The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-06-07
The Cost Of Administration.

the pocket pretty regularly to help
some one or some thing, people are be-
Ginning to get little nervous over a
big question and that is the question,
How much does it cost to spend the
money collected?' This question is
being fired at people who collect for
everything. 1t is asked in regard to
the Chamber Of Commerce, the work
ing men and women S societies, the As
ISOLATED Charities, and everything else
that seeks its support from the public
pocket.
The question is pertinent one, pro-
vided the person asking it is really
contributor to the funds and provided
he is asking it in all honesty In many
cases there is the flavor of the old ne
gro story. He insisted in court that his
wife Mandy wasted all his money. When
Mandy was called she was asked to ex-
plain her extravaganza. She insisted
that she did not know whether the
statement was true or not on account
of the fact that the old man had never
given her any money.
Most people who are given large
amounts to charitable organizations
and organizations in the public service
are pretty well satisfied with the cost
of administration. Men trained in
business know that it is worth while
to have intelligent handling of funds
regardless to what purpose these funds
are expended What these men look at
IS results rather than financial re-
ports. If a successful war is being
waged against pauperism and crime
and criminal neglect they are not in
terested in how their money is expend
ed. You can tell them that ninety
cents of every dollar they give is spent
for the expanding Of the other ten
cents, and if they are getting the re-
suits they want They will answer
fine,o and compliment the men and
women spending it. The charity work
err, the business organizer and every
other man in this sort of field of la
Dor is worthy of his hire. He or she
is lifting off the shoulders of the body
polite a great burden. He is usually
doing it in an intelligent and much
better way than the average citizen
could do it. The trained worker does
not dissipate funds in worthless work.
He knows something about the value
of educating people to be self-support
ing rather than to hand out to them
relief. He may not get down to work
until 10 O'Clock III the morning and
may leave his office before noon but
he may be working a lot harder than
the fellow who slaves at the desk all
day long and his work may be getting
a much greater measure of success. A
report recently issued showed that it
cost some $4,000 to expend $4,000
raised as fund to take care of home
less children. Yet that same report
showed that homes had been found for
more than 800 children. Administra-
tion may have been costly but it was
worth every cent expended for it, The
same money might have been used in
keeping the children in some institu-
ton for years and years but the well
fare of the children would not have
been served by such plan. These
children are happy in new-found homes
and they are happy because intelligent
and well-paid men and women directed
the big movement which placed them.
The value of educating men and
women and children who expect aid
from the public purse can not be over
estimated. T. is worth a lot more than
the aims that may be given them. It
is one thing to give a basket of provis
ion to a needy family. 1t is an inf
nitely greater thing to go into the home
of that family and with human and
intelligent advice show the members of
it how they may use their own talents
to make themselves supporting.
This kind of service gets the result de
sired It feeds hungry mouths, it
clothes naked children and with all it
leaves behind the feeling of self-respect
that comes with the disappearance of
pauperism and the feeling that one is
charge upon the bounty of the public.
Costs Of administration should be in
keeping with the service rendered. If
the service is great the costs must be
great. Usually the men and women
who are able to claim the most for
their service are the very people who
can render the greatest and the best
service to humanity.