EMERGENCY RELIEF IN GREAT DISASTERS 85 



activities were suspended, or the acts performed by the re- 

 organized and restored municipal authorities. 



One suggestion which is frequently made is that relief in 

 emergencies should never be in money, but always in its equiva- 

 lent. This suggestion is not to be adopted without considera- 

 tion of the character of the proposed Ijeneficiaries. "it is prob- 

 able that, so far as disbursements from puljUc funds are con- 

 cerned, the poUcy suggested is wise, and that provision of 

 employment where emergency relief measures are necessary 

 is still better than relief in kind. Instead of opening free 

 shelters, depots for free food and for the distribution of cloth- 

 ing, as early as possible a reliable list should be made, based 

 upon a knowledge of the portion of the community affected by 

 the disaster. In Baltimore, after the recent tornado, the 

 poUce, under the direction of the marshal, prepared a census 

 of all the families residing within the storm area. When a 

 reUable list of this kind has been prepared, apphcations may 

 be compared with it and intelligent decisions reached as to the 

 relief required. 



The conclusion reached by the Johnstown Flood commis- 

 sion to make a distribution of money was eminently justified 

 by the conditions that there prevailed. It was then proposed, 

 and indeed at one time it had virtually been decided by the 

 commission, instead of dividing the money in their hands after 

 providing for various special needs, to establish large ware- 

 houses and fill them with clothing and other necessaries of lite, 

 to be distributed as occasion might require throughout the 

 ensuing winter. The change of plan was made because of 

 earnest and emphatic protests from prominent citizens of 

 Johnstown who were personally acquainted with the people 

 for whom this scheme of relief was proposed, and who appre- 

 ciated the absurdity of applying to skilled mechanics and pros- 

 perous trade people the principles which are based upon dis- 

 trust either of the honesty or intelligence of ordinary applicants 

 for relief. 



One can not commend the methods of those almoners in 

 Johnstown who, instead of placing their funds in the hands of 

 the relief committees, passed through the streets handing ten- 

 dollar l^ills to every one whom they met. The criticism, how- 



