Evening star., 1925-05-08
WOMEN'S COUNCIL
IS SHORT OF CASH
Treasurer's Report at Quin-
quenniaI Shows Less Than
$40 Is on Hand.

The far-fung and loosely organized
international Council of Women ran
square into the problem of finances
at the morning session in the Audi
torium today.
Although composed of representa-
tives from AZ nations and with a
paper membership of 80 900 900 in
dividuals, probably the largest organi-
zation in the world, with the possible
exception of the League of Nations
the astonishing fact was revealed that
the council had less than $50 in its
treasury after paying the bills for the
last five-year period.
The treasurer's report also brought
out that the organization had been
partially dependent on the individual
sacrifices of its officers, notably Lady
Aberdeen, the international president.
The trea surer'S report was presented
by Mrs. w. Z. Sanford of Ontario.
In Bad Way for Years.
Fru Anna Backer of Norway, the
international secretary, revealed that
the council had been in a bad way
for the past five years, with bills
coming in for routine expenses and
with no certain revenue except the
nominal $50 a year dues from the
national councils.
Mrs. Frances Z. Burns of the Ameri-
can delegation offered a resolution
that the dues be retained as at pres.
ent, but that in addition each council
be assessed on a pro rata basis so
that the annual income of the inter
rational body would be 1000 English
pounds.
The national councils of Norway
and Sweden offered a substitute reso-
luton in case that of Mrs. Burns
failed to carry. that the dues be
raised to $3.50 for each five years.
Fru Backer made an impassioned
plea for a more secure income, saying
that the life of the council itself de
pended on it.
Mrs. Willoughby Cummings, the
convener of the finance committee
said that the budget committee had
determined that 1000 pounds was the
minimum income with which the work
could be carried on.
Can Afford More Now.
F'ru Backer said that when the in
ternational council was established, in
1888, the dues were set at $50 a year
because at that time practically every
woman was dependent on her husband
l.
women of every country have been
liberated, so that they can earn their
own incomes and hence afford more
dues. The annual income never has
equaled the annual expenses, she said
The openings for the ideals of the
international council are greater to-
day than ever before she said. II
venture to predict that the progress
we Will make toward bettering the lot
of women in the world before the next
quinquennial will be such as it would
be rash to dream of today. Yet we
must drop the work right here unless
some assured income can be provided. -
The difficulty of establishing an ade.
quate financial system, the report
showed, lay in the great divergence in
membership of the member bodies.
The United States has 10000, 900 wo-
men theoretically affiliated with the
International Council. Iceland has
less than 10000. Each nation is en-
titled to ten votes in the conventions
and each is assessed the same dues.
A financial settlement, it was shown,
would mean that for the first time in
its history the council must take an
actual census of it's membership
throughout the world.
The morning session adjourned with
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