Chapter III: Front Matter (3)

A meeting of the Coöperation Committee of the Chamber of Commerce was held on February 19, 1919, with William C. Shepherd presiding and L. K. Eldridge acting as Secretary. The minutes of the meeting held on January 31 were read and approved. Mr. Rust reported concerning the conference held by the Ways and Means Committee with the Poor Board of the Central District, stating that the latter had agreed to carry out, so far as possible, the recommendations set forth in the resolution of the Coöperation Committee adopted on January 31. The support promised by the Poor Board would cover medical assistance, food, clothing, and nursing when necessary; the Red Cross to pay rents.

Mrs. McLaughlin reported that the original fifty relief cases had been turned over to the Poor Board, together with 202 additional cases. The Poor Board had stated that 90% of these cases were already in their hands, under investigation. It was also reported that several day nurseries were under consideration, which would permit mothers to leave their children there and take up employment. Mrs. Phelps stated that in a number of cases widows had not yet received their insurance money; that some of the societies in which insurance had been carried were said to be bankrupt, while some of the larger insurance companies were holding up the payment of amounts due on policies of deceased victims of the epidemic.

On motion of Mr. Rust Mr. Brisbin was authorized to increase the membership of the Civilian Relief Committee so as to meet the requirements of the situation of affairs. It was voted, also, that he be given full power to discuss and decide all matters with the Central Poor Board, and that he consider the wisdom of employing persons to do social service work during the ensuing three months.

On April 30, 1919, a quorum of the Chamber of Commerce Coöperation Committee met in the Chamber of Commerce auditorium. Chairman Shepherd stated that, inasmuch as the Red Cross and the Poor Board of the Central District were taking care of matters for which the Coöperation Committee had been constituted, it was his judgment that the Committee should be discharged from further consideration of the matters in question. Mr. Schmoll stated that in Hazleton all cases had been taken care of through regular channels, and to the best of his knowledge there were no destitute cases at that time. Mrs. Bell reported that in Nanticoke there were twelve cases where rents were being paid, and would be paid as long as necessary, by the Red Cross.

Mr. Conyngham stated that the work of the Red Cross, at that time, was confined to the paying of rents. He could not say, however, how much longer this work could be continued. It was suggested that, when the Red Cross had reached the limits in its work of paying rents, the Poor Board should take over the cases in Nanticoke. Mrs. McLaughlin stated that up to that date 630 old cases and 75 new ones in the Central District had been turned over to the Poor Board.

On motion of Mr. Conyngham it was voted to request the Poor Board to employ as many experienced women as necessary to investigate and look after cases after the Red Cross and other organizations had retired from activity in the field. The Rev. Dr. Farr suggested that the Coöperation Committee should receive from Mr. Brisbin a full and final report of the important work done by the Civilian Relief Committee of Wyoming Valley Chapter of the Red Cross, which work had been carried on under the direction and management of Mr. Brisbin, and has been briefly referred to hereinbefore.[7] There being no further business to be transacted, the Committee adjourned _sine die_.

Footnote 7:

A full report of the work performed by the Civilian Relief Committee
will be found in the “History of Wyoming Valley Chapter of the
American Red Cross,” soon to be published.

The “Committee for the Distribution of Funds for the Care and Relief of Influenza Victims”, whose appointment is noted hereinbefore, held various meetings for the transaction of business connected with the duties confided to it. At a meeting held March 21, 1919, affairs relative to the various Emergency Hospitals were thoroughly discussed, following which Mr. Conyngham moved that all bills of the General Committee be paid at once. This motion was carried. Mr. Hendershot then moved that the Treasurer be instructed to pay the amounts of the various Emergency Hospital bills which had been approved by the Committee. This motion was carried.

At a subsequent meeting this Committee unanimously adopted the following rules of procedure relative to the settlement of bills arising out of the establishing of the seven Emergency Hospitals in Luzerne County:

“(1) That the verified bills for the construction work of
buildings, or altering or equipping temporary hospitals, should
be paid.

“(2) That the verified bills for the daily
maintenance—consisting of food, drugs, medicines, and the
overhead expense of light and fuel—together with such special
expenses as were approved by the General Committee in relation
to the general organization work throughout the County, be
approved and paid.

“(3) That bills in connection with the regularly established
hospitals, and bills relating to the regular hospitals and
charities, and the work of attendants in isolated homes, could
not be approved and paid, as the moneys appropriated for this
epidemic were appropriated for the specific purpose of the
establishment and maintenance of hospitals for this work.”

