Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-27
VALUE Of KEEPING
HOUSEHOLD BOOKS
Robert E. Belt, Chief Federal
Trade Accountant, Addresses
Housekeepers' Alliance.
FORMS TO BE DISTRIBUTED

{ Why and how household accounts
should be kept by the women Of Wash
ington was explained by Robert E. Belt.
chief accountant of the federal trade
commission, before meeting of the
Housekeepers' Alliance at the Mason
House yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Flora
Mcdonald Thompson presided.
The meeting was opened by DR.. Royal
Meeker, commissioner of labor statis-
tics. who spoke from his experience in
directing the investig alton Of the cost
Of living in the District, which the bu-
reau of labor statistics is conducting,
of the crying need there is for system
attic accounts of the housekeepers'
business. He explained in detail the
efforts the Investigators are making.
and enlisted the cooperation of the
Housekeepers' Alliance in the work
Needed With Small Incomes.
''aany think that a household record
is only for those who have large in
comes" said Mr.. Belt. with corre-
spondingiy heavy expenditures. neces-
stating household affairs to be handled
In q businesslike way. But such is not
the case. The smaller the margin be-
tween income and expenditure the more
need there is for studying and analyzing
expenses. The greater the danger OF
living beyond ones income. If it is
advisable or becomes necessary to
economic. q classified expense account
will show where the expenses are
heavy and where economies can best
be effected. 1t will show where the
money is spent and who is spending 1t,
and will enable one to maintain a
proper ratio between household and
personal expenses.
Such Information IL not only valuable
for the management of the household,
out II Is of equal value to those engaged
in the inquiry into the high cost of liv-
ing II data could be obtained from the
average Washington household proper
ly recorded and classified covering
household expenditures the extent o
the advance in the cost Of living could
tanned. doubt seriously. however, II
very much authentic frst-hand informal
ton giving facts and figures covering
any considerable period of time can be
had 1t Is an unfortunate situation, but
am afraid II will be found to be true"
Object Lessons for Children.
Household expense records. in addi-
tion to the value of the essential in
formation they give. are valuable In tn,
home as object lessons for children, Mr.
Belt explained.
IT we desire to have our children en-
ter the business world we should start
early In life to assist them to acquire
knowledge that will be sound founda-
ton for their future careers" he con.
tinued.
Children should be taught the value
of the articles they wear and of the
food they eat. The price of every ar
ticle purchased for the household should
be discussed freely with them in order
that they may not be ignorant of -Ae
elements of sound business"
M. Belt had diagrams which he ex-
hibi'ed of a system of household ac-
counts. which he has tested by his own
personal experience. These NJ s.
Thompson, president of the alliance,
said she will have prepared for dis
tribution among housekeepers. who
may apply to her, SO that the general
practice of cost accounting in the
household may be effected on scientific
lines.
At the next meeting. Mrs Thompson
announced, DIR. Benjamin s. Andrews
of Columbia University, will speak on
the subject Of Household Buigets, or
Proportion in uon,"hoIA E~nenditure."