Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 193, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1917 — SPENDS All TO EASE THE SUFFERING [ARTICLE]

SPENDS All TO EASE THE SUFFERING

Red Cross Uses No Part of War Fund for Administration Expenses.

COST IS MET BY MEMBERS Tenfold Increase In Staff Since Year Ago—Total War Fund Subscription Paid In Is More Than $30,000,000. Washington.—Although the American Red i Cross has more than 700 salaried employees in its headquarters in Washington, and the cost of conducting its affairs reaches a very high figure each month, absolutely* no money * contributed to the war fund is used for administrative expenses, according to a statement issued by Henry P. Davidson, chairman of the war jcouncil... _ Mr. Davidson announced that $6:175,752 have been appropriated for actual war work by the war council up to July 31, 1917. The total war fund subscription paid in on August 1 amounted to $30,037,116.13.' Actual disbursements up to that date were $2,872,598.64. The cost of maintaining the office In Washington, it is explained, is met by members of the Red Cross. On July 27 there were 2,517,412 members, each of whom has contributed to the organization, thus making ft pbsslble for officials to carry on their work in an up-to-date business way. The statement issued says:

Marvelous Growth in Year. “To handle the business of the Red Cross a year ago there were 75 employees at the Washington headquarters ; today there are 700 paid employees and 61 full-time volunteers. Over 3,000 pieces of mail come into Red Cross headquarters every day, and each must receive attention. “The full-time volunteer workers who are aiding in administering the affairs of the Red Cross during the war Include the head of the largest copper company in the world, a-bank president, a railroad vice president and numerous men of Influence and prominence from all parts of the United States. The ability and enthusiasm which has been placed freely at the disposal of the Red Cross in this situation is one of the most

remarkable features of this enterprise. “Members of the war council and their staff assistants, together with many heads of departments created specially for war service, are serving without salary. “In addition to the 61 volunteer officers or employees at headquarters giving their full time to the Red Crons without salary, the organization on July 15 had on its pay roll 43 officers or employees receiving salaries of $2,000 or more a year. Of the 43, 14 have been added since the appointment of the war council .on May 10, one with a -palary of $6,000, one at $4,500, one .at $4,000, two at $3,000, one at $2,700, one at $2,500, three between $2,000 and $2,400, and four at $2,000.

Many Give Their Services. “Aside from the officers and employees receiving salaries of $2,000 or above, all other paid employees at headquarters are clerks or messengers. Of the clerks 24 receive salaries in excess of SIOO a month, 33 are paid SIOO a month, and 607 are paid less than SIOO a month. Many employees receive only nominal salaries, whereas they are accustomed to earn much more. This service is their contribution to the Red Cross. All administration and overhead expenses at headquarters are much more than met by dues from members of the Red Cross. Thus the war fund is and will continue to be available for actual relief work in Europe as well as in this country.” " The statement says it is the earnest desire of the Red Cross that the American people, “to whom the Red Cross belongs, should know all about Its acts and its affairs.” Praise is given for the manner in which offerings have been made and it is noted that the task undertaken by the Red Cross to relieve suffering and distress is the most stupendous effort of the kind in the history <?f mankind. “The accounts of the Red Cross,” it is stated, “are regularly audited by the war department and an annual report is rflade to congress. But it is the purpose of the war council to take the people, day by day, as fully as possible into its confidence. Information as to Red Cross matters will accordingly be made public in great detail.” It-is stated that the campaign for $100,000,000 resulted in subscriptions of about that sum. Final returns are not yet available, it is said. -