The San Francisco call., 1906-09-12
DohrmannBOrrOWS
to Help Small
Claimants.


this. When we have money in bank
and the checks have been issued, the
men should be paid"
Thus spoke Vice President Dohrmann
Of the Relief Corporation yesterday.
and as he spoke a half-hundred unpaid
enploves of the Relief Corporation. to
whom orders for their August salaries
had been issued. thronged through the
halls of the headquarters of the cor
poration clamoring for their pay. And
they had been making the same de-
mands every day for a week, Word had
been taken TO Mr. Dohrmann that the
men had not been paid, that their pa
thence was exhausted, that they had
come TO the building TO demand their
money And Mr Dohrmann. in his
quiet forceful way, set about getting
the men paid. He himself signed
check for $500 on the relief funds.
This was shortly after / o'clock. But
the Relief Corporation clerks failed to
get the money out Of the bank before
8. o'clock. Nothing daunted Mr.. Dohr-
mann went down 10 the Emporium and
on his personal receipt got $1,000,
which was used, as far as il would go,
10 pay those who had small claims The
others must continue to wait for their
money, although the corporation has
more than SO, GOO, 600 in bank The men
are not in the position OF the Western
tion's credit. But they can protest, and
they did some strenuous protesting
yesterday, and in spite of the hope
that was held out to them that they
would get their money they left the
building disappointed.
HEARS THEIR STORIES.
Before going to the Auditor to de-
mand why the men had not been paid,
Mr. Dohrmann went to the men them
selves. There We're camp physicians in
the crowd and there were day laborers.
Each had his story to tell Of waiting
for his pay since the first Of the month.
They had come to the building on the
first and had been told TO come the fol-
lowing Tuesday. They had come upon
Tuesday and had been told to come
Wednesday. They had come Wednes-
day and had been put of until Thurs
day. They were there on Friday, on
Saturday; and on Saturday they were
told to call Tuesday, yesterday. Yes
terday when they called they had been
told there was no money for them.
They could not so much as get their
warrants signed. All this they ex-
planned to Mr.. Dohrmann.
one man told him of a sick wife in ST
Luke's Hospital and said that he needed
his August salary TO pay the hospital
dues. Another had called for his
money seven times on Saturday and
three times yesterday. Not man in
the excited crowd had called for his
money less than four times.
IF We could get our warrants sign
ed" said one. we could discount
them"
That" replied Mr.. Dohrmann,
would be outrageous"
Dohrmann STROBE through the throng
10 the Auditors room He was not in a
pleasant frame Of mind
NO COIN IN SIGHT.
At the Auditors room Mr.. Dohrmann
learned that it is not the custom to
carry more than $4,000 at a time in the
cashiers department. This fund having
become exhausted there was nothing
left with which TO pay the men. If
the men would manage to hit a time
when there was money on hand they
could be paid.
Mr.. Dohrnann's face as he listened
10 this explanation was a study.
He suggested that the fund be re-
plenished. He was politely informed
that Mr.. Phelan was out Of town and
that was impossible.
rs there no way" the exasperated
Dohrmann demanded, that money can
be got TO pay off these men?"
There was none, he was told, unless
he, as vice president Of the corporation.
signed the check with Downey Harvey
the secretary. This Mr. Dohrmann did.
but TO make assurance double sure he
went over to the Emporium and bor-
rowed $1,000. This he brought back
TO relief headquarters and directed that
the money be distributed among the
claimants for small amounts.
Word that the employees were TO be
paid brought in those who have been
vainly seeking their August wages for
eleven days from all directions The
line extended through the hall down
the stairs. out into the street The
crowd was angry and impatient
policeman stood at the head of the line
10 keep IL in order. And, after all.
only a few Of the workers were paid
the $500 was not got from the bank
and the unpaid employees of the Relief
Corporation again left the building
disappointed. So far as Mr.. Dohr-
mann's $1,000 went it was given out,
but II satisfied but comparative few.
SITUATION EXPLAINED.
After the excitement had subsided
Mr.. Dohrmann gave out the following
statement:
L am told that the reason why the
treasury ran short is that they paid off
a large number OF labor checks on
Saturday. Sunday and a holiday in
tervening and Mr.. Phelan being out of
town they had no opportunity to re-
plenish the revolving fund, which is
limited to $4,000. perhaps too small an
amount for the large pay roll which
has TO be met. So, being vice presi-
dent. with power TO act in the absence
OF President Phelan, 1 requested that
a check be drawn for the shortage in
the revolving fund and signed it.
But as that requires the signature
OF the secretary of the corporation
Mr. DoWney Harvey, il was too late
10 get the check cashed before the
banks closed. Besides, the money is
likely 10 be paid in gold, and so. TO
meet both contingencies, namely. thar
the check might not be collected and
that small change is wanted to paw the
smaller amounts I just borrowed $1,000
in change from the Emporium on NV
personal receipt. so that the smaller
claimants could be paid of without be-
ing required to call again.
Il shall report this matter TO Mr..
Phelan and suggest that either the
revolving fund be increased to meet
demands OF this kind or that the nav
rolls be so made out that only as MANY
will call on one day for their money
as can be paid off without Carving
large amount OF coin on the premises
which ii is advisable should be limited
as much as possible"