The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-29
GIFT ALMOST GONE
ONLY S3oO,0OO OUT OF S2,5OO,OOO
LEFT TO san FRANCISCO.
Committee Of Fifty Dazed TO FEAR TNat tho
city Is 10 Get Only a Small Part OF the
I Apr opriation FOR Her leeds Most OF
y the Money Already spent In the Fast.

SAN FRANC11O. April 2s.-Dismay pre-
vailed in the mSeting Of the mmtt OF
fifty who are advising Mayor Schmitz to-
day when it was announced that OF the
s., 500, 900 appropriated by the National
Governir snt for the relief of san Francisco
only 5000. 200 was available.
James d. Phelau, chairman Of the finan ce
committee of the citizens relief and Rcd
Cross funds, made the announcement, and
1t made a sensation. Mr.. Phelan said that
he had been given to unde stand by Secfe-
tary Metcalf, the Representatives OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt, that 100000 represented
the extent Of financial assistance that
might be expected from the Government.
The members Of the committee were
unable to understand how this prop, on
which all confidently leaned, should be so
suddenly taken from them, and the speaker
was deluged with questions. Mr.. PheIan
continued by saying that Secretary OF War
Taft had had transferred to his order
$500, 900. This, he sid, was t he first recog-
milton the Secretary had made OF the relief
work. The statement was then made by
the speaker that he had learned from MIR.
Metcalf that the Secretary Of War had
expended the remainder OF the funds for
supplies in the East.
silence held the room when Mr.. Metcalf
arose and corroborated this statement +
Mr.. Phelsn then tersely said that but $685.
O0O was available to his order in the Mint
and that the ~strictest economy would be
necessary.
I'VE need money Mr.. Phelan concluded I.
sand the country should not be led to be-
lieve that millions are on hand to relieve
our destitute people,
Both Mr.. Metcalf and Mr.. Devine con-
! CURED with Mr.. Phelan and both offered to
apprise Washington Of the condition. No
member of the committee had the slightest
idea that any of the appropriation had been
spent elsewhere and all plans made here had
included the entire sum appropriated by
Congress.
"Why anybody in the East should spend
the money on supplies or anything else
when it is so badly needed here is something
] cannot understand" said a member of
the committee after the meeting.
THAT 81, 200, 900 which Congress intended
To 20 to relieve the sufferings of these
homeless people should have been spent by
people 1900 miles from here who do not
know the conditions or needs and without
even notifying us that the money was not
coming here is astounding. This is the
severest shock this committee has had
since its organization.
The question of the Use of the Federal
troops to assist in the preservation of the
peace and good order of the city developed
a unanimity of opinion among the civil
and military authorities. A letter from
Gen. Greedy was read. The General said
that the War Department looked with dis
favor upon the continued Use OF the army
in policing San Francisco. and added that
while he personally was willing to take any
work of relief. sanitation or other. he could
not sanction the Use of the army on nom
military duties an hour beyond such obvious
necessity, and asked for a written state
mert from the Mayor in order that there
might be no doub or apprehension on his
part a. to the need Of Federal forces.
Mayor Schmit2 in commenting on Gen.
Greelv's letter said that the Federal troops
had given unreasonable assistance to the
city since the disaster of April Is, and he
asked the committee formally to approve
of his action in asking the military to take
charge and, furthermore, that the COM
} mittee request that this control be con-
tinued. The motion to request that the
troops I've permitted to remain was adopted
unanimously.