The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-07-25
Uneasy Feeling
of Impending
Explosion.
rHERE are plenty of rumors that


all is not harmonious among the
several departments of relief
work. There are indications
that the great and not inexpensively
conducted engine of distribution may
be drifting captainless and aimlessly
along, getting nowhere aud doing little
or nothing. This is not due, it is said,
to lack of captains, but apparently to
an oversupply of them, and there are
indications in plenty that the feeling"
known to exist is about to find open
expression. The Pollok letter comes
about as near bringing the matter to
mead as anything thus far made
public, but at any moment clash of
opinion or authority may bring the
crisis.
And not very far under the surface
there is plenty of clash of opinion and
purpose. This is illustrated, for ex-
emple, by the difference of ideas of
various heads of departments as to the
necessity of purchase of fire hose for
use atRthe speedway.
AT the meeting of the commission
last Friday Major CASTOR submitted a
budget providing for the purchase of
this hose and other apparatus, calling
for an expenditure of 1929. Major
CASTOR went to the pains to say that
the estimate was made on informa-
ton furnished him by Colonel Puppy
that the finance committee desired it
submitted. And then the major recon-
mended that the estimate be not ap-
proved and the articles not purchased.
for In his judgment they were not
needed.
COLONEL AND MAJOR CLASH.
Colonel Puppy said Immediately that
the articles were NEEDED and should be
purchased. Both men flushed up and
their voices were somewhat raised, but
there was no outburst. Colonel Puppy
carried his point and the estimate was
approved.
The budget was to have gone before
the hnance committee, but has not
reached there yet Chairman Phelan
said last night that he had not heard
OF 1t. Colonel Puppy is somewhat put
out that no action has been taken
Major CASTOR is of the opinion that the
failure of the finance committee to act
is an indication that it approves his
recommendations. The budget seems
to have become hopelessly tangled in
red tape
The method of distributing supplies,
too, is fast becoming the cause OF much
friction. The way of judging of the
success of the work differs. DR.. De-
vine and those who approve the system
followed hold that because there has
been little sickness, because the home
less are sheltered and are not hungrys
the work has been fairly successful
These hold that the life of the camps
should not be made too easy; that II the
soup kitchens are dirty the tendency
viii be for the people to get away from
them.
OPPOSITION MAY TALK.
Opposed to DR.. Devine, and the op-
position is fast approaching the stage
where it will talk out loud, are those
who insist that as the refugees are not,
after three months, supplied with ne
cessities such as blankets, mattresses,
soap, brooms, clothing and a hundred
other necessary articles, the work Is
not an unqualified success and that
something definite should be done to
relieve the distress that unquestionably
exists. The dirt of the camp kitchens
does not appeal to these as a thing
that can in any way be twisted into a
good.
OF these Allan Pollok is at present
the most conspicuous. He has the more
or less open sympathy of the majority
of the relief workers. One of these
who would not have his name used in
connection with his statement, said
that DR.. Devine is a mere theorist and
that is the trouble with the whole stu
alton.
But DR.. Devine, too, has his support
ers, who insist that the administration
of which he is the head while not above
criticism is as good as possible under
the circumstances.
In the meantime the relief workers
are watching the unsatisfactory work
ingS of the system, blaming this depart
ment and that in criticism that is daily
becoming more outspoken and must
soon find expression.