Have arranged for full historical record of all matters
connected with disaster for Red Cross purposes.
WM. W. MORROW, _President_.
The distinguished historian, Professor H. Morse Stephens, is on this
historical committee and associated with him are some of the most capable
young men who were intimately connected with the relief work from the
first.
This record will be published later and will not only prove of historical
interest, but of great value in any future relief work of a like nature.
The importance of having the accounts of the expenditures of Red Cross
money contributions so kept as to render auditing by the War Department
possible, as required by law, was fully realized, and General A. E.
Bates, Retired Paymaster-General of the U. S. Army, kindly volunteered
his services to proceed to San Francisco and arrange some simple plan for
the keeping of these accounts. His offer was accepted, and at the request
of the President of the Red Cross he left for San Francisco, and on May
9th the following telegram was received by the President of the Red Cross:
_The Secretary of War, Washington, D. C._:
Arrived Monday evening and yesterday had an interview with
the Finance Committee by whom I was most pleasantly received.
Examined their system of auditing which I approve. Suggest an
addition to their system by which the Red Cross funds will
be treated like an appropriation for a specific purpose and
accounted for to you by vouchers and accounts similar to money
of Army appropriation. My suggestion approved and adopted
by Committee and Dr. Devine with thanks. Relief work here
is perfectly organized and organization apparently working
effectively and smoothly. Expenses being reduced daily. This
morning I appeared by request before the full Committee and
explained my position here. Shall remain here until system is
working and one set of accounts is forwarded.
A. E. BATES, _Major-General, retired_.
The following communication was received by the Secretary of the Red
Cross from Judge Morrow, enclosing the literature referred to:
CALIFORNIA BRANCH, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., _May 12, 1906_.
MR. CHARLES L. MAGEE, _Secretary, American Red Cross_: