Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-21
SYSTEMATIC CHARITY Essen
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A Few months ago tho people Of
Albuquerque were shocked by q
story OF the wretched poverty Of q
inmily In the city The immediate re-
suit Of This story WIS an avalanche
of food, clothing, furniture shoes,
etc, far In excess Of needs within a
few weeks. possibly within few days.
tho family WAS forgotten
80 attempt was made 10 analyze
the real condition Of the family No
one tried "a determine the cost Of
maintaining family Of Nix. consist
ing of mother and five children, i'm
food, fuel rent ana clothing. or 70
learn the earning capacity Of the
members Of the family able To work
or to see that such capacity was
utilized to rs maximum. No one was
made responsible for the supervision
OF this family until such time as It
would become a solf-upporting unit
OF society
80 definite policy was determined
upon for the hundlne OF this social
problem. for the family does present
social problem that viii need more
of less constant supervision for "a
considerable period Of time.
The result of this unhusincsslike
charitable spuam ~ thut the family is
needing assistance again.
Tho civic Bcttcrmcnt league has
taken up the case The league win
not invite The public to exhibit an-
other charitable spasm. II viii give
emergency relief il necessary. nud
through Us trained secretary win
make IA thorough investigation Of the
actuol needs Of the family II is ob-
Yious that such au Investigation ought
to show what tho maintenance cost
of such family s what ts pres
Ont earning power is. whether this
earning power can be- increased
whether there are relatives that are
+.'''f'ffff f'NNNA Hff iANNh iffNNlN w NNHlNA
on not II is equally obvious that the
difference bctWeen the maintenance
cost ana the present income from
work done by the working members
OF The family plus help from rcla-
lives If any is the amount that the
public is socially bound to supply
This difference. the lcasue viii
supply The league viii also provide
constant supervision Of this family /
until itB earning power exceeds its
maintenance cost In other words. the (
whole object Of the league in dealing
with this family will De to encourage
thrft and To- make the family self /
supporting as soon as possible.
This ease is typical of many such .
cases now being handled by the /
icaguc through iH charity depart
mcnt Il has long been rccosnizod /
that NinWerquo needs an orguniza
ton chat VIII provide systematic care
aud supervision er q pendent mdNid-
uuls and families The average BUSH
ness man on woman IN the home has
neither time nor means To- ascertain
the truth OF the STORY of an appli-
cant for relief on to learn the under
lying and read. though more remote
cause OF distress. or make sure that
the money given viii be- spent for the
purpose intended or 10 follow up tho
case with repeated visits and bring it I
10 conclusion
For these reasons. the citizens Of
Albuquerque must have am organira-
tom and must support AN organiIa-
ton 10 which they may refer eases OF
need and which win undertake to act {
as their agent u investigating the
scnuncncss of ia, allegcd need ana
grant relief promptly and adequately
This organization must diagnose the q
fundamental Wuscs If tine famly's J
trouble. rcmove these causes and re- ]
store The family. by continuous treat
ucnt Is SELF respect and IL possible !
o spIt7puort must secure medical q
ewl lni institutional care, procure 1
employment and improve the health. I
-eouomy and morals of the home. Il u
uusi obtain relief for the family from =
natural sources. such Jas relatives, 9
&C.. and concentrate social work
tmong ;hc dependents in such WAY
Is to prevent imposition ON the part q
II me applicant and duplication on e