The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-11
Favorable Report Made on
Financial Affairs and
Salvation Arn1y's Work
Citizens Committee Completes Survey of Advisory
Board-Report Covers Many Phases of
Activities

careful survey of the. financial
affairs and the work being done by
the Salvation Army in Birmingham
and jefferson county is contained in
a report made yesterday by a eiti-
zens committee composed of C. N.
Wiley. chairman, and e. H. Cabaniss
and DIR. Percy II. Woodall, who were
appointed by the citizens advisory
board to Investigate the work of the
organization.
The report of the committee, which
was made public by Chairman Wiley
yesterday, showed that the work of
the organization was conducted with
unusual efficiency and economy, and
that the financial affairs of the or
ganization were in excellent shape.
1t was shown that only per cent
of the money collected here went to
the national organization and that
the services received by the Bir-
ningham organization from the ma
tional more than offset this small
percentage.
The report, which was made only
after a careful and Independent in
vestigation of every phase of the
work, follows:
From time to time we have heard
criticisms of the work which the Sal
NabiOll AAHil Is QOlHE III =blI
as well as rumors reflecting upon
the efficiency with which the or
ganization is conducted. 1t was for
the purpose of ascertaining the true
facts and for our own information
that this committee conducted its in
vestigatlons. The Investigations were
made without any notice to the Sal
walton Army and were carried out
according to our own plans and en-
brace every phase Of the work which
the Salvation Army is doing in Biz
mingham and Jefferson county.
Justifies Existence
I'VE first visited the Rescue Home,
where we found that 33 young women
and 20 babies were being cared for.
While the home is crowded, it was
the neatest place we have ever seen.
Everything about il was maintained
In perfect condition and all the in
mates were engaged in doing a GER
tain amount of the houseworkj and
sewing. which tended to keep them
occupied. We find that all the moth
ers and their babies receive the best
of medical attention and that without
exception they had no other place
where they could have gone with
their babies. The work which the
Rescue Home alone is doing Is suffi
cient to justify the existence of the
Salvation Army in Birmingham,
whose annual budget is only $4,000,
only half of which has thus far been
raised. We believe it would pay Bir-
mingham to support the Salvation
Army, If it did nothing but operate
this home in the manner in which it
is conducted.
THE industrial home for men has
a N, I'D n tfope for about man
each night. The beds are neat and
clean and everything there is main
tained in perfect condition. These
beds are furnished to the poor at 20
cents each night, and plans are now
being made to provide hot coffee and
a light breakfast in addition to the
bed. all for the rs cents. In addition.
there are proper bathing facilities
and arrangements so that a man can
wash his clothes at night and they
will be dry and clean in the morning
when he gets up.
This industrial home is a model
of efficiency and neatness, and is do
ing much for the man who is down
and out The barracks are kept
warm and comfortable. and in addi-
ton to the beds. there are number
of large, comfortable arm chairs in
which men can sleep at night with
out charge. They are also given the
use of the baths, which are fine
showers with hot and cold water,
and the use of the other facilities
any charge.
Get Baths Free
plans are also being worked out
for greatly charging the facilities
at the mems industrial home because
of the large number of unemployed.
We found that many men slept In
these warm rooms in arm chairs at
night and take advantage of the OPP
I ortunity to wash their clothes and
ge. a good hot bath free.
cat the Industrial home there are
also a number of men who have no
jobs, but who support themselves by
work at the home. These men sort
the waste paper and rags which are
gathered each day by the Salvation
Army wagons and. earn their beds
and food as long as they stay there.
These are men who are down ana