Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-18
AFTER DOCTORS AND PREACHERS.
The Health Officer Finds That Many
Have Failed to Make Returns.

Since the dependent pension bill became q
law the work OF the health department in the
city has increased SO much that it is expected
| an increase in the clerical force will have to
be made or the vital statistics will fall behind
Seldom day passes that there is not string
of widows still dressed in mourning or a num-
Der Of orphans of soldiers making application
for transcripts of the department records to
use in support Of their claims to a pension. The
information wanted is as to the birth of chill
dren and the marriage and death Of the men
who fought for their country.
NEGLIGENT PREACHERS AND DOCTORS.
In conducting these inquiries Chief Clerk
McGinn has discovered evidence OF the failure
on the part OF many physicians to make the
proper returns of births and deaths and also on
the part Of ministers to report marriages. The
law requiring such reports to be made was
enacted in 1874, and since that time the health
officer has attempted to have the records Of
vital statistics az nearly correct as possible
The second section OF the act refers to persons
authorized to solemniZe marriages and provides:
THAT it shall be the duty of every clergyman
magistrate, or other person who shall perform
any marriage ceremony within the District of
Columbia to report each marriage ceremony
solemnized by him to the registrar aforesaid
within forty-eIght hours thereafter, giving the
iih uaho, dBe, COlOT, OcCupatlOn, birthplace
(state or county, and legal residence of
each person married and the date of such
marriage" The following section provides
for the reporting Of births as follows:
That any physician, accoucheur, midwife or
other person in charge who shall attend assist
or advise at the birth Of any child within the
District Of Columbia shall report to the regis
trar aforesaid within six days thereafter stating
distinctly the date of birth, sex and color of
the child or children born, its or their physical
condition, whether stubborn or not, the full
name, nativity and residence Of the
parents and the maiden name of the
mother OF such child or children born. "
Section OF the same act requires physicians
to furnish certificates Of death to undertakers.
the certificates to be filed out with further in
formation as to place of Burial, &C., by the
undertakers and by them forwarded to the
registrar.
The ninth section provides 'that any person
who shall violate or aid and abet in violating
any OF the provisions OF the foregoing regula-
tions shall. upon conviction thereof by COM
petent judicial authority, be punished by fine
OF not less than s25 nor more than $500 for
each and every such offense."
EVIDENCE IN THE CHIEF CLERKS HANDS.
The fact that this law has been disregarded
in many cases is shown, as stated, by the result
OF recent investigations. Mr.. McGinn says he
has evidence warranting him in taking num-
per OF physicians into court and prosecuting
them. There was one application made for a
transcript of the records Of q birth this week.
The child was born two or three years ago, but
the clerks could find no record Of 1t in the
office. The physician had neglected his duty,
but when informed Of his neglect he made the
proper return, the result of which, Of course is
to change the vital statistics compiled during
the year that the child was born. Blank forms
are printed for use of those desiring such in
formation, as already stated.
THE FORM OF INQUIRY.
The following Ia the form Of the blanks re-
ferring to birth:
Application for . Transcript Of . Record of
Birth.
Washington, D. C.,....... Is7.
/ respectfully ask for a Transcript from the
records of the registrar Of vital statistics,
board Of health, District Of Columbia, relating
to the birth Of
Date Of birth,
Name OF parents,
For what purpose desired, ..................
Name and residence of {...".............
"PPaAe"Ass t....s.,.s.........
The form requesting record Of death or mar
| riage Is the same as that given above, only the
word death or marriage is used in place Of
birth. The information, il obtained, 10 fur
nished on blanks similar to those asking for it.
Those furnishing transcripts of births give the
date OF birth, name of child, sex, color place
Of birth, name Of mother maiden name of
| mother, mothers birthplace, name of father.
fathers occupation, fathers birthplace, name
OF medical attendant or person who makes the
return, and the date OF the birth 10 recorded.
In case OF death the information 10 about the
| same, giving in addition the cause Of death
and place Of burial.
In case Of marriage the full name Of the
bride and groom, birthplace, place OF residence
and name OF person performing the ceremony
are given.
The work caused by these inquiries consumes
| large part OF one clerks time and often the
clerks search is in vain because of the failure of
tho proper persons to make the reports required
by law. Sometimes persons Of the same name,
sometimes as many as two dozen, are found on
the record, and this often necessitates the
careful examination Of the record of every
name until the right one il found. Such in
formation 10 furnished free of charge. e mo
| fees are provided for by Law. Information Of
this character has to DO furnished insurance
companies, several applications being made by
them almost every week.
Exercises celebrating the centennial Of the
| landing Of French settlers at Galipolis Ohio.
| we're held yesterday. Gov. Campbell and Gov.
Fleming Of West Virginia held receptions lasi
| evening
| Yesterdays session Of the conveption Of
brotherhood Of St Andrew In Philadelph,s
was devoted to conference ON the subject 81
..Laymen in the community" Rev. J. o, 8.
| Huntingdon Of New York opened the discussion
and prssided during it