Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-24


a few property holders or money lenders
Give the small property holders now liv-
ing here some benefits. when he has
done so. then he can go after something
that never can be done. J. b. SCOTT.
TO the Public Ina General.
OMAHA. Dec. 28.-To the Editor OF The
Beel. since there has appeared criu-
cism in the public press OF charity in
stitutions and especially of the Saliva
ton Army. as to their accounting OF the
means given them. l feel 1t my duty to
state the following:
As a public accountant 1 was called to
audit the books of the Salvation Army
Industrial department and was surprised
at the precision involved in their book
keeping methods. Before that |, among
others. felt rather doubtful In regard to
their accounting. and asked myself In
case of the public in general so request
ing. can they make a showing how the
means received have been disbursed? But
1 found that everything Is accounted for
to the smallest item. In fact, many bust
ness houses do not keep books with such
precision.
Every cent disbursed Is covered by a
voucher and the books are balanced every
week. Although there may be pre-
fered another system, still the books are
so definite that at a glance any account
ant can make the most exact report
wished for.
All journalizing, whereby many a time
defalcation and dishonesty is concealed,
is entirely eliminated from their books.
To give the public an idea of different
headings in their books ! might mention
receipts shoes. paper, rags.
Furniture. etc, paid meals, paid beds.
donations. Observation-Disclosures en-
ployes' meals, charity meals. employees
beds, charity beds, given-sway garments
and shoes. fuel and light. laundry. horse
shoeing, blacksmithing, horse feed, gro
ceries, meat, milk. other charities. There
fore, In its place, the accounting is fully
up to Hayden's or Brandeis,' and the
criticism unwarranted. and suppose
mostly made in ignorance of facts.
1t is not always the best policy to pub
fish the receipts and disbursements but L
am sure Ensign Kline has no objections
to show the books to anyone interested
In regard to "commercialism," 1 must
say that II takes sagacious, Christian
commercialism in the Salvation Army
Home noticed one day in the store
room man wanting to buy a pair of
old shoes. The price was 20 cents. which
he did not want to pay. An old lady
trying to make the sale said, after the
man left, that any man who wants q
pair OF shoes and can pay for them, they
are certainly worth that price. I looked
at the shoes, and judged that the wear
ing capacity was 81; that's commercial
ism. But another time a man wanted an
overcoat to keep him warm on the tracks,
as he was going on railroad work, and
the garment was gladly given him with
out price. and that is also commercial
ism. A down-and-out carpenter came
along and was given work to fix up old
furniture at 81 day. bed and meals until
he could get something better; that Is
another example Of commercialism, and
l could tell OF many others. 1t will take
all the commercialism there is in man
to conduct the Industrial Home. and a
would tax I capacity of a first-class
merchant and the patience of Job and
the managership of the Union Pacific To
run It, at the muniflcent salary of Ensign
Kline.
Those 'whiskered fellows" with the
ehimnies at Christmas time soliciting al
the street corners are not of the saliva
ton Army, and the public should be U,ise
to the fact. All collections for the Army
made on the corners are solicited only
oy members of the Army CORPS I'm u,hon-
the Army has confidence. II was a GOOD
suggestion that such solicitors should
have box similar to those used on Tbs
street cars. but think that a cash regis.
ter would be better. and taking the under
lying principle as right. would suggest
that the same be done with all church
deaeons' so that instead of their. as now
walking up and down the alsles with .
plate, they carry a cash register on tbei,
| backs. HENRY TTNyDrrTANy
| German I'm the schools.
SCOTS BLUFF. Neb., Dec. 2a-rc
the Editor Of The Bee: Referring 10 NJ
f. L. Ireland's letter In The Rec .,
December Is. regarding teaching of Ger
man in the public schools of Omaha. Mr.
ireland Is away behind the times. He evi.
IDENTIFY has not read the imperial ediet
as announced at the various sessions
or the Reichstag at San Francisco. Gin
einnau and other places the last season
viz; CONTAMINATION. you must pre.
/ serve in your children the language ana
I