Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-29

! SCIIldttfS VI = Q oo3 1OhAdd
ton be brought to the city to make
survey Of the situation, were recon-
mendations of the joint committee
from civic organizations of the city
which closed Thursday its investigation
of the public charity organizations OF
the city.
The report is centered OF two Or
CARNATIONS, the Salvation army and
tees auestionnaires went to some 20
organizations. In the case of both OF
these organizations, the committee re-
port has only praise and urges the
support Of Great Falls residents for
both. Mistakes by either organiza-
ton, it holds, have been due to the
complexity and size of the work and
the lack of adequate funds. The re-
port states with neither organization
is the overhead unreasonable, but cor
responds to that of similar organi-
cations in other cities. The funds OBJ
tanned are spent largely in the county
or if sent outside, are spent indirectly
for work in the county.
The report reads:
Red Cross Asked for Committee
Pursuant to the request of the ex
~ecutive board of the Cascade county
chapter of the American Red Cross for
an investigation of the activities of
the public charity organizations oper-
ating in Great Falls, u committee con-
sisting of a representative from each
of the civic organizations of this city
was appointed for this purpose. The
of George P. Durham, Commercial
club; William Moer1, Ad club; e. E.
Owens, Rotary club; DR.. C. J. Bresee,
Kiwanis club: r. X. West, Civilian
! club: L. E. Jones, secretary.
Members of this committee first
sought to determine what ~organiza-
tons In Great Falls are considered as
public charity organizations. A ques-
tionnaire was composed covering all
the phases of charitable work and the
same was addressed to some 70 or
CARNATIONS in this city with a pur-
pose of determining first whether or
not they were public charity organi-
cations and, second. if they We're such
public charity organization to gain a
definite report of their activities so
as to give this committee something on
which to start.
BY means of this QUESTIONABLE, it
was soon determined that there we're
but two organizations in the city
which would fully come under the
classification of public charity organ
izations. to-wit: The American Red
Cross and the Salvation army. The
committee then turned it's attention
solely to Investigating the activities of
these two organizations and their
functioning in this community.
Churches do Charity Work
But. in passing. We must mention
that our Investigation has shown clear
" that there are a number of churches
lodges, societies and other civic organ
i~zations which have carried on, par
ticularly among their own member
ship. very creditable and splendid char
ity work, but, as they are not wholly
supported by public moneys they could
not be classified fully as public char
ity organization. Particularly do We
desire to call attention to the most
splendid and efficient charity which is
being dispensed every day by our two
hospitals-the Deaconess hospital and
the Columbus hospital, either n of
which is actually doing charity in their
particular operation far in excess of
the amount actually expended in money
by both of the public charity organi-
cations ABOVE mentioned.
After determining the organizations
which it was our province to lnvesti-
gate, the committee either in whole or
through its individual members con
suited with the bends of these two
public charity organizations and went
carefully into every detail of their ac-
tivities; they met and examined the
accounts and reports, books and meth
DDS of operation as found in the of
fees of these organizations, respec-
lively; further, they examined the
methods pursued as to promptness in
investigation and relief; they anvass
ed the case records. they consulted
with heads of other organizations from
whom valuable information was had;
they e%ndeavored to ascertain the ex-
tent and quality of the cooperation be-
tween fhese two organizations and the
other organizations with which, they
came in contact. including the county
commissioners of Cascade county, the
Deaconess hospital and the Columbus
hospital.
Two Organizations Investigated
"The committee herewith submit its
findings and report:
"As above mentioned. the commit
tees investigation covers the activi-
ties of the Red Cross and the Saliva
ton army.
I'VE first desire to report our gen
eral conclusions and then briefly state
the findings on which these general
conclusions are based. We found that
both these organizations occupy diff
farent fields and operate in different
spheres of activity in our community;
one is purely a public charity organi-
and the other a semi-religiou
organization; both give mater
ial relief and investigate before giving
such relief. We find that both these
organizations are essential to the life
of our community. We do not believe
that either one could be dispensed
with; we do not find that. either one
of these organizations alone could eff
ficiently perform the duties and render
the service now performed and rem
dered by these two organizations OPP
separately.
1--WE find both these organizations to
have advisory boards and directorates
composed of representative business
men of our city. We find them both
to keep accurate books and accounts
which show in detail moneys contri-
buted and the manner in which the
is spent. We find that the books
Of both organizations are thoroughly
annually and reports submitted
We find that the Fed Cross
has an executive secretary and one
assistant and the Salvation army an