The sun., 1909-02-28
RED TAPE STARYES SICILY
THE EtRTHQUAkE COMMITTEE
UON'T LET GO or FUND.
NO suspicion OF Dishonesty, but Great
Distress Continues Military Districts
Now Formed for Reiief--Money Pien-
tiful-Heartburnings over Art Quest.
Special cdo,, D.,patehe, 10 TIE sum.


tiful-Heartburninss over Art Quest
Special Cube Dsspdiehe, 10 THE SUN.
LrND'N, Fob. 1.-THE writer has re.
Trained as long as possible from calling
attention 70 the utter ineputude and in
competence of the Italian authorities In
administering relief TO the earthquake Q
sufferers. The whole world within few
days Of the disaster contributed an i'm
mense sum for the immediate alienation
OF the sufferings Of the survivors. The
bulk OF these subscriptions was sent TO a
central fund in Rome, where a special
commission OF prominent men was ap-
pointed by the Hing TO undertake the work
Of administration.
1t Is now two months since the earth
quake and thousands Of sufferers are still
unfed, unclothed and without shelter.
The central commission has expended
barely 10 per cent of the fund at its dis
posal and this appalling situation is the
result. Ii should be explained that there
is not the slightest suspicion Of dishonesty
In connection with their work; indeed II is
the absurd, almost Incredible red tape
with which they have been striving to
make dishonesty impossible that has cont
pletely crippled their whole undertaking
They have appeared 10 regard themselves
as possible objects OF suspicion and have
SHOWN an excess OF caution "hich would
pe iuoicrous u u were not 80 tragic
rore'ghers VINO administered their own
reliei nave been the real saviors OF the sit
uauon' Tor scores OF thousands OF large
american and English funds have been
useu IN thls way ana every dollar so ex-
pehoeo mas been worth hundred In the
CUSTODY OF the central committee so Tar
as actual renei goes
Some OF the stories OF mismanagement
seen 70 pass belief. yet they are well
authenticateo. The IWees special cor
resp onneht' VINO was present at the san
FRANCISCO earthquake ana who arrived
at Messlna three DAYS after the catas-
trophe there Is still on the ground He
writes
ne SITUATION Of the villages in the
earthquake zone OF Sicily Is very bao;
10 the village OF Calabria 1t Is appalling
Even now some places are receiving
hardly any assistance and the condition
would nave been the tate OF the villages
in Sicily without the aid being rendered
by Enghsh and Americans 1t IL hard TO
Tell.
lhe Italian authorities are now assist
hg them ano the district between Messlna
ana laormlna' comprising hfty COM
has been divided into seven mill
iary zones Even now however one is
continually nearing OF places which nave
oeen iereoten by the authorities A
village called Scipiio. near koccaiumera'
or instance was neglected until ten days
i8o' whiie none oi the itailan authorities
iad been near Samaria' torty minutes
walk from Messina'
but u the condltlons are bad IN sicily !
ney are iar worse IN Caiaorla, where IN
many places the people are stu naked and 1
'@irNhs' "here women are sieepihg Win
- covering out coats ana chiidren are
'yihg LOT want OF hourishment IL tnere
no u'shohesty there U.s. am atraio. a
lreadiul amount OF mlsmanasement'
~ tue enrstie" Gays aiter tneear,nquake
ne organization a' hessiha was adequate
VI. as lne prooiem became more compH-
a'eu 'he i,di'ans iacA OF organizing
'ower comoineo win oVercenlraiization
NJ an aosuru amount OF reo aPe' pe-
d me more anu mort eViueht'
h'erywhere the ioreign reilei commt-
ees are handicapped lot HacS OF iunos'
's,'ors nave gwen 'heir own money again
hu aea'n' NOW many oi them can give
% more hppeais 70 tne cehtrai commit
ee at NOME WIN 's Immense iunu are IN
am oorne ciothihg ihtehoeo lot Slclly
hu 'siaord mas uisaPpeareo ana lot
ighers nave oeeh ouyihg garments IN
'cH'Eh '"Nns aho Ewing ,ne'n 10 refugees
IL Almost ihcreuioie' out ~ ls Iact that
lo,hihg sent 10 naples aiter the 'aiaorian
hr'hquake OF lsoo is sun lnere ana at
7"ip's 10 inuuce tpe OFFICIALS 70 give out
Or lhe reiiei Oh .he present sufferers nave
idr 'dheu'
iaS's sucn as tne eioregoinga are periectiy
ell known ana nave oeen widely pub
sneo ana commenced upon throughout
aiy' Out IL any foreign correspondent AT
ome atteHp's 10 teiegraph hem 70 MS
aPer tne censor promptly refuses trans
hssion' nus pohcy OF lhe itailan au-
iorities u only survival IN tne world OF I
le curious ostrich Win MS head IN the
ma an ldea ~nlch formerly prevailed
hussia ana uiKey' ihey may succeed
'metlfnes when the telephohe is out OF
'uer IN deaying the TRANSMISSION ot :
'"s LOT '"elVe hours' nut they also sue
spicions which they do not deserve. !