The New York herald., 1877-09-07
SOCIAL SCIENCE.
The Savans at Saratoga Discussing
Important Topics.
OUR VITAL. STATISTICS.
Births, Marriages and Dea ths
Must Be Recorded.
HINTS TO PARENTS.
How the vagabond Tramp Will
Be Suppressed.
HINTS TO PARENTS.
sARArooA, n. Y, Sept. Q, 1871

The proceedings OF The Social Science Association to-
day have been replcte with interest and Instruction.
total disregard OF the statutes in relation births
marriages ana deaths. led most important recon-
menoaton to the Legislatures OF statcs and the
miss which should control vital statistics Persons
marrying and having families should perceive the
pcrstve necessity OF having marriage ceraca,ss and
registering their children within the specified date
after birth. The discussions tho new method OF
enumeration In Massachu husetts, legal cducatiou tho
social political and industrial condition Of the south,
delinquent children, the reasons why tramps should
be suppressed and the loading TO diseases OF tho
eye public schools induced close attention and some
OF the speakerswere warmly applnuded.
pE. HARRIS on VITAL STATISTICS.
Al the opening DR.. Elisha Harris of New York read
report on the registration Of vital Statistics in the
Uaed States, with plan FOR basis Of uniformity, both
national ami International He said alter nne enr-
moratons Of the inhabitants, products, industries
wealth and other social material facts which have
assumed statistical form IN the decennai census Of
United States, tho greatest aud detects
10 the numerical and classified returns U births
marriages, deaths and the OF death The total
with reasonable completeness In each ma
tiona census; but the enumeration OF the
number and social state Of the inhabitants
who died during the year preceding each census or
who were born, or who resumed the marriage state
has never been complete reasonably accurate either
numerically Or in detail The census snumeratons
Of ths population ought TO be absolutely accurate and
complete but the method Of the cpumerati0ns Is so
essentially faulty that respects the poll Of the living
inhabitants even the total columns equvoca whilc
all the dis,r,butve grouping is untrus,worthy. The
essential viciousness Of each ccessvo census will
remain unremcdlcd until the methods Of enumeration
made exact, until all the facts relating TO births
marriages ana deaths, and tho causes OF death are
currently registered public records in every county
and State The interest OF tho State Of the
IN providing Tor and enforcing effect
ual system Of enumeration Of births, mar
riages and deaths Is Indicated In this i'm
peraive want Of the statistical records which
the Official obtain In other way; yet the
argumcn invoking the aid OF law and centralized
methods tor the reRstration OF vital statistics
prshends a vastly broader ground that demands tho
attention independently of the census enumeratons.
The lives and families of the people constitute the
abiding source OF tie wealth, tho strength and tho
honor Of the State. Vital statistics comprise the
current of tho State with tho lives OF the In
habitants. The registration OF these statistics Is a
duty rendered the State and s TO be MAINTAIN by
ways aud means which the States alone can provide.
IMPORTANT PARENTS.
But wherever State has SO provided the methods
and for the performance OF tho duties Of vital
registration the people must comply with alacrty 10
the requirements OF the registry laws The records Of
birth and lineage Of the newly born will be incomplete
unless tho statutes require supervisory vcrGcaon
Of official authority, and the cooperation Of parents
aud professional attendants the duty OF promp.
titled registration. Birth records should be CON-
plete establish aud perpouate the identity Of in
divduas such other facts be secured In respect TO
both tho child aud It's parents the law may require
IN a registry Vital statsticans are already iuiIy
agreed on the elements Of good birth records The
recording and certi1catIon OF births must be
legally obligatory. The claim both Of the
state and the infant as to the record
Of It's birn imperative, and allow optional de-
lay beyond the reasonable time necessary for certify
ing and h'ing the record for pubic registration.
