The San Francisco call., 1906-05-27
ARMY DRAWS ON
GRANT To TAFT
City Has Never Been
Under Martial
Law.
Emergency Fund Only
One From Which
to Subsist.

Ever since the army began work in con-
nection withN the citizens of San Fran
cisco in the great task of relieving null
titude of homeless and hungry people the
public has believed that the city was un-
der martial law. Expressions heard daily
by intelligent people lead to the conclu-
sion that there is a general feeling that
military law is still extending its protect
ing arm throughout and around the city.
General Funston declares that there has
never been martial law in San Francisco.
He says the public believed that such a
law existed during the early days OF the
disaster, but the belief was delusion,
though one that probably resulted in
good.
General Greely says there has never
oeen anything like martial law since his
arrival here. and that his first act was to
remove even the semblance of such a law
by Issuing an order that vehicles and men
we're. to be impressed no more. 1t re-
iuires more than the breaking OF few
'ottles of whisky by scattered soldiers to
'onStitute martial law.
The fact is that the military power act
ID in friendly way in cooperation with
he civil authorities, aiding in the pres
'rvation of order and the swift punish
nent of crime.
aid General Greely, 'fs not TO help
maintain order. as erroneousy
stated in dispatch from Wash
lngton, printed in today's papers,
nor has there been any need fol
anybody to represent to the President
that soldiers are still needed to preserve
order Though the soldiers will undoubt-
edly assist wherever assistance is neces
sary IN the preservation of order. as in
the many recent cases wherein they have
SO assisted, the army is really here now to
do relief work"
Are you working in cooperation with
the general relief committee" was asked.
GREELY HANDLES PURSE.
In general way, yes" said the gen
eral but for various reasons l have not
reported to the citizens finance commit
tee concerning my disbursements. am
doing what l can with the fund provided
by Congress, or such of it as was not
used by the Secretary of War or turned
over to the citizens direct. By careful
economies we have been able to save
enough to do a great deal in our line
When we finish our work. which will be
when the need for it and the fund where
with to do it have vanished we shall be
able to wind UP complete job. We have
not bothered the citizens to keep books
or expend our fund but have attended to
Ill of it right through
General Funston did not need all the
tents and supplies that were sent here by
order OF the Secretary of War, as many
of the things that were intended for SOL
liers had already been used for relief of
citizens. Many of the supplies bought by
Secretary Taft were used to replace the
depleted army stocks. After the barracks
were again stocked up there still remained
large amount of tents and other needful
.hings These We're returned to the COM
nlssary department and credited to the
general relief fund. Thus did the purse
rom which General Greedy now draws
ROW to one of considerable size, making
neat addition to the unexpended Con.
;ressional appropriation which is being
landed by the division of the Pacific.
DSAWS ON TAFT FUND.
AS there has been no martial law there
vas no way by which the army could use
he regular military appropriation for sal
iries and other expenses incurred in relic.
work. For this reason the Congressional
'und is proving a godsend to the head.
# army departments. 1t is understood
mounting to a neat fortune is to he PAID
rom the donations made by Congress foi
he assistance of San Francisco's home
ess multitude.
Ii martial law had been declared at the
,utset it is contended that the bills in
urred by the army would have been pai6
rom the general army fund. AS no mar
ial law has ever been declared, the ONLY