The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-05
WHO SHOULD PAY
FAMILY BILLS?
SYMPOSIUM OF OPINION GIVEN.
,INu BY EXPERTS.
Testimony Varies Between Claim That
= Woman Should Handle All Money to
. That She Should Have Only Allow
:" ance-Weight of Argument Favors
Fixed Allowance for Pin Money.

some one has to pay Tor the cheese that
goes into those Welsh rarebits, and that
the gas bills will run up. Who shall
pay the bills9 Shall there be one purse,
or three funds9 Shall the wife have an
allowance and the husband a bank ac-
count or shall he receive daily stipend,
10 cents for carfare and 10 for a sand
witch, or perhaps no lunch if the woman
be so minded? How is the little fat,
the model fiat to be fnanced9
Club women are in the van of prog
ress. They have studied - economics.
They are wives and housekeepers.
From them must the answer come.
Mrs; Hugh Barr Smith, who has
furnished four rooms in the model fat
exhibited in the old state house, firmly
believes that the woman should handle
all the money. 1.-THE man knows
nothing about housekeeping and if he
is saving at all he's too stingy to live
decently. If he is generous his wife
will find it impossible to keep one cent.
Let the woman take care of the
money! In spite of the benefits
which would undoubtedly accrue from
this arrangement there was not one
other woman interviewed on the SUB
ject who has drawn the same conclu-
sions. ..
f. Bride Must Figure. "
Miss Anna Barrows, economic expert
from Boston, said she thought by
watching accounts carefully for a
month or two the young bride would be
able to arrive at a definite idea as to
the cost of her living. She believes
that the bride should then take this
average cost, set aside that amount for
living alone and keep it as her house
hold account. Miss Barrows carefully
refrained from giving an opinion as to
the division Of the surplus between the
husband and wife.
Mrs. George o. Welch Of Fergus Falls
was most decided in her opinions.
'The wife should have her personal
allowance, under any circumstances, 1t
it be but cents. It gives her, even
2 cents will, that feeling Of indepena-
ence and the self respect, ~ which is
necessary to the happiness Of every
woman: BY all means let her have an
allowance
Like Miss Barrows, Mrs. Welsh
thought it advisable to keep separate
fund for the housekeeping. 4" That
part Of their life is the woman's bust
ness,' she said, "just as it is the
mans business to gain the wherewithal
and she should assume the responsible
ties it entails They should consult
| together, however, and arrange their
own affairs, but by all means let he1
have an allowance.
"My husband,' said another woman
"objected seriously when [ asked hin
for an allowance, but it was not because
he was penurious in the least. He dis
liked that arrangement because he fell
| as if he was pensioning and limiting
me. Well, we tried it the other way
and, tho I am ashamed to confess it,
| was obliged to insist on having an al
| lowance to protect my husbands purse
Since then I have been so much hap
pier. When L: had NV own money ]
Knew Just what 7 could afford. So
say the Allowance
Lack Training.
That much depends upon the training
of the wife was a fact brought out b,
many of the women. Half the wome1
who marry men of moderate income
come from offices, where their time ha
been so fully occupied that they hay
had no time. to regard the comparativ
economic value Of roast beef and yea
stew and soup bone. Many Of til
others have lived in homes with tn
Htoo capable' mother or the crank
maid and have had no opportunity t.
become. versed, in household affairs. -
+ From the time man runs his frs
errands he is his own fnancier. He ha
his income to handle and he is accus
toned to dispose of his money! as hi
Judgment shall direct. Few wome:
have had training in household affair
or are accustomed to handle money.
Mrs. Mary: Pugh, national chairma
of the committee on household econon
les and a housewife herself, believe
that the husband and wife shoul
thoughtfullv consider what part of thei
income each item of expense, should be
"Rent should not be over one-fourth.
she says, "and food supplies in tn
house of average income should not b
more than $40. These amounts Shout
be set aside and used for those pu1
poses The amount which they inten
for clothing should be carefully cor
sidered and they should never excee
that AMOUNT So Mrs. Pugh dispose
of the problem.
Depends on the Woman. -
cit depends on the capability Of tn
woman said Mrs. Margaret BIai
''but ] think in most cases the hous,
} hold expenses should be kept separated
and the wife should have an ALLOW
ance. ~.
No one seems to recommend an a.
count of personal expenses for both tn
man and the woman. Mrs. Dibble {
St. Paul also advocates the plan of a
allowance for the wife, believing thu
: it not only adds to her pleasure al
, comfort but that it aids her husban
: and in general makes the wheels of tt
household run more smoothly and hell
. to- keep the. machinery out of sigh
state federation, thinks that befol
dividing the income husband and wi
d should decide what bills the wife shou
:, attend to and what the husband shou
d look after. There are: some thing
e which it is much easier for the wife
have charge Of, others which it is be
d ter for the husband to manage, and tn
e should make a great difference in tt
e arrangements Of their househo
g finances. 49,. -
3 " ffAfter that is done she should have
t stated allowance, which may inclu
It the money for defraying the househo
expenses or not .,. ~ -.
q . Man Gives His Side. .y~%..4s
Il Here is pile of evidence. And
: the suggestion of women the wife
e in every case. to have a personal /
: lowance. What would be the ul
matum delivered by mighty man.
e Milton Trenham of the pure TO
l. department was consulted. IF l we
o going to be, married, - said he, I
l. have Chinanlan to do the housekee
r ing It was discouraging. An .answ
, must be had! VII
!. etWell,''. he. confessed at last, {
would want ito run my house as a bu
d ness And since my wife would. Ia
e care Of the household expenses 10
il after the food supplies in the kitcht
n it would be business for her to 10