At a meeting of the Distribution Committee held April 4, 1919, it was resolved to issue to the public a “Letter of information concerning the work of the Distribution Committee”. This letter was subsequently prepared, giving a brief account of the organization of the committee and the work it had accomplished, and, having been signed by the members of the committee, was duly disseminated. The following paragraphs are extracts from this letter:

“The appropriation of funds by Luzerne County was made under an
Act of the Pennsylvania Legislature approved May 14, 1915, and
reading in part as follows:

“‘_Section 1._ * * * The County Commissioners of any County may
appropriate moneys for the support of any hospital, located
within or without the limits of such County, which is engaged in
charitable work and extends treatment and medical attention to
residents of such County.

“‘_Section 2._ All Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent with this
Act are repealed.’

“The appropriation of the City of Wilkes-Barré was made by the
members of the City Council by a resolution reading as follows:

“‘_Whereas_, the equipment and maintenance of the Emergency
Hospital at the Armory is necessary to fight the influenza
epidemic; and whereas much of the equipment can be later used at
the Emergency Contagious Disease Hospital of the city of
Wilkes-Barré which is now nearing completion,

“_Therefore, Be it Resolved_, That the City of Wilkes-Barré
appropriate $5,000., or so much thereof as may be necessary,
toward the equipment and maintenance of the Armory or other
Hospital; that the Citizens’ Committee in charge submit bills,
properly audited, to the City of Wilkes-Barré, and the City pay
such bills to an amount equal to the appropriation authorized;
and that the equipment, which can later be used by the Emergency
Contagious Hospital, become the property of the City; and that
patients at the Armory Hospital, whose circumstances permit, be
required to pay for such services, as is done at the other
hospitals in the City.’”

Report of Treasurer

DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

────

RECEIPTS.

From Luzerne County $20,000.00

City of Wilkes-Barré 3,999.85

Wyoming Valley Chapter 3,963.36
Red Cross

The Bell Telephone 14.76
Company (Refund)

H. A. Whiteman & Co. 38.45
(Refund)

────

$28,016.42

EXPENDITURES.

Paid to Nurses, Aids, etc., as follows:

