Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-08
Appeal of Associated Charities.

Appeal of Associated Charities.
OMAHA, Jan. $40 the Editor Of The
Bee: The Associated Charities have been
other city. because OF so-called over
head expense" This criticism has arisen
largely because the general public. while
not lacking sympathy IN the work have
not really Understood the purpose for
which the Associated Charities are or
sanised. Business men realize that il
costs money TO perform any kind of
service. especially where It IL necessary
to closely investigate the field Of en-
deavor. The popular view OF charity,
however. has been that the entire amount
OF money given should SGD to the imme--
date relef OF those in need, Where
circumstances are such that this can
be done 1t is OF course welcome SO
few cases ever arise where the cost of
distribution can De eliminated that
believe the attention of the public should
be called to this specific phase OF char
ity and some information On the subject
be given.
The wonderful work which the people
Of the United states have done in send
ing help to Belgium Is a case IN point
Up to date fourteen ships have landed
In Belgium and their eargoes distrib-
uted TO give Immediate relief. 1t is not
generally known that the Rockefeller
Foundation board appropriated s675, 900 TO
pay for carrying this relief to Belgium.
and this appropriation covered only the
cost Of Transporting the first four ship
loads. The Rockefeller Foundation board
and the American Red Cross society both
sent their expert investigators to Bel
GUM TO carefully investigate the needs
Of the country before these organiza-
tions could intelligently distribute the
articles OF relief, and these items. to-
gether with. the cost Of Transporting and
Distributing. have been equal to at least
80 or 90 per cent OF the value OF the
donations.
At the time OF the tornado in Omaha
We all witnessed the result Of efficient
management In the distribution Of char
ity. and without thinking many would
say that the overhead cost" was very
small, and so Il was in actual dollars.
However. two OF our business men have
since died as a result OF overwork during
that period. The relief COMMITTEES had
at its command the services OF dozens
OF our best and ablest business men
free Of charge for several months In
the value OF the services It Is safe to
say the ''oVerhead would have run at
least q per cent Of the total relief
Some organization In every city should
be made a clearing house for that work.
and Tho Associated Charities should be
that orGanizatiOn Investigation is con-
stantly necessary and must be made by
Intelligent people as a protection to any
one who siveS to charity in any form.
Our city should be protected against im-
posters. OF whom there are many. In-
vestlgatlons are made and records are.
kept by the Associated Charities. not
only FOR intelligently distributing relief
10 the worthy, but for keeping families
together The board OF the Associated
Charities is made up Of representative
business men and representatives OF all
the recognized and endorsed charities Of
Douglas county. and its aim Is 70 be a
business machine through which con-
strnetiYe charity can be administered.
On this basis We are appealing 20 the
good people Of Omaha 10 support the
Associated Charities
CHARLES p JUNoD.