Claiming such right the STATE less than de-
fine the duties and obligations 1t imposes the
cra parties Interested who cannot Jusaa6y post pone
tho crtncation Of complete and detailed record, the
day and hour OF birth 10 be recorded promptly. In
order 10 secure accuracy the house. s,reet high
way aud name OF brth place should be specified, as
also the sex Inc correct spelling Of The
iamiy name Is OF the fist importance. The
childs also should be accurately certified
aud registered The fall name ol botn parents should
be registered. In cases oi lest.i children US
much information rs possible shodld Ue obtained, par
culary MS to tho occupation und nationality ol each
parent The nationality, occupation age and actual
home residence ot each parent should bo stated and
the family numbering Of the child The state requires
such cercaon, iihGg aud registration and the state
ncnt OF facts should be clear and unQucstionabic.
such records Dade with fathiulness will subserve the
Interests OF statistical ana bIologic.l science. Faithful
registration oil stiiluirlhs snould be secured by Ju
dcious laws regulating oicia returns and the suitable
intcrmcnt of remains lhc Interests OF morality as
well as science demand this record.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES.
It Is due 10 ministers aud nagisi rates, whom the
statutes au,horze 10 certify and professionally solem.
nizc marriage, tnat they should be officially nothcd
OF tho conpiancc oi candidates with the requirements
OF law BY certified transcrip; oil the record by tee
registering Oniccr IL IS morally due To the bride
thai Immediately after marriage the person who pro-
unaly so,mnizcs or acsts the Same should give
her certificate 0 Tie lact Witnessed; Dut Ia each
state ,ne statutes win rmius Whether tue register
iug olncer shall furnish the married persous n tran
script oi the registry o tneif marriage such transcript
should pc furnished on application TO each person
tailed facts, recorded III marriage registration, wiIl
DO secured just 50 lar as registration, based
upon tenuptai records aud perfect forms winch tue
States can prescribe. All records OF marriages should
bc registered as sUon US vcriiieI. The Autograph GER
ncalom OF per onai records snu the agreement made
by the couple will forever bear witness v the correc
tveness OF rcgs,ntiOn while the essentially statis
cal aud anthropologca uses OF marriage registers VIII
be available month by month, year by year. tor puDiic
economists, psychologists anu nygcnis,s Tor the oenc.
tt Vi the people and pubic information. Inc Regis
trar General Of Scotland we'll observed that there Is no
surer sgn OF the prosperity o country than The in-
te marriage rac The law submitted Is IN har
mony With the statutes ol Massacn uset Connectica
statutes may bo readily effected IN the states which
need merely ogive harmony ana cihcicncy 10 exist.
Ing laws. while in States which have only cumbersome
aud inefficient statatcs relating to marriage resisra.
the ADOPTION oi all entirely new system under new
laws Will be more practicable tlan amendments lbe
question whether the registration of marriages shall DO
any way associated with The registry OF births aud
Deaths or be supervised by tho sanitary auhorcs Ia
winch each State decdcs Tor itseli one o policy
and economy.
DEATH RECORDS.
Not otherwise essential Tie importance OF accurate
complete OF death causes OF death Is
nowhere disputed. Tho epitomizcd sn,hropoiogl cal
history oil ie faithful certificate concerning time,
place and social conditions OF each dying scene and
medical facts IA regard " Causes OF death, will ever
impart To records all the real importance for which
family, state and oicer vi health viii Justly cIAm
whatever aids and forms of sanitary and registration
laws shall be iound necessary to oD,an all the ucts
Tor correct record The Stale requires full doscrp-
aud ccrIicale concerning the nuiv who di
and demands VI the medical attenGants correct sac-
mcnt OF the causcp OF death. Science has to seek
causes o disease anu injuries which destroy life nd
Tor the bcneut OF the vinx. All events and causes OF
mortality are TO DO followed back until the question
may he answered. show may human Ito honceiorih b
be more completely guarded against tho OF sick
ness, injury and premature deathfp
kuLEs pOH REGisTnATIOy.