phelan and
his associates may appoint.
The Home-Buldng Scheme.
It is expected, however, that only |
So, 900 of the relief fund will be dis
tributed by the commission, for the plan
to spend $4,000, 900 in building homes for
the homeless is crystallizing. This
money will be turned over to a cor
poration to be known as San Francisco
Relief and Red Cross Funds, a Corpor-
ation." The scheme of home-bulding |
has met with a good deal of criticism,
for it has the appearance of being |
forlorn hope of solution. 1t is proposed |
to finance the rebuilding refugees
through sort of building loan |
association. That is, they will receive |
a bond that will give them a sort of
faa In, 10 nnntit,cro,,t