Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-17

4.S per cent OF alHOSI per Ccut Vi
the city's population were aided.
Springfield spent $4,000 for county
relief of the poor In their homes, and
$4,000 for widows pensions, a total Of
$4,000. Ottumwa spent about S10.5O0
for relief of the poor in their homes
through the overseer's ONCE and that
OF the soldiers relief commission
This Is almost double what Springfield
spends in comparison with the popula-
ton. It costs Springfield twenty-four
cents per capita and Ottumwa over
forty-seven and half cents per capita.
A study of the data secured relative
to family conditions leads to some
very definite conclusions which were
substantiated by the experience of OF.
tumwa charity workers.
/. There has been considerable
duplication.
2. Investigation has too often been
superficial. The familys story has
been taken at face value. Little effort
has been made to get at the root cause
of the family's condition.
8. AS a result, relief has been too
easily obtained.
4. There has been no systematic
keeping of records. 1t was very diff
flcult to get definite information about
the families. Sometimes all that was
secured was the name and address, for
instance, Mrs. Jones. IS North street;
sometimes only the name Mrs. Jones,
was learned. The overseer of the
poor has complete list of all families
assisted and some data. Each society
of course, keeps an account of the ex-
penditures. Few have gone farther
than that
5. Very little follow-up work has
been done. Too often effort has ceas-
ed with the supplying of clothing,
groceries, or coal. The possibility OF
making the family self-supporting and
an active factor in the economic well.
being of the city has been too often
ignored.
6. The women seem to have been
the ones to make the applications for
relief, and children have been permit
ted to come asking for supplies. This
is very serious condition. Children
learn all too soon the lessons Of pow
erty and they easily develop into first
class beggars if care is not taken. On
the other hand, If the man is able
bodied and not working, he should be
the one to ask for assistance. The
responsibility of the family is his, and
he should be forced to assume IT.
Conditions Not Bad Hero.
It must be said that the compare
lively large number Of families who
have received aid at some time and the
large amount of relief given out must
not be taken as meaning that condi-
tons in OttumWa necessarily are worse
than in other communities. Conditions
in Ottumwa are not bad. Employment
has been fairly regular, health condi-
lions, generally, are good; Ottumwa
has pure water; people are generous
trouble Is that Ottumwa has spent
more for relief than Is really needed.
There has been no way Of checking the
amount of relief given. This is not said
in criticism Of any one. The trouble 70
there has been no central agency to
coordinate effort. &.
Too much cannot be said Of the
splendid spirit of helpfulness manifest
ed by everyone in Ottumwa who has
had to do with the movement for better
care Of the problem OF the poor. 1t IL
this spirit which seems to promise the
success of plan for the closer working
together Of all social agencies.
Recommends an Organization.
The first recommendation comes as a
direct result not only Of present condi-
tons but also of the demand Of tho
people Of Ottumwa themselves for .
central agency. We would therefore
recommend the establishment Of an AS
ISOLATED Charities with trained score
tary and sufficient other workers to
make the organization effective.
An Associated Charities Is non-sec-
tartan organization entirely separate
from any religious connection, working
under the control and direction of an
independent board of citizens support
for local needs. It stands for business
methods Of relief work. 1t not only in
sists upon modern methods of book
keeping Of receipts and disbursements,
but it also insists upon full records Of
all family work done. It goes further. It
endeavors to make the applicants for
aid productive forces in the community
rather than dependents Of the commun-
ity. It stands for Individual efficiency
and through individual efficiency, It
helps to promote community efficiency
Not only does an Associated Charities
save money, it also saves people In an
economic sense. For these reasons, an
Associated Charities makes an especial
ly strong appeal to the business man.
The Associated Charities would act
as a central clearing house through
which all SOCletleS COulQ Work. IL would
maintain an employment agency for
the use Of the people who apply for
assistance. 1t would have as an inte-
grail part OF its work, q joint registra-
ton bureau or confidential exchange
where all societies, churches, public
agencies and individuals giving relief
of any kind, may register the names
and addresses Of the families applying
for. them. This will help to prevent
duplication. The trained secretary
would be at the service Of the COM
munity and all social agencies, relief
societies churches and public officials,
to investigate cases Of need, to act as
probation officers for children, and to
help to build up the family life Of the
people applying for aid. This worker
could investigate not only for private
individuals to whom application had
been made, consult with different So
cieties as to special family plan, but
also help IN the investigation Of
county cases ard widows pension appli-
cations. A central agency with train
ed secretary working not only in her
little circle, but In the closest relief
relationship with the existing agencies,
public and private would do much to-
coordinate effort, prevent overlapping
and duplication, promote coordination
and EFFICIENCY in the family relief work