Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-08

taken would be to call to the colors
great number of men. both for the Army
mobilization Of the National Guard in
June, 1916. would be repeated. but on a
vastly larger scale. The same problem,
immediate and proper care for those de-
I.e,idsAt upon the men called to the col
or;;. would confront the Red Cross.
Without delaS. and and unit, Until Government
aid becomes available, requires that the
Fed Cross be thoroughly organized be-
fore the event occurs.
COMMITTEES FOR CIVILIAN RE-
LIEF.
The circular letter Of February Z. ad
dressed to all chapters. dealing with the
subject of organization of proper COM
mittees on finance, hospital garments
packing and shipping. publicity and in
ops1ation With outside organizations, is
in your hands. SO far as applicable.
these committees should serve the chap,
civilian relief For civilian relief. the
Committees whose names are underline
above would be called into action at
ais. Finance committes-The coli
lecting of money for civilian relief
should be in the hands Of the Finance
Committee. or under its SUPERVISION.
TIN, committee should be organized as
stated in the circular letter of February
:. wiki a resentation of the strongest
business and banking men of your COM
chapter will make an Immediate appeal
for funds. bat the machinery should all
be there for such an appeal when or if
this becomes necessary.
3l6. Committee on DiStributton-lt
vii: be necessary promptly 70 create
Cen .iittee on Distribution" to have
Charge Of the actual distSbution OF re-
lief to dependent families Of soldiers
and sailors who live within the chapter
jul isdiction. Iii this connection the fol
lowing specific suggestions are made:
ed fc.. the relief of dependents of sol
diers and sailors should be able sat
isfactorily to answer these questions:
l. Is the man in military or naval
3 is the applicant dependent because
of that military or naval service:
Avoid haphazard: spasmodic and ir-
lief. This duty should be entrusted to a
strong. careful, uneXcitable committee.
and all distribution should be directed
1t is desirable that the collection of
information on the basis of which relief
is given should be ALSO under the direc-
tion of this committee.
In any community in which an insti-
tutional member is available, 1T is rec
commended that the chaper should make
use of it's organization and trained ex-
perience. There should be no question
as to the cordial and intimate working
relations between these two hands of
the Red Cross. The advice or active
help Of those skilled in the adminiStra
ton of relief to families will stabilize
the work and will conserve the resources
of tho chapter.
1t will be Of advantage for the Com
mittee on Distribution to hold regular
meetings and, if the work is heavy, at
short intervals. for the discussion of
plans for the relief of individual fami-
lies. and. what is of equal Importance.
for the making of plans to create or in
crease opportunities for self-help. CO.
operation with employment bureaus, and
with other social agencies of the com
munity. should be very useful in this
respect.
A simple record should be kept Of all
relief given out and to whom given At
the beginning this record may seem I'M
important but as time passes it will be
found Indispensable if effective and sat
isfactory work is to be done without
"s Az. We vouchers esS for Cash Disburse-
ment.-lt is particularly important that
an exact record of cash disbursements
any other purpose. A sample form Of
card to be used for this purpose APP
pears on page 4, This form has been
approved by experience. and meets the
requirements for an exact audit of &C
counts. separate receipt should be
taken for each disbursement.
3ls. Relief Record.-It is essential
to emphasize the Importance Of COM
plete written record, without which re
lief work cannot be conducted intelli-
gently and with justice to all. This
supplies and cash distributed, should
contain the facts which determine the
action of the chapter in it's decisions
concerning the help to be given to each
family in need. 1t should contain the
names of the members of the family.
their ages and occupations. and should
indicate the sources of information and
of help which may appropriately be eX-
tended by relatives, employers and 9TH
ers with whom the family has cordial
and natural relations. 1t is important
also that there should be a summary of
the family's own statement of its re-
sources and nlans for salf-help. All of
this information should be preserved un-
til the work is completed. as it will
serve, when the work is finished. as the
basis for report to the American Red
Cross and to the contributors to the
fuYd raisea b. Re the c rhaptef Civilian Relief
record card is enclosed. 1t is simple.
and in practical experience has been
found easy to use: It will prove to be
record and will provide in orderly ar
rangement the necessary information.
The chapter may. have these cards
from National Red Cross headquarters
at the rate Of $500 per hundred. -,
sls. Committee on supp ,laa;o. will Will
mittee," which will give its attention to
the prepa ration and collection of sup
plies donated for civilian relief the
purchase of supplies from funds con-
tributad for the relief of dependent
families locally. and to the storing.
sorting, and carting of such supplies.
Close relations should be maintained he
tween this committee and all others of
the chapter, in order that So far as
practicable all duplication Of work
shall be avoided. For example, the col
lecting Of money for civilian relief
should be in the hands Of the Finance
Committee. or under its supervision
the carriage Of supplies for civilian re-
lief should be actually done by the Com
mittee on Motor Service, as requested by
the Supplies Committee. and SO on.
The question is often asked, Shall
relief be in the form Of cash or sup
plies?" No "ironclad" rule can be laid
down in answer to this question. In
general 1t may be said that money goes
farther If it is expended by the com
mittee in buying relief supplies in large
quantities, at such discounts as gtner-
Gus merchants will allow. Also many
contributions to the chapter will be in
the form of supplies instead Of cash.
On the other hand, it is probable that
the recipients Of the help in majority
of instances will be persons who are
accustomed to buying for their house
holds and know how to buy with econ
omy. With cash they can buy such
things as their families ordinarily use
= and prefer The organization for giving
than that necessary for Distributing
supplies-and the method is more
agreeable to the recipients.
1t is probable. therefore. that the
chapters will find it desirable to make
use OF both methods in actual practice