The Washington herald., 1921-07-18
BELGIUM RELIEF
WORK COST OVER
$1,3OC,000,0O
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

the case of children were extended
to cover the W hole child-life Of the
county: second. certain provisions
and trades were assisted to care
for the members of their profess
sion: third, benevolent committees
were set UP in each commune for
the conduct Of public eating places.
together with provision of ration
cards to the destitute and &c su-
pervise other agencies and for the
care of those not otherwise reached.
OverIaid upon the whole structure
were a series of checks and bal
anccs to determine the truth as to
destitution. 10 maintain the morale
and efficiency of the administration
and honesty in accounting"
Workers Volunteered.
Mr.. Hoover said that the prin-
Cipal officers of the commission gave
their services without salary and
in many instances also paid the
whole of their incidental and trav-
cling expenses.
Shipping firms. accountants. in
surance agencies. buying agencies
throughout the world gave their
services without charge. other than
the mere out-of- pocket incidentals."
he continued.
"The distributing committees of
over $4,000 members gave their vol
untary services over these many
years. Forty thousand Belgian and
French women dedicated themseles
to the saving of child life of their
nations.
Never was there greater pressure
for economy and efficiency upon an
organization. At no time were the
populations feed to more than the
point of bare subsistence. Every
penny saved meant large food sup
plies and less suffering. At no time
were the finances Of the commission
certain for more than a few months,
and at different periods its Nia-
bilities were in excess OF its ac-
tual or prospective assets, and the
continuous food supply was main
tained only through the personal
guarantees of the directors and their.
! friends.
Expenditures Held Down.
The total administrative expend-
iture was held down to less than
one-half of l per cent. tExactiy
42-10O Of l pc" cent of the entire
Operation) The record of economy
may be extended even further than
this. for the changing tides of war
often required the diversion of car
goes and sales of foodstuffs outside
of Belgium to meet emergency re-
adjustment of purchases or supplies
whose shipment or distribution had
already been arranged.
Upon these and similar transac-
tions entirely outside of Belgium
and France balance of profit OF
over S9,500,OO0 was earned, several
times greater than all overhead ex-
penditures. From these profits on
outside operations the commission
first paid its entire administration
and overhead expenses second, paid
over to the benevolent department
some s2,60O,000 for charitable dis
tribution in Belgium and France,
and, third, at September 30, 1920,
still held available forsrelief work
in th,sn CO. mt "i.S "" %
expense of liquidation approxi-
mately s3,12O. O.OOO-since that da,e
largely distributed. The economy
of operation in the organization
has, in fact. even a higher stand
ard of test than this, in that the
average prices maintained for food
supplies in this occupied territory
during the entire period of war will
show from Is to 90 per cent, less
than the prices in the allied coun-
tries at the same period.
Traces Every Item.
NO set of accounts or flgures can
reflect the intense anxiety, the pa
thence and skill required of the 55.-
900 volunteers who toiled in this
complex agency. defending 10000
900 lives. Inspired with humane
sympathy for these people, who,
having no responsibility for the
war, suffered most from its hard
ships and barbarities. they labored
that this service might be done
efficiently and with economy.
-'It is to their unflagging devotion
that VIC are now able. to publish
exact figures of accountability for
funds, and to trace each ton of food
from the place of purchase to the
ultimate consumer among the civil
population Of the invaded regions
SURROUNDED ny ttTroF duV SulterlNS,
this multitude had hut little concern
for the bookkeepers in the back
rooms Of the 1000 branch offices
Of tho relief organization. 1t was
Of the utmost concern. however. to
those in official direction. not ONLY
that the work might be effectively
performed and presented to the
world, bat that our honor and the
honor of our country in this trus-