Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-16
MONEY RELIEF

Money relief to families, as admin
istered by the Red Gross, will be un-
ders-ood to be an important means
but only a means, of achieving the
plans and purposes set forth in the
preceding section. Where money will
help to maintain family solidarity land
self help. where it will help to restore
and maintain health and good stand
ard Of home life which would be en-
dangered by it's Withholding. there the
Red Cross should be able to supple
ment the enlisted mans own payments
and the governments separation allow
ances by relief as adequate and as
free from either publicity or hamper
ing conditions as possible. Such re-
lief will usually he in money payments.
falling into the three classes of Loans,
Grants and Allowances. All three
forms Of money relief will he under
stood to be aimed to achieve certain
definite objects and to meet definite
needs. None IF these forms Of relief
can he regarded as a natural right 70
which every family from which a man
has enlisted is entitled without refer
ence to its needs or its conditions
Red Cross aid could easily do more
harm than good by niggardliness on
the one hand or by lavishness on the
other. This part of it's work should
indeed be administered with the high
est sense of responsibility and should
ne able to prove at once its adaptable
itv and it's even handed justice.
Loans
There is no ADVANTAGE in calling
what is really a gift a loan. A money
payment necessary at the time, bat
one which It is reasonable to believe
that the recipient will be in position
to return later without undue hard
ship. should be given as loan. The
conditions of repayment should be OK
planned the obligation put in writing
and signed. and the collection Of the
loan when it falls due carefully fol-
lowed up. Loans are not expected to
he followed by other gifts at regular
intervals.
Grants
Grants may be made necessary by
sickness. bv danger Of foreclosure Of a
mortgage. or the lapse of an insurance
policy. by funerals. by provision for
special training, and so forth. Grants
in snail amounts may be required 10
til proper inquiry can be made and
plan of service can be decided upon.
This special relief given until wiser
and more thorough going action Is
possible should be enough to provide
food and shelter temporarily IN some
instances. It may seem wise to supply
this in the form Of a grocery order or
an order for lodgings. All other ffnsn-
Section should he in the form Of casl,
or checks. When the facts are known
and plan fully agreed upon with the
family itself, this should be a safe
form of help. and il is the form least
humiliating to the recipients. Gifts Of
secondhand clothing are not recon-
rended nor is the accumulat ton and
distribution Of supplies by the Home
Service Sections of the Red Cross con-
sidered advisable.
Allowances
(See CHAPTER VIII. A r c 2on.)
These are payments at regular in
tervals Of stated sum nv the Home
Service Section to the family Of
soldier or sailor. The family knows
that the allowance has been granted
and is able to plan in advance with
reference to this regular payment,
which is to be continued as long as
the family finances and its other cir
cumstances remain unchanged. The
purpose OF the payments Is to maintain
a good standard Of home life. where
this would be impossible without the
allowance and the other services of
which it Is a part
No allowance can be properly deter
mined without first requiring the as