Emily Jones $ 40.00

Hilda Lewis 40.00

Nellie Loftus 40.00

Jennie May 40.00

Minnie Fry 40.00

Mrs. Harriet Hountz 54.00

Loretta Sullivan 102.00

Anna Walsh 80.00

Dorothy Guy 85.50

Nellie Fischer 7.33

Margaret Bechtold 84.00

Oliver Wolfe 108.00

Raymond Davis 51.00

Howard Roat 75.00

Robert Davenport 36.00

Mrs. Martha Edwards 48.63

Mrs. Myrtle Mooney 14.52

Mrs. Ellen Hosey 45.53

Bessie Evans 7.26

Hazle Smith 7.26

Lenore Williams 42.92

Evelyn Jones 15.97

Gwyn Winters 41.32

Goldie Womelsdorf 39.97

May Conlon 56.23

Nellie Sheridan 29.47

Katherine Dymond 32.52

Mrs. Hilda Hogg 45.87

Mary Sinko 23.61

Bessie Fadden 66.77

Esther Lynn 55.16

Laura Hughes 57.82

Annette Schofield 31.35

Susan Sable 43.16

Sister Angela 35.42

Ethel Jordon 31.35

Sarah Wilson 7.46

Arline Hale 10.50

Helen Wheatley 33.00

Katherine Longshore 40.81

Ruth Jones 47.52

Verda Vivian 39.46

Beth Porter 47.52

Margaret Larkin 47.52

Ada Bachstein 34.57

Dorothy Tennyson 39.46

Edna Bachstein 26.23

Eleanor Brown 26.23

Mrs. E. Silvara 40.00

Irene Lewis 40.00

Ruth Rae 40.00

Lida Tucker 50.00

Margaret Burns 37.29

Rose Costello 47.33

May Williams 62.00

Clara Campbell 20.00

Emily Sprake 5.50

Mrs. P. Hanson 89.83

Jessie Cunningham 14.00

Leslie Covert 42.00

George Berry 57.00

Ernest Wright 6.00

Mrs. Margaret Jacobs 19.02

Elizabeth Williams 15.97

Anna McNulty 81.29

Florence Desh 11.61

Mrs. Lena Krum 7.26

Margaret Griesmer 44.23

Ellen McGuigan 54.73

Olwen Williams 41.32

Kathleen Bishop 10.16

Mrs. Jean Langford 29.42

Gertrude Lenahan 20.32

Mildred Perry 50.32

Madge Heffron 47.56

Mary Roache 2.90

Alice Fuller 43.06

Mrs. James Lockett 11.61

Leyl VanHoesen .46

Mrs. F. T. Mitchell 31.16

Anna Boyle 7.40

Sister Pierre 41.23

Anna McMenanin 23.96

Olive Carle 4.35

Jeanette Washington 7.50

Alice McCarty 18.00

Irene McGinty 10.50

Margaret Andes 40.81

Ellen Davis 47.52

Mary Humphrey 47.52

Margaret Porter 47.52

Agnes Riley 39.46

Mable Davis 24.19

Katherine Gaffikin 47.52

Mildred Weathers 47.48

Anna Tobias 50.00

Maria Blazick 54.84

Irma Goodale 56.39

Catherine Thomas 59.68

Ann Shanghnessy 13.33

Mrs. G. L. Todd 46.51

Anna Yanalovitch 85.48

Mary Koseck 82.26

Millie Heslop 88.71

Eleanor Martin 66.13

Mrs. Ann Davies 15.00

Helen Yablonski 29.09

Anna Eaton 67.20

Edith Franklin 56.46

Mary Mieczkoski 69.93

Margaret Burke 47.96

Freda Turner 19.52

Hannah Davis 17.96

Ethel Jones 47.52

Emma Cleason 33.87

Carolina Bryant 22.58

Leah Craig 33.87

Marguerite Davey 33.87

Bertha Griffith 33.87

Mrs. Kathleen Brew 20.40

Nell Jordan 19.84

Beatrice Sorber 28.93

Nellie Blackburn 33.87

Helen Finley 33.87

Barbara Swanberry 22.58

Elizabeth Beeunas 11.29

Margaret McDonald 17.74

Jennie Jesuit 16.67

Frances Keller 16.67

Mrs. J. Bavrick 46.51

Mrs. E. Massman 26.19

Mrs. Blanche Evans 41.94

Mrs. Clara Swishere 0.81

Emma Wagner 12.50

Rachael King 11.67

Mrs. Ellen Dailey 28.88

Mrs. Ruth Tyrell 25.38

Mrs. Elizabeth 31.07
Deitrick

Kathryn Kransky 23.77

Mrs. Minnie Williams 22.15

Elena Heineman 28.73

Gertrude McCarthy 39.52

Nan Wintersteen 25.35

Mrs. Kate Heston 1.61

Mrs. E. Roszykiewicz 9.98

Anna Owen 6.67

Mrs. Marie Caffrey 13.20

Jennie Audi 16.48

Nora Aubrey 16.45

Mrs. Mollie Dennison 18.29

Kathleen Lavelle 59.68

Helen Slacinski 60.27

Josephine Reokey 34.09

Margaret Meekin 95.16

Anna Groschke 50.59

Sarah Kelley 25.81

Mary Clemmons 21.66

Marie Strome 27.52

Iona Brelsford 16.13

Doris Reedy 75.81

Mrs. A. Dowling 31.62

Mayette Mulligan 52.85

Helen Mais 23.12

Marjorie Lindsay 49.25

Alice Kochinsky 12.90

Sophia Roach 68.87

Edna Runyan 45.54

Jennie Moore 11.29

Elizabeth Morris 22.58

Ruth Thomas 22.58

Annette Kivler .81

Laura Kokensperger 23.06

Violet Clark 5.65

Mrs. Mary McClusky 4.94

Martha Howard 22.53

Blanche Wilkes 33.87

Mary Levix 11.29

Mary Biczcak 22.58

Sophia Chukinski 23.33

Helen Gajewski 16.67

Myrtle Socha 41.67

Sarah Taff 49.57

Mrs. Hannah Jones 22.02

Mrs. Delia Dunn 11.67

Mrs. Maria Jones 24.17

Mrs. Margaret Jones 10.83

Mrs. Margaret 11.67
Meehans

Mrs. A. Steinhauer 43.55

Mrs. C. Devaney 3.23

Mrs. C. Davies 4.03

Mrs. Minnie Llewelyn 22.96

Mrs. Marie Shaffer 8.26

Gertrude Cooper 22.96

Mrs. Anna Norris 27.04

Mrs. Minnie Reich 20.56

Mrs. Esther Hogg 14.94

Mrs. B. Mulhern 28.23

Mrs. Charles Burk 3.33

Mrs. Belle Connor 5.83

Mrs. M. Farber 13.15

────

$6,746.34

PAID TO EMERGENCY HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTY AS FOLLOWS.

