The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-06-30
Leading to Belief That Fraud
is Being Practiced in
Salem
BT q 1OD SUPPLY
Will NOT BE REFUSED
Refugees Subjected to Third,
Heavy Rain Storm
Last Night

Salem. Mass, June 3O--Rapid progress
was made to-day in the work Of rehabil-
itating the fire-stricken city. Several
permits were issued for the construction
of new buildings and bureau OF labor,
through which work for the unemployed
may be obtained, was established.
The refugees in the camps were sub.
jected during the night to third heavy
rainstorm, but the sun broke through
this morning for the first time in three
days and brought cheer None of the
refugees suffered from the rain, as all
the tents have wooden floors and are
plentifully supplied with cots.
Fifteen thousand individual rations
were distributed yesterday The relief
committee is satisfied some fraud is be-
ing practiced, but in order that the
needy may not be deprived of food, it is
deemed inadyisabe to deny food, pend
ing an investigation of individual cases
at this time. The relief committee is
also endeavoring to keep the refugees
from discounting their fire insurance
policies. Many are said to have sold
their policies for from 80 to 80 per cent.
below their face value because of reports
that the insurance companies may be un-
able to make payments within several
months.
How Swindlers Work
For the most part the spectators have
developed themselves to the small house
holders. Most of these people have lost
everything they possess and many of
them are living in the tents of the refu-
gee camps.
Immediate cash even at sacrifice Is
something that they find hard to resist
and it is upon this desire for money at
all costs that the spectators plan to
reap their harvest. Apparently there is
a considerable fund available for the
purpose OF circumventing the insurance
companies.
The spectators realize themselves
that before long the companies will be
making payments at 100 cents on the
dollar and that then their trade will
cease. For that reason they have
planned to make an early start and II
quick and profitable cleanup at the ex-
pense of the fire victims.
When the system had its beginning,
nobody knows, but it was not until yes
terday that it came to the attention of
the Board of Trade and of the relief
committee. number of cases were re-
ported in succession and then insurance
men and those in charge OF the affairs
Of the city began TO investigate.
In almost every instance reported the
victim of the swindle was a small poll
cyholder. The amounts involved run for
the most part from $500 to $1,000. In
one instance a man who lost his home
and his household goods accepted $500
in cash for a policy of $1,000. In an
other case man and his wife who had
ost everything and were without funds
we're persuaded to take S400 for a policy
which would have yielded $500. There
were several other transactions of a SIM
lar nature reported.
Under the conditions it was impossible
20 tell how widely the spectators had
operated, but as soon as President Ca
Deen heard of the swindle he got in
ouch with insurance men and others in
IN effort to discover some way of put.
ing an end to it.
The insurance men were greatly in
ensed, but were unable to take any inn
Mediate action, so that an appeal was
made to Governor Walsh.
In the opinion Of a number of experts
{ will be difficult to reach the specula-
ors through the courts. There appears
o be nothing in the law to prevent one
nan from buying an assignment of
olicy from another when the terms are
greed upon between them. There seems
o be nothing criminal in trading upon
he necessity of others and it win be
ifficlIlt to prove the false statements
made by the buyer in representing that
here would be delay in the payments.