Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-28
Earthquake Sufferings Multi
piled by Red Tape.
FUND DISTRIBUTION SLOW
Thousand Still Unfed, Unclothed
and Without Shelter.
ONLY TENTH OF MONEY SPENT
Incompetence Shown by, Central
Make Dishonesty Impossible.
Special Cablcgram to The star.

Special Cablcgram to The Star.
LONDON, February 21.-Every where
is seen evidence of the utter ineptitude
and incompetence of the Italian authori-
ties in administering relief to the earth
quake sufferers.
The whole world. within a few days
of the disaster, contributed an immense
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 APP
pointed by the king to undertake the
work of administration.
1t is now two months since the earth
quake. Thousands of sufferers are still
unfed, unclothed and without shelter.
The commission has expended barely
10 per cent of the fund at it's disposal.
This appalling situation is the result.
There is not the slightest suspicion
of dishonesty in connection with their
work. Indeed, it is the absurd, almost
incredible red tape with which they have
been striving to make dishonesty 1mpos-
sible that has completely crippled their
whole undertaking.
They have appeared to regard them
selves as possible objects of suspicion.
Excess Of caution has been shown, ludi-
crous if not SO tragic.
Aliens Save Situation.
Foreigners who administered their own
relief have been the real saviors of the
situation. Scores of thousands of large
American and English funds have been
used in this way. Every dollar so ex
pended has been worth a hundred in the
custody of the central committee so far
as actual relief goes.
Some stories of Encouragement are
almost incredible. yet are we'll authenti-
Gated. The special correspondent. who
was present at the San Francisco earth
quake and who arrived at Messina three
days after the catastrophe there, is still
on the ground.
He writes:
THE situation in the villages in the
earthquake zone of Sicily Is bad; in the
villages of Calabria it is appalling. Even
now some places are receiving hardly any
assistance.
THE condition of the inhabitants is ter
the villages in Sicily without the aid
rendered by English and Americans 1t
is hard to tell.
1.-The Italian authorities are now assist
ing them. The district between Messina
and Taormina, comprising fifty COM
munes, has been divided into seven mil
itary zones. Even now. however. one is
continually hearing of places which have
been forgotten by the authorities
"A village called Sciplio. near Roccalu-
mera, for instance. was neglected until
ten days ago. None Of the Italian au-
| thorities had been near Camaria, forty
minutes walk from Messina.
People Naked and Starving.
but if the conditions are bad in Sicily
they are far worse in Calabria. There in
many places the people are still naked
and starving. Women are sleeping with
no covering but coats. Children are dying
for want of nourishment.
eff there is no dishonesty there is, I I'm
afraid dreadful amount Of mismanage-
ment.
In the first few days after the earth
quake the organization at Messina was
adequate AS the problem became more
complicated the Italians lack OF organ
izng power, combined with overcentral-
ization and an absurd amount Of red tape,
became more and more evident.
Everywhere the foreign relief commit
tees are handicapped for lack of funds.
visitors have given their own money
over and over again. Now many OF
them can give no more. Appeals to the
central committee at Rome with its
immense fund, are in vain.
Some clothing intended for Sicily
and Calabria has disappeared. Foreign
ers have been buying garments In 81
Gillian towns and giving them to refu-
gees.
1T is almost incredible. but it is a
fact. that clothing sent to Naples for the
Calabran earthquake of 1903 is still
here. Attempts to induce the officials
to give it out for relief of present SUI
ferers have so far failed"
News Is Suppressed.
Facts such as the foregoing are per-
fectly we'll known and have been wide
ly published and commented upon
throughout Italy. If any foreign CORE
spOndent at Rome attempts to tele-
graph them to his paper the censor
promptly refuses transmission.
This policy of the Italian authorities
is only a survival of the practice of the
curious ostrich with his head in the
sand, an idea which formerly prevailed
in Russia and Turkey They succeed
sometimes when the telephone is out
OF order In delaying the transmission of
news for twelve hours, but they also
succeed in drawing upon themselves
grave suspicious which they do not de-