New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-06-25
WELFARE WORK
COVERING LAND
COMMITTEES TO ASSIST THE SER.
VICE MEN BEING FORMED IN
SCORES OF CITIES.
ALL AGENCIES COOPERATING
Direct Contact With Every Former
Soldier, Sailor and Marine Found
Best in Helping Him Solve His Indi.
vidual Problem.
BY N p. HoRNApAy

vidual Problem.
BY JAMES p. HORNADAY.
WashingtOn.-The wal department
announces the formation of 175 seryic,
mems welfare committees thrOughOu
the United States. The number o
these committees is rapidly increasin,
and 1t is now stated that there will b,
such an organization in all cities o
sumcient size to warrant it. Invent,
ofhcers are covering the country will
this idea in view, travelling from tow
to W Membership IN these commit
tees as a rule includes representative.
from the American Legion, Red Cross
Y. M. Z. A, Knights of Columbus, Wal
Camp Community service, Salvation
Army n the Jewish Welfare board
as well as such civic organizations a,
chambers of commerce, kiwanis ant
Rotary clubs; also officers from the
various government bureaus, including
the war risk insurance, vocational
training board and the United States
public health service; army, navy and
marine recruiting officers, and an Off,
Ger representing the service and infor,
nation branch of the war department
The bringing together of the repre-,
sentatives of the American Legion and
all these welfare, civic and government
agencies, In addition to accomplishing
| tho nrtvnuru Ahinat fAr ,,.bt,l, 49, 1aa,
mittees are fOrmed-tO help the ex-
:ervice man solve his individual prob
lem-has served other important OBJ
jects In avoiding duplication of effort
and clearing up the atmosphere gen
orally. so that the government Is now
sure OF a much increased efficiency in
handling OF matters pertaining to ex-
soldiers and sailors. Reports show al
ready that these committees are serv-
Ing II useful purpose,
Clearing House for information.
1t Is not intended that these com
mittees should supersede any existing
agency. A committee Is to net as a
governing and supervisory body. keep
Ing each organization Informed through
its representative what the others are
doing-a clearing house for lnforma-
ton. In this way each member not
only learns what all the other mem-
bers are Going. but he can obtain the
very latest information from the vari-
Gus government agencies on the laws
and such regulations and instructions
as may be promulgated from time to
time. Thus they can pass on TO the
men the very latest news and advice.
II Is Indispensable, government au-
thorities say, that the Red Cross. the
Legion and various welfare %organiza-
tons continue their activities. The
war departments connection with
these agencies Is that Of active coop
Grafton. There Is no intention of inter
fering with The splendid work of any
welfare organization; what the war de-
partment desires is to help them and
Increase their importance. 4
Eventually the committees may he
come county organizations. The mem
bership IL not limited. Being a COM
munity organization. each committee
will be In a position to ascertain from
the public health, vocational training
board and the war risk insurance men
what they are actually doing. and what
problems confront them. Primarily the
idea Is to reach ex-soldiers personally
through their own associations, and
also by posters, newspaper publicity
and circulars, rs well as by their con
nection with the American Legion
posts.
In its work of assisting the ex-serv-
Ice man to obtain the relief provided
for him by the government, the expert
ence Of the service and Information
branch shows that practically all of
those who are yet to secur this relief
must be reached by direct contact.
Hence the idea Of bringing together
representatives of oil the agencies
into "A central committee. Thus the
members of the committee will receive
first-hand information as to govern
ment relief and how to secure Ii by
association with representatives Of the
bureaus charged with adj
minlstering the relief.
Meredith Tells or Food Waste.
The new secretary Of agriculture.
4. Meredith, announces that his
will do everything pos
dble to prevent waste of food
,tuffs. He believes. after having Civ
IN the subject considerable consid-
since he came into office. that
4 great saving al be effected merely
by calling attention 10 some of the
Ways in which foods are wasted. He
out the other day. for instance.
hat s25,0OOyOOO worth of sweet pota-
.oes were wasted in 1919. They rotted
they were stored In earth
Danks-put on the ground in small
and covered with earth-instead
II being stored in properly constructed
warehouses;. About 80 per cent of
sweet potatoes. the department has