Milford chronicle., 1934-11-30
Red Cross Executive
Discusses Relief Costs

Red Cross, make the following state
ment today:
MANY inquiries have come to the
Red Cross from the press and others
concerning the administrative cost
of Red Cross relief operations as
compared with reported costs for
the work of the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration. The greatest
caution must be exercised in at
tempting to reduce such compari-
sons to a single percentage figure.
II speak out of twenty-One years
Of administrative responsibility, in
cluding every major disaster relief
undertaking of the Red Cross begin
ming with the Ohio Valley floods of
1913. In Red Cross disaster relief
work the administrative cost OF one
operation, expressed in percentage,
will sometimes be two or three
times as great as the cost for an
other operation. This does not mean
that one piece of work was poorly
done and another well done. II
means that conditions met in one
disaster were very different from
EOuuillOHS ulcl III dilOlHeT.
Red Cross disaster relief differs
from the unemployment relief con-
Quoted by the Federal Relief Admin
istration in many important partic-
ulars. AS one who has spent his life
in social, educational and health
work and in the study of economic
conditions as they apply to human
beings, | see vast differences. Dis
asters, even big ones. are relatively
localized. They cover a definite ter
ritOry. In general we know who the
victims are before we start. The
number of people affected can be
established in a relatively short
time. We know what caused their
distress. The nature of the loss they
suffered from a common catastrophe
and the needs to be met are known.
We know that even in a Mississippi
flood the relief work will have ter
mination. A fairly definite time may
always be set for ending the work.
"The situation faced by the Fed
eral Emergency Relief Administra-
tion is very different. II deals with
varied needs. urban and rural,
throughout the length and breadth
of the land. Estimates of the NUM-
Der of unemployed varied from sew
eTal million to two or three times
that number with only the haziest
estimates of the number requiring
relief. The nature of relief did not
depend upon the type of loss suffer-
ed in a disaster. II varies with all
h., ts.Rr loft Of N fgtf
and rural and economic conditions
in this vast country of ours. More
important than these, no' time limit
for Federal relief can even now be
approximately set. This situation
has already run five years. II covers
the whole country; indeed the whole
world. Every situation must be met |
quickly.
"One single factor of differences
in cost is of great Importance. In |
a Red Cross relief operation. run
ming for limited time. thousands |
of volunteers are ready to work |
tiTelessly along with out seasoned |
disaster relief staff. They can ar
range their time freely for that
period. It is quite out of the ques-
tion that the Federal Relief Admin
istration could man its organization
for an indefinite period with vOlun-
teers who must necessarily return
to their own responsibilities within
a reasonable period of time.
millions of our fellow country
men have been saved from want and
despair, or worse, by the energetic
and prompt action of the Govern
ment. Those who have had extensive
experience in emergency relief work
know only too well the burdensOme
responsibilities. intricate problems
and MISUNDERSTANDING which have
had to be, and are still to be met.
The Congress and the people know
that a program of just bread and
clothing for men, women and chill
dfen who, by the million, have now
for five years been confronted with
bitter privation and want, will not
suffice. l.
Unemployment Is now several
years old in millions of families.
The husband and wife and children
are going to be strong or weak in
body and mind, now and tomorrow,
upon what is done in
their behalf. They are fellow human
beings.
Beyond mere subsistence they
should have decent shelter. medical
and nursing care, education and eV-
cry factor that will sustain morale
and preserve character. The nation
needs these people.
Through trips in the field ] have
had a chance to sense the eager
ness for Improvement on the part
1f those responsible for relief work.
/ am of the opinion, in the light OF
ny knowledge of social work and
conditions, that consider
ng the difficulties involved. the :
speed required. and the variety OF
.tral and urban situations across ,
he country, the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration has done J
more than reasonably well. Con-
,tant effort is being made to see !
hat local and state resources are
lrawn in to help carry the load. The ,
have met are, almost :
Without exception, diligent, intelli- !
rent, public servants who have not l
Ipared themselves in their efforts
n behalf of the victims of the de- y
lression, In justice to the Federal 7
Emergency Relief Administration to ,
he Red Cross. to other agencies OF
'ublic and private relief. and in be- .
Ialf of the millions now primarily Z
ependent upon the government for A
g necessities of life, IL should be ia
appreciated that no such simple Sc
rocess as comparing one single M