Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-11
UNENFoRCED LAWS.

There is a law upon the statute books
requiring official registry be made of every
birth. 1t is a wise law, and in all other
States and countries where statistics of
births and deaths are required to be offici-
ally kept, the data is found to be of the
highest value. We ascertain from inquiry
at the Hall of Records that no birth in
Sacramento county has been reported to
the Recorder since February 26, 1875.
Though the law was amended in 1878 and
continued in force under the new Consti-
tuition, no compliance with its provisions
has been made of record. A severe pen
atty is provided for failure to make and
quarterly report the registry, but no official
has undertaken to applyit. Neither District
Attorneys nor Grand Juries have taken
any notice of this open violation of an es-
sential provision of the Codes.
This is not by any means the only in
stance of unenforced laws and neglect to
compel obedience to the plain mandates of
the statutes. There are probably twenty
Acts in the statute books, all essential to
the good of the community and material
for the people and their full enjoyment of
the blessings and protection of govern
ment, that are ignored and are practically
dead letters
In none of these cases probably, is there
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the law, or any public sentiment opposed
to it-on the contrary. the voice of public
opinion would be loud in support of these
laws and in protest if an attempt were
made to repeal them. Yet there is neglect
In enforcing them, and because of neglect
the people do not comply with their die
tates.
An intelligent Englishman put it strongly
the other day when discussing this subject.
He said: "The laws of the United States
care good, wonderfully so, merciful, compre-
hensive, and | know of no country that
has so many good laws. But know of NO
country, and can learn of none, where the
laws are so poorly enforced or so unblush-
ingiy violated, and where their penalties
are so seldom inflicted upon those who
neglect them"
Let US take the instance of the neglect
of the registry laws. Any one by mo-
ment's reflection can discover how i'm
portant it becomes, in ascertainment of the
truth in vital statistics, to know how many
births and deaths take place in each COM
munity. Without this knowledge, ac-
curately ascertained, it is impossible for
statisticians to compile vital statistics Of
any value to the community. Without a
record of births, it is far less difficult to
conceal crime and thwart the ends of JUS
tice. The failure to keep record of
births really abets crime, may defeat the
right descent of property, may rob those
lawfully entitled to the possession of val
uaoles, and may result in other serious
wrongs and defeats of Justice.
The law concerning the registration of
marriages., births and deaths imposes spe-
ciic duties upon ministers. officers of the
law, physicians, midwives, nurses, parents,
undertakes, Recorders and others, and re-
quires certain of them to keep registers,
make reports at stated times, etc. 1t
would be interesting to know who of those
enumerated obey these mandates and how
many neglect them. 1t would be interest
ing to know whether the $50 forfeit for
each neglect is ever collected, or if any
officer, board or other authority of the
county has taken so much of trouble as to
attempt enforcement of the law and COL
lection of the penalty? If these registry
laws are good for anything at all, let them
be enforced; if they are valueless, let the
fact be made known and their repeal be
asked for. But SO long as they remain on
the statute books they should be obeyed.