Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1920 — MAKING WAR ON DISEASE MENACE [ARTICLE]

MAKING WAR ON DISEASE MENACE

American Red Cross Announces Budget of $48,200,000 For Current Year. » NEW DISASTER RELIEF PLAN Continuance of Heavy Work Abroad Deemed Necessary to Protect United States—s2l,ooo,ooo Leae Than Last Yean, A program of relief and service toward which appropriations of $48,200,000 have been made has been outlined for the Red Cross for the fiscal year, July 1, 1920, to July L 192 L according to official announcement by national headquarters of the organization at Washington. The figures for 1920-21 are $21,000,000 below those of 1919-20, Id which $69,400,000 Was spent Important among the Items of the budget for the present year is the appropriation of $81,000,000 for relief In foreign lands, which Includes $11,000,000 In purchased supplies on hand and not distributed. Must Protect United States. This will enable the American Red Cross to continue Its humanitarian effort to aid stricken peoples to re-estab-lish themselves, to fight the disease epidemics which threaten many countries and to efface largely the remaining traces of the blight left by the World War. It Is regarded as social as well as physical sanitation on a large scale that will have a direct bearing on future conditions In America. Central Europe, the chief sufferer 'from the conflict, today is facing another winter of famine, pestilence and ruin. Typhus decreased much during the summer months where last winter It had Its greatest stronghold, but physicians who investigated the situation at the behest of the League of Red Cross Societies have given their unqualified opinion that this coming winter will see a recurrence on an unprecedented scale. The Red Cross feels It must continue preventive measures abroad to keep this and other deadly maladies from the United States.

Millions for Work at Home. When the disease was sweeping Central Europe last winter the American Red Cross, with the aid of the governments of afflicted nations, undertook the fight against It Hospitals were established wherever possible and food and clothing were distributed to the undernourished populations, who by reason of their undernourishment were easy prey to the epidemics. Where disorganization contributed last year to the great inroads made by the disease, by virtue of its knowledge of the disease and the presence of well established hospital centers, the American Red Cross this year will undertake the work with a new confidence. Including the total of $11,000,000 in supplies left from the last fiscal year, the $31,500,060 is $21,000,000 less than the expenditures for 1919-20. Appropriations for domestic activities total $16,700,000. The largest Item of this "home” budget Is $7,800,000 for civilian relief work. This includes service and assistance for families of soldiers, sailors and marines, and work incidental to disaster. Of the total appropriation for civilian relief, $5,000,000 Is held In reserve for the carrying out of actual disaster relief. Reduced Overhead Expense. The Red Cross invariably Is the first thought of a community visited by calamity. With this in mind. It was determined by the Executive Committee in preparing the budget of 1919-20 to have a fixed reserve fund from which to draw in these Instances. , For assistance to soldiers, sailors and marines In hospitals and in camps this year $1,900,000 has been set aside. Four million two hundred thousand dollars has been appropriated for Improvement of health and prevention of disease throughout the United States during the current twelve months. The Red Cross Is co-operat-ing fully with the United States Health Service In this work and through its Junior Red Cross Is doing much to spread among children the principles of sanitation. An appropriation of SL--060,000 has been made for developing the peace time program of the Red 'Cross by service to Its chapters in all regions. The appropriation of $48,200,000 Is exclusive of the local expenditures of the 3,000 or more chapters. Administration expenses this year will be $1,800,000. Last year they were $2,800,000.