Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-10
SALVATION ARMY WORK
First Paper Before the National
Conference.
ON PUBLIC CHARITIES
Opened in Philadelphia With Speeches
Last Night
SYSTEM OF RELIEF CRITICISED
Interesting Statistics Furnished by
General Manager Of Associated
Benevolence in Minneapolis.
SYSTEM OF RELIEF CRITICISED

PHILADELPHIA, May 10.-Thc first
business session of the thirty-third national
conference OF charities and corrections
opened today IN horticultural Hall. After
the presentation OF the report OF Lee 4.
Frankel. manager Of the United Hebrew
charities OF New York, paper on Relief
Work of the Salvation Army was read by
Edwin D. SoleDberger, general manager or
: the associated charities. Minneapolis. He
declared that the social relief work of the
Salvation Army carried on through its
homes, lodging houses and other agencies
Is poorly organized and poorly administered
and that the "so-called charitable work of
the army is largely subservient to financial
interests
Continuing the speaker said:
"One of the chief difficulties in trying to
arrive at definite conclusions concerning
the armys work is the untrustworthiness
of their statistics, probably due largely 10
lack of uniformity in recording and sum
marizing data.
For instance. the 1904 report says that
outside employment was found for about
44,50S. while the 1908 report says that IA 907
found outside employment. and undated
leaflet says that 500O0 found outside en-
ployment during the year.
Wrong Impressions Prevail
81 think that, somehow. most people have
gained the impression that the army has
large number Of farm colonies. and that
thousands of poor people from the slums
have been transferred TO them, There
at present hut three colonies, one each In
Ohio. Colorado and California, having
total of but 80 people. These colonists
have become self-supporting, but 1t would
be Interesting 10 know what percentage of
them. while living in the city, had been re-
eipients of either public or private relief,
or even jewellers In what the Salvation
Army calls the slums.
.The Salvation Army maintains at pres
ent about seventy-four lodging houses in
our various cities. furnishing beds at the
rate of 10 and Is cents a night. In It's
appeals for funds the army speaks Of 1odg-
ing thousands of homeless. and most peo-
pie gain the impression that such lodgings
are, in part, a least, charity, and that
the accommodations furnished are much
superior to those OF the ordinary cheap
lodging house run for private profit
Defects in Lodging House System.
Reliable information from large num-
Der OF typical American cities indicate that
the system OF cheap lodging houses and
conducted by the army have all the defects
of the poorest Of the privately owned iodg
ing houses and few. IL any, advantages over
them Recently in an eastern city Saliva
ton Army lodging house was closed when
the local board of health began to enforce
the sanitary OFulAdllCSS, winnie LIolIi Wiueiy
separated cities come accounts of specific
glaring evils
1T is exceedingly difficult" said Mr. So
lenberger, ITO secure satisfactory informa-
ton about financial affairs OF the Salvation
Army
The balance sheet and statement OF ac-
counts az national headquarters In New
York city are gone over each year by a
certified public accountant. but this only
guarantees that the foottngs and the bal
ances are correct
The business affairs of the Salvation
Army are rapidly attaining large proper
tions and those VINO give financial support
TO the organization certainly have a right
to expect clear financial statements"