The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15
MUCH NEGLECT IS
FOUND IN CAMPS.
Pippy and Moran Should
Live Among Refugees
to Know Their Needs
LACK MATTRESSES
BY HUGH NJ. BURKE.

BY HUGH NJ. BURKE.
Many of the refugees are still sleep
ing on the ground Somehow the army
men and the commissioners have failed
to obtain sufficient number of mat
tresses to supply the camps.
Articles other than mattresses are
also scarce. For instance, the supply
of underwear for children and women
is limited. The miscellaneous collec-
tion at the disposal of the relief COM
mission embraces many cast away gar
ments of no value.
1 went with Commissioner George H
Pippy yesterday to three camps in
Golden Gate Park and listened to some
of the complaints. One excited refu-
gee told the commissioner that rank
favoritism was shown in the allotment
of clothing. He asserted that a man
left camp the other day taking with
him to Petaluma a thousand pounds of
good clothing and blankets. Other
refugees, said the complaining camper,
could get nothing, not even a sight of
any one in authority.
1t is my opinion that the Relief Com
missioners should get in closer touch
for clothing and food can receive
prompt attention. There is too much
time wasted in getting papers from the
camp commanders through the boss of
the civil section and on to the depot
OF supplies DR.. Devine's system, beau
tiful as 1t appears when the doctor IL
lustrates it. is top heavy and cumber-
some with overpaid attaches.
The general proposition that one
ought not TO condemn q
policy unless one can suggest a better
one is perhaps fair and commendable.
would suggest that Pippy and. Moran
should be assigned to duty in the field,
leaving the administrative or Office
work to DIR. Devine in the Hamilton
Grammar School.
Pippy, for example, might have a
tent for headquarters at the big camp
near the ball ground in Golden Gate
Park Moran could be assigned a tent
at the Potrero camp. One orderly and
one stenographer should comprise the
staff of each Commissioner.
Refugees of all stations in camp life,
of all degrees of cleanliness and wear
ing all varieties of vermin, should
have free access TO headquarters.
In this way the relief commission
would become thoroughly conversant
with the duties and responsibilities of
caring for $4,000 homeless human be-
ings.
The refugees themselves want to see
their governors. Out in the park they
nail with delight their occasional
glimpses of Rev. DR.. Ford, who has
charge of three camps. How great
then would be their joy in seeing Col
oneI Pippy once a day and of seeing
Moran at sunrise and Moran at sunset.
There were many inquiries yesterday
as to the whereabouts of Rev. DR.. Ford,
as he Is the head and front OF author
ity in three of the camps. The COM
manders are expected to report to him.
Assertion is made that supplies of food
and clothing cannot be had unless he
approves the requisition. His duties
yesterday rendered his presence at the
Preside Imperative, and as he is not a
bird he cannot be in two places at one
time
There is effort all along the line to
reduce the number of campers. In this
direction the system commended by DR..
Devine and approved by Colonel Pippy
is producing fairly good results. The
refugee is asked to name a time that
he will be able to get along without
aid from the relief fund. If he says
August Is, or thereabouts, the propo-
sition is made to give him food in bulk
to last him a month.
/ was curious to learn something as
to the quantity of supplies one would
get to support a family for thirty days.
l asked the distributing agent this
question: What do you give family
OF six for that length of timer The
list he made out for me was as follows
Ninetyfve pounds of corned beef,
$50 pounds of -four. Z tins of corn, 20
pounds of dry beans, 110 potatoes
when potatoes can be had, 110 pounds
of hominy, peas and tomatoes. pounds
of dried fruit, 33 pounds of sugar, s
pounds of salt, cakes of soap. cam
dies, pounds of coffee, half pound of
tea
After a bulk supply Is thus given the
refugee, Not good for food" is then
written across his card.
The Moulder School contains a stock
of goods that renders all danger of
famine remote. Knowing that bacon
and ham could not be had in one of
the camps yesterday, and seeing a
quantity at the Moulder warehouse, /
asked one of the attaches If discrimi-
nation existed He assured me that
everything went out on requisition. but
qualified the observation by remark
ing: Except two houses up the
street, where there is smallpox" The
investigation in this respect was not
further pursued. 1 am willing to ac-
cept the general proposition laid down
by newspaper men and not successfully
combated by physicians that the dis
ease develops in localities where rents
are extortionate and in hotels where
the attaches are VIGOROUSLY uncivil
The tented schools of Golden Gate
Park ought to be visited by DR.. Benja-
min Ide Wheeler. Principal Armstrong
is teaching the 500 pupils how the soil
can be cultivated. Two acres of ground
have been laid out IN sections of 100
square feet The school children al
ready know the names of nearly all
the birds and half the plants In Golden
Gate Park.
RELIEF COMMISSIONER MOVE
TO THEIR NEW HEADQUARTERS