The San Francisco call., 1906-06-28
TUEY WILL PROVE THEIR WORTH,


Dr. Devne in his report to the finance commit
tee OF the Red Cross and general relief commit
tees outlines the work that is to be undertaken
by the relief board in distributing supplies. hous-
ing refugees and regulating sanitary conditions at
the camps The report is as thorough and sensi-
bic as was to be expected from gentleman OF Dr.
Devines long experience in such matters. He
shows clearly what ought to be done and points
the way TO do it. Undoubtedly few days more
OF time spent in perfeoting organization will
show that the relief commissioners have placed
themselves in way to accomplish much good for
the poor Of the city who suffered losses by fire.
Men have been appointed to fill responsible pQ-
..stons at the head of the various departments OF
relief and plans for operation have been discussed
with the view of putting these into immediate ef-
Tect Every reasonable effort has been made to
90 about the work in a systematic manner and ac-
compish good results Prejudice against indvid
si1als who have been appointed to carry on the
great undertaking should not for a moment be
allowed TO enter into the question.
It is hard 10 understand how any better
than DR.. Devine could have been selected TO coach
the work OF relief. Colonel Pippy and Edward
Moran, the other members of the committee. have
i borne excellent regulations in the community,
have both taken active part more than one
occasion in affairs OF the public and have acquitted
themselves with credit Why they should be made
the objects OF malicious criticism in some quarters
+ is not apparent to fair-minded Judges
Six thousand dollars year for services of the
character of those which the three gentlemen Of
the committee have undertaken IS not an extrava-
gantlv large salary Men who are called upon to
handle great sums OF money and deal with the deli
cate questions involved in the equitable division
so5 an immense fund are worthy OF their hire if
they do their work and do it well. Has there ever
been any reason advanced why Messrs. Devine.
I}ppv and Moran should not be given chance TO
show what they do: Are they not entitled to
. this fairness?
=. Unless there IS good reason to delay the pro-
ceedngs of the relief board to investigate alleged
~htolations OF the intentions OF those who sub
scribed the money, the board should be permitted
~to demonstrate its fitness by Immediately getting
. down to business
= Communications from people who are living in
The camps allege that there is much suffering
among those who are not given sufficient food and
clothing and being treated with rowdyish dis
respect by some Of the relief board employees One
man complains that he was handed three potatoes
and small piece OF ham for himself, wife and
three children. And this was one days rations A
woman declares that she was told TO stop loafng
+. and TO go 70 work. Another says she was in line
for four hours trying to get her baby pair of
shoes, and still another failed to receive medical
supplies when she was in dire need of them
fl Where thousands of people have to be provided
i Tor, ike great army, there is necessarily much
-grumbling II IS human nature to exaggerate the
cNOes OF mankind. II the refugees can be fed and
comfortably housed it will not matter much to
them who is being paid for doing his duty we'll
But if time is lost III argument over personal pre-
iudices the poor people who are waiting to be fed
will cry aloud in protest and man could blame
them
= There has been too much discussion Of the we'll
ltended efforts of those in authority and too much
. tcf howl OF graft" that nobody seems to offer
% prove exists Prompt aid for the deserving
poor and conservative, honest manipulation OF the
relief funds viii demonstrate that the subscrip-
tons were not misapplied and that the selection of
The present relief committee was wise one