The San Francisco call., 1906-04-28

, ludI dIo COuS4SuSu AOK IAO AOAACA ~
, the sufferers. officers in charge OF
the commissary department attend ts
the work of distribution to the vart
GUS relief stations scattered through
the city. At these relief stations at
present the distribution to citizens 10
made by volunteer relief committees
As fast as maybe the management OF
these relief stations will be taken over
by the military in order that the pub
nc-spirited citizens who have been
doing volunteer work In this direction
may be enabled to resume their regur
lar work or to take up such new means
Of livelihood as may be chosen.
These measures have been tele
graphed from time to time to Secre
tary of War Taft and / have this
morning received from him a message
approving Of the steps taken and IN
forming me Of the qualification with
which the President and the Secretary
have received the news OF the hars
mony which prevails in the work %
relief.
CASH IS PREFERRED.
"The Red Cross is replying to all
requests sent us by communities and
citizens In other parts OF the country
as to the form contributions should
take. We have many such requests
and we have to report that we have
abundant supplies Of perishable food
on hand and that it will be much more
to the purpose If IN the future all
contributions should be in cash. The
finance committee OF the relief and
Red Cross funds has appointed Allan
Pollock and myself purchasing agents
under the general direction Of ths
finance committee. While q largo
amount of money is to be available.
the needs of San Francisco are very
great, and l would not say word that
would seal the springs of charity or
in any way check the splendid work
that is being done by the people or
the East, North and South and the
West. Every precaution has been tar
ken to protect these funds from
waste. The finance committee has
established an auditing system IN the
hands of expert accountants, and all
the checks which the most careful
merchant would place upon his expend-
itures are now IN operation Each
dollar dill be accounted for and, so far
be wisely spent.
GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK.
"All relief measures must be sub
ordinated to the much more important
consideration Of enabling the people
to get back to work anu support them
selves. To this end employment bur
reaus have been organized and the
services Of Professor Carl O. Plehn,
formerly superintendent OF the census
Of the Philippine Islands, and Profes-
sor Wesley G. Mitchell, both OF whom
are connected with the department or
economies at the California Stats
University. have been enlisted to or
ganfze a general registration bureau
to aid in finding employment for the
unemployed and to furnish general
statistical information Of the progress
OF work of relief, and, while I am on
this subject, I wish to say a word az
to assistance 50 willingly given us By
the University OF California 1t has
placed its printing plant and clerical
force at our disposal and this has
greatly aided us IN getting our ofacs
force into shape
at is thoroughly realized that tbs
work Of relieving the distress due to
this great catastrophe should be con-
Quoted along careful and scientino
lines. This IL the great aim OF the
national Red Cross and we are enlist
ing the cooperation or such experts as
we can impress into service In this
undertaking. We are being heartily
seconded not only by the leading ana
most active citizens Of San FRANCISCO
but by the community as a whole. The
sub-committees appointed by the May
OF are completely In accord with this
ideal
EXPERIENCE OF VALUE.
"It II hoped that no opportunity to
gather important and useful knowE
edge, which would be OF incalculabls
service to other communities In dmes
of such distress. viii be overlooked.
That this may be 30, tho rugh and
complete records Of all that has been
done viii be kept. and the history OF
this great disaster win add not little
10 our knowledge OF tne science OF
relief"
To those who do not know, it may
be stated that DR.. Devine Ii editor OF
Charities and Commons, president OF
the National Conference Of Charities
and Corrections. general secretary Of
the Charity Organization society Of
New York. and chief professor Of So
cial economy In the Columbia Uni
versity His chief assistant here IS
Ernest P. BickneIl. superintendent Of
the Associated Charities Of Chicago.
These two gentlemen are for ths most
part Of the time to be found In the
field. The direction Of the office work
Is under DR.. E. O. Moore, president OF
the State Board Of Caarlties and Cor
rections and dean Of the summer
school of the University of California