The Irish standard., 1920-06-19
WELFARE WORK
: COVERING LAND
COMMITTEES TO ASSIST THE SER.
VICE MEN BEING FORMED IN
SCORES OF CITIES.
IAu AGENCIES COOPERATING
Direct Contact With Every Former
Soldier, Sailor and Marine Found
Best In Helping Him Solve HE lndl-
vldual Problem.

! Best In Helping Him Solve His lndl-
vldual Problem.
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.
Washington.-The war department
announces the formation of 175 service
lpen's welfare committees throughout
the United States. The number Of
these committees is rapidly increasing
and 1t is now stated that there will be
I4qch an organization in. all cities of
I0Qfhcient size to warrant it. Twenty
IqMcers are covering the country with
this idea in view, travelling from town
Etp town. Membership in these commit
Sees as rule includes representatives
from the American Legion, Red Cross,
II. NJ. G. A., Knights of Columbus, War
Camp Community service, Salvation
Army and the Jewish Welfare board,
- well as such civic organizations as
ichambers of commerce, Kiwanis and
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-
eentatives of the American Legion and
all these welfare, civic and government
agencies, in addition to accomplishing
the primary object for which the COM
mittees are formed-to help the ex-
service man solve his individual prob
lem-has served other important OBJ
5ects in avoiding duplication of effort
and clearing up the atmosphere gen.
orally, so that the government Is now
sure of much increased efficiency in
handling of matters pertaining to ex-
soldiers and sailors. Reports show al
ready that these committees are serv-
ing useful purpose.
Clearing House for Information.
It is not intended that these COM
mittees should supersede any existing
agency. A committee Is to act as q
yoverning and supervisory body, keep
ing each organization Informed through
its representative what the others are
dQing-a clearing house for informa-
ti0n. In this way each member not
only learns what all the other MEM
bers are doing, but he can obtain the
very latest information from the vari-i
ous 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.
It is Indispensable, government au-
,thorities. say, that the Red Cross. the.
legion and various welfare organiza-,
ions 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.
Eventually the committees may be-,
come county organizations. The men,
bership Is not limited. Being a com
munity organization, each committed
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, as we'll as by their con-
nection with the American Legion,
posts.
In It's work Of assisting the ex-serv-
Ice man TO obtain the relief providedi
for him by the government, the expert
ence of the service and information
branch shows that practically all Of
those who are yet to secure this relief
must be reached by direct contact.
Hence the idea Of bringing together
representatives of all the agencies
into central committee. Thus the
members of the committee will receive
hrst-hand information as to govern
ment relief and how to secure it by
association with representatives Of the
government bureaus charged with adj,
minttering the relief.
Meredith Tells or Food Waste.
The new secretary or agriculture
b. T. Meredith, announces that his
department will do everything pos
sstde to prevent waste, of food
stufna SHe believes, after having CIV
en- the &subject considerable consids
GRAFTON since he came into Office, that
a great saving can be effected merely
by calling attention to some Of tho
ways in which foods are wasted. He
pointed out the other day, for instance
that $25,0O0.OO0 worth Of sweet pota,
A toes were wasted in 1919. They rotted
because they were stored in earth
banks15put on the ground in small
heaps and covered with earthTinstead
Of being stored In properly constructed
warehouses. About so per cent OF
sweet potatoes. the department. has
discovered, stored In earth banks be-
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