The Washington times., 1916-11-29
COST OF CHARITY
GOES SOARING, TOO
Relief-Giving Organizations of
District Hit Hard by
Increases.
FEWER APPLY FOR HELP
But Prices Are So High Expen-
ditures Are Growing In
Spite Of Fact. !.
FEWER APPLY FOR HELP

The higher cost OF charity is hitting
Washington rolief giving organiEa'
tions hard.
Some of the striking facts reported
by the Associated Charities and Citi.
zens' Relief Association. the United
Hebrew Charities and the Council OF
Sc. Vincent de Paul Societies are
these:
Price increases for foods range from
10 per cent all the wa UP to more
than 100 per cent for potatoes, and
the aggregate increase for large gro
Gerry orders Is about 20 per cent.
Decrease In Applications.
Despite the higher cost OF living two
OF these organizations report an &C.
tual decrease in applications for aid,
because Of the greater opportunity for
IN the face OF this decrease in the
cost of the aid given is higher than
II was last year because OF the higher
prices. y"
Greater opportunity for getting
work has cut down almost to the dis
appearing point the necessity for aid
to those who can't get work, but has
increased the number who have en-
ployment with wages that are not sur.
hcient to meet the greater drain OF the
higher prices.
No Actual Figures.
Actual figures for November can
not be furnished by any OF these or
ganizations at this time. The upward
curve, Of prices shot skyward within
the last few weeks, and this fact viii
be indicated noticeably In the Novem-
Der reports OF these organizations.
Available reports for October OF this
year and October. 1915, indicate this
trend. These figures are not inclusive
since the heavy demand for relief does
not begin until December. Neither do
they show the amounts purchased; but
only the amount expended and tho
In October, 1910. the Citizens Re.
lief Association spent SOAPS In Civ
ing relief to 1i5 families. This was
distributed as follows: rroyisions,
3SSs3I; milk and eggs. H!;ge; fuel
How Money Went.
IN October. 1915, In giving relief 70
$3.50 as follows: Provisions, s?ii.i.;
milk and eggs, $500; fuel, 5000;
shoes and clothing, s9its,
In other words the relief given av'
1910. as compared with s3.Oe in octo'
Der OF last year.
But these figures do not tell the
whole story. because the supplies
bought this year were regulated In
accord with the higher prices OF Ger.
tain articles given last year.
A striking example OF tho higher
cost OF relief giving for tho entire
Sfss asSrs% shs Ia liz the o. yenr
ending September 10. 1919. For, the
previous year i.i22 cases were han
died with an expenditure OF Si,0ll. o.,
while for ths year ending Sentence SIa
aggregate cost OF s5,022.5i.
Due TO High Prices.
This higher cost for the fewer cases.
according to Leo Baumgarton, presi.
dent OF the United Hebrew Charities,
was entirely due to the higher prices
prevailing for the past twelve
months.
Judge William II. De Lacy. president
OF the Council OF the 50. Vincent dc
Paul Societies, stated that the figures
for the year on costs OF relief giving
had not yet been prepared; Those
that were available, he stated. showed
that the cost OF giving aid had In
creased greatly. while there Is no
greater demand for relief.
"The present season has been 10
open" he said. and work has been 40
plentiful that no increased demands
FOR relief have been noted by us. We
have had to pay higher pices for
those we have helped, especially for
coal. Despite this fact the work has
right on with our wok despite the In
crsasing cost of many commodities
Hard 90 Meet.
Especially hard to meet will be the
rising prices OF coal. charity workers
stated today. No great demand has yet
been made for coal, and II not expected
until January and February, When this
need does arise tho higher price Of coal
II expected 10 make IA decided drain on
tho treasures OF the organizations.
In addition TO his ability To get work
for everyone who applied for II. Mr..
Baumgarten explained that the falling
on In the demand upon the United He
brew Charities had been due largely TO
the strenuous efforts OF his organization
In preventing INDECENT families settling
hero which belong In other cities.
I'VE have guarded carefully against
the coming 10 Washington OF families
who merely you'd place burden upon
charity organizations here" he stated.
And we have taken active steps to
have such families sent back TO the city
which rightfully should bear the burden
Of aunnnri -