The story of Johnstown : its early settlement, rise ... - JohnstownCafe

One
326 THE SrORV or J(V!XSTO\VX.
made against members of the I'liard of Inquiry, whose duty was to inve'^tiLTatc
statements of losses and gix'e orders f.ir wh.atcMT sums thev cleemcd just and
equitable. I'^xception was taken in a few instances to the aflidaxit each applicant
hail to nial^e bel^ire getting; an\mone\', but this was of niinur iuijiortance.
I'ar more se-rious \\a^ the allei;ation of v, iltul. deliberate, premeditated attempts
on tile piart of a number of resitlents to swindle the Comniissidn b\' obtainin.,'
more than their fair proportion of monex . citi.^en is actimllv said to have
flletl a statement claimiiiL; a loss of over ^40,000. \\!iile he was not in business,
and had neitin-r house nor land in the flooded reL;ion. The arrest and jmnishment
of some of the people who filled their cellars and closets at the expense
of real sutferers. too modest to parade their necessities, would ha\e hail a salutar\"
elfect.
Piu'suant to instructions adoptetl at the mectini; of the Commi---,i(-in on
October 2^d, in Philadelphia, the Secretar\' paid claims on this basis:
On Irisscs in Class 4 as est:»blished by the Beard of Inquiry, im S300 and less, according to
the merits of each case, a sum not eNceedini; s^oo.
On losses ot i^oo and not o\ er Si.ooo. according to the merits of each case, a sum not exceeding
5f>oo.
On losses between si 000 and 52.000. according to the merits of each case, a sum not
exceeding sSoo
On losses of over S2.000, a pro-rata proportion of the amount remaining But no pa\ ment
to exceed the sum of Sn.ooo
Pa)'ments were by checks printed on piidc paper, front a form designed
expressK' for the Conitiiissioi^.. Each read as follows in lilank :
1^0. *
^ohnsfoWfi, pa., 188S). ^
fp'i^G pirsi jNlaiione.l Sank of ^o}7r\sioWn, pa.., ^^
-y i'l
pai^ io \\iz ©rder of.
Dollars,
ui lull of .111 il.iims a-3in=t thi: fiiiid contributv;.! for the Relief of the FInnci SuiTei
Coiiemauyll V.illts . lii tht haiicls ,.f the 1-lood Rdief Coniiiiissi..n.
Seeret.arv Flood Relief Conn
One C'f
the most imj^ortant actions of the October meeting ^^as the establishment
of an orplKiTis' trust fund, tlie aggregate an;ount ol \vhich will be
about Si^o.ooo, to pa\' idiiitiren who were tliq)ri\'ed of their parents b\' tile
flood the sum of iijio a } ear until each attains the a-ge of sixteen. This prudent
action was suggested by Mr. Miller, v.iiose recommendation v>as heartih
seconded b\" his associate's. L'uder its iiro\ isions widows ^vlth \oung cliildren