El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-06-14
Here's a Sensible
Exposition Of the
Civic Budget Idea

New Mexican:
am not given much to newspaper
controversy and have never before con-
tributed to the public discussion Of one.
Personal observations, however, extend
ing over a long and active connection
with various organized movements tend
ing toward the solution of civic problems
such as your Saturday editorial on The
budget Idea" have disclosed to me GER
tain fundamental facts regarding the
control OF solicitations that might be
well considered by the local Chamber Of
Commerce.
1t is not necessary that one should
be a liberal contributor to charity or to
any public enterprise TO realize most
readily that the only fair and feasible
plan for the handling of public contri-
buttons and solicitations is through the
administration Of the so-called Budget
System" by the leading commercial or
ganization In the community. The adj
ministration of this system is based
fundamentally upon investigation. and
IL the application of rigid investigation
Is q wise ~precaution in our homes with
our families; in the stores and shops
with our trades people; and in our every
other association In life, II certainly
stands to reason that it is a wise pre-
caution in our dealings with persons ex-
plotting an enterprise, whatever it may
be, to whose support we are expected
to contribute.
The habit Of indiscriminate soliciting .
must Of necessity lead to indiscriminate
contribution. In any event 1t is not a
personal matter, as men and firms whose
annual contribution mount up into the
hundreds Of dollars will readily admit.
1t is a serious community affair and
most of the up-to-date cities in the Unit
ed States have so recognized 1t by vest
ing the control of the practice in sonle
representative commercial organization.
1t is never the big man in community
development affairs, or the firm upon
whom the solicitor may always rely that
looks upon any kind of solicitation as a
personal matter. Development experts
lay special stress on the fact that the
biggest drawback to community devel-
opment invariably finds expression in
the idea that the personal consideration
should always take rank above the COM
munity welfare.
What the plan for the administration
of the local Chamber of Commerce
budget is, ], of course, do not know. Ii
/ may be permitted, however, / would
suggest that while no attempt be made
to provide appropriations for religious
or sectarian solicitations in the annual
budget, the agreement covering budget
subscriptions explicitly provide for a
rigid investigation Of every solicitation
with which the business mar may be
approached. This should apply to every
enterprise, whatever its purpose. Action
OF this nature is no reflection upon the
character of a worthy enterprise; it is,
however, a certain method for detecting
the unworthy ones.
am not a member of the local Cham
Der Of Commerce, But just as soon as
the organization adopts the budget sys-
tenn and announces its program for the
administration of the fund raised
through the budget, l shall voluntarily
make application for membership and
contribute my share toward accomplish.
ing the things the organization sets out
to do. The observations of a few months
residence here convince me that Santa
Fe has an efficient commercial o%rgani1a-
ton in its Chamber of Commerce. !
have been impressed with the cour-
tesy and earnestness Of its officers,
whom / have met, and feel that with the
adoption of the needed precautions for
controlling the soliciting practice and
the proper measure of support from local
business people the organization should
handle this matter in a manner that
would prove satisfactory and economical
for all who have the interests Of the
city at heart.
A NEW BOOSTER.
Santa Fe, N. M, June 18th, 1917.