The San Francisco call., 1906-07-01
ADMINISTRATION OF THE RELIEF FUND.

lars is large amount, and seems larger when re-
garded the administration expenses OF providing
ior the homeless and the unfortunate. Before a
pound. of food is provided or stitch OF clothing
bought if the estimate stands, 81 100000 must
be paid for administration out of the fund which
generous people the. world over have contributed
! to those. made destitute by the fire.
/ This SI,ooo,ooo represents about 20 per cent OF
the entire fund That IS for every five dollars ex-
pended four will go: TO the unfortunates and one
Ito those engagedin in the work of distribution But
there is another way of looking at it. Careful esti-
mates place the number of refugees in the several
EcanlpS at about 10000. This number is present
increasing slightly. due TO the return to San Fran
lcisco.of unfortunates who >have. until now been
provided for elsewhere But as the fruit harvest
progresses the number will be decreased materially
ION the average probable that the authori-
tiles Will be charged wit the care of more than 3o
ooo the cost of conducting their relief is to be
S, ,ooo,ooo the cost administration per capita for
/ the year will be S3333, or something than
s.. 50 a month These.hgures do not have the same
effect upon the Imagination as does round million,
but they are nevertheless large.
r The average man who at Sacramento or at Chi
Icago- OIL: at New. York or at Paris gave S. toward
relieving the distress in this city probably failed to
take into account the very important fact that it
was going to cost something to get his bounty to
been told that the cost was to be one dollar out OF
the FIVE he might have estated But that is neither
here nor there what San Francisco must ascertain
is, IS one dollar reasonable and necessary amount
10 exPend in administering five? If it is reason
able and necessary it should be paid without fur
ther question or quibble; the nature OF the work
at hand demands lligh4clasS ability, which must
tbe paid. On the other hand, if~t is neither rea-
sonable nor necessary if part OF il goes for graft,
Il part of it is wasted because of ignorance or
risnanagement, the graft" or the waste or BOTH
must be stopped regardless OF whose feelings may
| be hiirt or whose pet theories shattered ~,
The finance committee proposes to make haste
SLOWLY and has given the several departments until
next Friday to provide detailed statements as to
how the SI.oooooo asked for is to be expended This
lis the correct thing. the only thing to do II the
estimates show ncompetency. wastefuiness or
"graftA the incompetent, the wastefu and the
>grafters" should be relieved OF their positions
without delay But if the statements show careful
management and able administration there is moth
ing for the committee to do but allow the necessary
funds for: carrying on the work.
Seldom have men been charged with greater
responsibility than are those intrusted with the
distribution Of this relief Not only is the property
}of the needy in their keeping-for the relief fund
contributed 10 the sufferers belongs to the sufferers
but the honor of San Francisco is at Stake Let
it be known that the enormous fund which gen
etous world has contributed to San Francisco in her
distress. has been wasted or misappropriated and
the shame of it will endure long after the last scar
left by the fire has been wiped away
1 .~...s. ---
Harry Thaw insists that he is sane in spite OF his
attorneys protestations to the contrary. Inasnuch
as Mr. Thaw has had his own way all his life, why
not let him have it now, especially as it is the most
d:rectWay to the shocking close of the Thaw- White
incident. :.
More than two inches Of rain fell in London Fri
t day, preventing the celebration of King Edwards
birthday, much to his Majesty's dispeasure and
disappointinent; nevertheless the saving TO Brit
ish taxpayers was not ileonsiderabe.
Car Nicholas employs spies to trail Americans
wiao read books on Russian despotism The Car
might spend the money to better advantage in re-
lieving the conditions that have suggested the
books: =.
It must be admitted that the non-paying insur-
arcc companies, credited with being anything from
FOOLS to ,knaves are not fools, for fool and his
money are. soon parted.
Senator Elkins continues to explain his position
on the railroad rate bill It might surprise the SEN
ator 10 know that the country does not consider
explanation necessary.
Senator T1llman has once more given his uncon-
plinentary opinion of President Roosevelt. sort
of crossing of the pitchfork with the big stick
Should the administration of the relief fund ag-
gregate SIooo,ooo year, the estimates indicate
the relief fund at least will soon be relieved
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