Evening journal., 1922-01-27
BENEFITS OF
CITY CHARITY
PLAN SHOWN
continued from Page one.

Know what all the others are doing
There are always some people who
take advantage OF this by going from
one relief agency 20 another. and
thus getting more than their share
at the expense OF more deserving
people.
1T is always difficult for the un-
trained worker to realize the neces-
sity for investigating a case before
giving relief, to see whether some
one else is supplying the help need
ed. The Social Service Exchange has
about $4,000 names in its files, and
il is only necessary to telephone the
Exchange to find out whether any
case is recorded and is being cared
for. We use this Exchange constant
ly, and so do the hospitals. the
Children's Bureau. the s. p. c. c..
the Child Welfare. the Tuberculosis
Commission, and many others. II is
being consulted much more now than
ever before. yet there are still some
who distribute charity blindly and,
therefore, wastefully. Just recently
we were assured by one OF the relief
AEInIAth Aiidi IL Was MOIklnE WIFI
people about whom we knew moth
ing. One Of its workers brought us a
list Of twenty-eight names and we
found that all but three OF them
were being cared for This worker
was convinced Of the necessity OF
investigating before giving help"
Wouldn't il be more efficient,
then, to centralize all charity work
under one head and do away with
the many Independent organiza-
tions?" Miss Mullen was asked.
Theoretically. perhaps it would, /"
she replied. but I wouldn't be in
favor Of it. In that case, misman-
agement, which is always possible,
might mean the complete breakdown
of the city's relief work at critical
time. I believe more can be accom-
plished through friendly cooperation
among existing agencies. OF course,
the trained professional worker Is
always inclined 10 criticise the volun-
teer worker for lack OF thoroughness,
and the amateur worker feels that
the professional organizations spend
too much on overhead and use too
much red tape. AS a matter OF fact.
trained volunteer workers are as ef-
ficient as those who are paid for their
work, because they have studied the
relief problem. II there were enough
OF these who would give all their
time to the work we could have
fewer trained workers, but OF
course. there never will be; and il
all the work were left TO those who
give II only their spare time the
result would be disastrous
I'm talking of overhead, person.
often fail to consider that a nurse
services are frequently more neede,
than food, and are harder for tn
poor to get They call the nurse
salary overhead and draw an illogi
cal distinction between money sper
. for this and that which goes 10
groceries.
But 1 do not resent criticism.
social worker is really a public ser
want. and criticism OF public servic
is inevitable IL is probably a goo,
thing. IL keeps us on the alert. Yoi
hear II said that our methods arr
cold; that we will let people go hun
cry while we are investigating, ant
things OF that sort. or course, thil
is not true. II we can't investigat,
a case at once we give the applican
the benefit OF all doubts and suppl.
temporary relief until we can inves
tigate: but there is always a chanc,
that due to stress OF circumstance,
something may be overlooked; ant
this criticism, though IL may be un
pleasant, serves to make us con
stantly on guard against this
Recently we were criticized foi
not buying food at wholesale instead
Of giving orders on retailers to need,
families for wl.sm we have worked
out budgets. To anyone who has no
studied the matter this looks like al
economical thing 10 do. However. /
has been thoroughly tried out n
other cities, and II Is more costl,
than the method we follow. Whei
you consider rent on storeroom
the services Of someone TO buy com
petently and keep track OF stock
and the Inevitable sponage and in
ventory write-downs, you find tina
Il is cheaper TO pay the retailer 10
this service. Nevertheless, 1 feel tina
even such criticism as this has Il
value for us. because II makes u
doubly careful In checking voucher
and comparing prices TO see that tn
retailers we patronize give us IN
lowest prices.
so, II the present system involve
some waste through duplication {
effort. 1t also provides valuab
checks on the work OF each organ
zation by the others. The wasi
can be eliminated by co-operatioi
The Associated Charities invites C,
operation from all who are tryir
70 improve conditions among Il
poor. and its services and resourc,
are at the disposal OF the who
community.
Every one knows that condition
here are bad. but with the contii
ued financial support OF the publ
we shall be able to get through Il
winter without the most acu
forms OF suffering. Il would
wrong 10 underestimate the distre
amongst us, but we are more like
to over-estimate il. We have unde
nourished families always, and v
have more now than usually. but
don't think we have had sine
case Of starvation. There have be-
rumors OF IL; but we have look
into every case reported to us, a
we have yet 10 find one"
HOUSEHOLD NOTES.
Allow soap time to harden and
will last twice as long.