Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-19
CIVILIAN COMMITTEE
C0kFERs ON QUESTION
OF REFUGEE HOUSING

civilian COMMITTEES on housing con-
ditions following the food. consisting of
Frank F.. Parks. George D. Mestou.
Frank s. Hoag and John F. Organ.
met yesterday with esentativcs
from the refugee camps, the Red Cross.
the Salvation Army. the Knights OF
Columbus. and the military. The pur-
pose of tho meeting was to take steps
toward getting the refugee camps on
self sustaining basis. and 10 assist
the charitable organizations now at
work in caring for the needy and to
prevent imposition by persons who are
not in need check of these who are
now being assisted by the relief or
ganizstions revealed that tho chari-
table organizations are performing a
complete work. and that the number OF
persons imposing on this charity il
practically negligible.
A motion was carried that the meet
ing suggest to the housing committee
that that body take Immediate action
toward taking over the camps on a
business basis. with the municipal cor
poration guaranteeing the safekeepinS
of government property, and that the
committee. working in conjunction
with tho charitable orga n,zations. take
over the management of tho camps
with view 10 tho relief of tho mill
Tho object of the motion was to get tire
camps on a sound business aa,,s; 10
that while tho city will be working
with tho charitable Organizations. at
tho same time the city viii have
shouldered it5 share of the responsible
ity.
The meeting reported that co,tr1b
| uted funds arc being used for tn. i'm.
mediate relief of tho needy. A oues
tion was raised OF tho ability of tn.
civilian or sven the municipal organ-
iaztion being able TO properly police
tho camps and protect the property Of
tho state and the war departments.
In this connection 1t had becn stated
that tho state military forces would
very soon bc withdrawn. and tho this
equipment particularly tho tents and
tho like. could he left for housing and
such uses. II would bo up to tho citI-
zenH' committo to takc tho manage
ment or IN. refugee camps II had been
stated that tho states financial inter
cSts must bc protected and the ma
tional ruardsmcn also be allowed to co
back to their business and employ
mont az quickly as possible. and for
those reasons their withdrawal would
he ordered soon. Referring to the po-
licing OF Tho camps II was ptased nv
those talking on the withdrawal. that
tho fun force Of tho state Ranrry..
fifty in number. iE here and fully ad--
1Ustc for all PURPOSES.
All this put tho citizen's hovs,,r
committee considerably up in the air
as 10 what should or could be- inmed
lately done, but Adjutant General
Hammock shed a diffcrcn, light on ths
subject when he said: TT In not our
purpose TO take the military out until
Pueblo is properly able to take care
OF itself. tho OF coursc II will 20 a.
soon AZ u In possible to accomplish
that result
Col. iTemrock stated further, ths.
tho property that Is left for housing
and caring for refugee af,rt the mil
itsrv docs 20. muut be safcEuarded and
bonds furnished for it's return to ~,
owncrs. he added that any n~re~o
taking posso,Sgion Of military property
will he faced toward tho Fort Lrsvcn-
worth military prison.