Dupont Borough Emergency Hospital $ 428.69

Jacob Neuman (Dupont) 200.00

Exeter Borough Emergency Hospital 1,121.33

Hazleton City Emergency Hospital 898.72

Hazleton City Emergency Hospital 928.63

Nanticoke Borough Emergency Hospital 1,009.82

Newport Township Emergency Hospital 1,320.44
(Wanamie)

Plains Township Emergency Hospital 467.32

────

$
6,374.95

PAID MISCELLANEOUS BILLS AS LISTED, FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT HAS BEEN
MADE BY THE CITY OF WILKES-BARRE, RECEIPTED BILLS HAVING BEEN
DELIVERED TO THE CITY TREASURER.

Anthracite Bedding Mfg. Co. $ 31.25

" " " " 112.50

" " " " 12.50

──── $ 156.25

Mrs. Alice Adams 14.00

Aston’s Pharmacy 4.00

Frank Baab 602.99

Frank E. Baldwin 127.77

" " " 5.33

" " " 3.28

──── 8.61

Bell Telephone Co. $ 25.50

" " " 25.65

" " " 20.00

" " " 5.92

──── 77.07

Bell Telephone Co. $ 2.14

" " " 5.50

" " " 2.81

──── 10.45

Boston Store $ 78.93

" " 11.90

" " 224.66

──── 315.49

W. D. Beers, Inc. 23.50

Col. Eyer paid bills as
follows:

Ruth Wildrick $ 3.00

" " 2.00

Mrs. L. Davis 4.00

" " " 2.00

Mrs. A. Adams 3.00

Miss Williams 1.00

Harry Adams 3.00

Lill Eckert 1.00

Chester Adams 2.00

Mrs. Phillips 2.00

Mrs. Mary Meehan 2.00

E. Dunning 2.00

A. Ricaloski 2.00

Mrs. R. Kisbon 2.00

Mrs. C. Walsh 2.00

Mary Rasmas 4.00

Mrs. L. Williams 3.00

Mrs. M. Reed 4.00

Mrs. Ira Fox 1.00

E. Eckert 8.00

Eleanor Williams 1.00

James Glasser 4.00

Aaron Lane 4.00

Joe Riggs 4.00

Frank Baab .60

Wilkes-Barré Cleaning Co. 18.00

Lewis & Bennett 24.20

──── 108.80

Frey Brothers 2.10

Frank & Barber 85.05

G. L. C. Frantz $ 5.75

" " 3.88

" " 15.40

" " 27.83

──── 52.86

Gray & Company 2.00

Green’s Pharmacy 103.39

John H. Green 125.04

W. H. Green Pharmacy 1.72

A. Kline 27.26

" " 7.28

──── 34.54

Isaac Long 30.47

Lewis & Bennett Hardware Co. $ 7.10

" " " " 2.75

" " " " 3.90

" " " " 2.45

" " " " .65

" " " " 2.75

" " " " 22.75

" " " " 6.40

" " " " 2.25

" " " " 31.50

" " " " 7.80

" " " " 14.00

" " " " 6.30

" " " " 5.65

" " " " .20

" " " " 1.80

" " " " 3.62

" " " " 5.26

" " " " 1.20

" " " " 8.17

" " " " 3.25

" " " " 1.54

" " " " 1.25

" " " " .40

" " " " 3.15

" " " " 4.68

──── 150.77

Murray-Smith Company 14.70

MacWilliams 36.47

" .80

──── 37.27

C. Morgan’s Sons 7.75

H. H. Roth $ 64.20

.25

" " 1.80

──── 66.25

Susquehanna Motor Car Co. $ 1.45

" " " " 1.80

" " " " 3.11

" " " " 6.60

" " " " 1.70

" " " " 2.82

" " " " 1.99

" " " " 3.11

──── 22.58

C. D. Steinhauer 38.00

" " 4.85

Shepherd Construction Company 719.33

Joseph Schuler 39.85

" " 62.09

──── 101.94

Lieut. Trein paid
bills as follows:

John Madden $ .20

M. V. Black 10.00

W. Zeigler .35

Kline’s China Palace .75

Ruth Wildrick .75

Lillian Davis .75

Charles Rutherford 3.50

William Doyle 10.50

W. B. Goeringer 7.00

George White 7.00