Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-12
INSPECTION OF BABY FARMS
Abandonment Of Infants in DsS NSinss
Arou1oS Iowa Humane Society.
'oSE DRASTIC LEGISLATION NEEDED
rive Years in Prison for AuowinE
Babe 60 stsrve TO Death
H. the Maximum
Penalty.
lion a staf corrssrondent.l

tF'rUm staff Correspondent
DIES MONIES, Ia. Nov. 11.-(speciaL)--
Imprisonment that cannot be longer than
FIVE years awaits the matrou Of the baby
farm in this city who abandoned two little
baby girls less than one month old, the
abandonment resulting I'm the death Of one
from starvation. The officers OF the Iowa
Humane society will lay these facts be-
fore the proper committees Of the next
legislature and use them not only as a
lever to set a more adequate punishment
but also for the purpose Of getting a bill
for an inspection Of such homes.
At the last session Of the legislature an
effort was made to get proper punishment
provided for persons who nistrest babies
that first sec the light of day in tying-in
hospitals Some Of the tales told by the
Officers Of the Iowa Humane society. in
cases where they are convinced in their
own minds. but lack sufficient evidence to
prosecute, are simply horrifylng. The leg
stature however. turned down the request
for etter laws the last session.
The last case to come to public notice is
the abandonment of two little baby girls
in a house near Greenwood park. The per-
sons running the lyiiig-in hospital moved
out Friday and it was the Monday follow
ing the babies we're discovered by accident
by neighbors. Tho babies were less than
month old. One of them died from starva-
ton a little while after discovered. all ef-
forts to save It proving futile. The other.
under skilful medical attention, survived
and Is now adopted into a Highland park
home
For the murder Of the baby that died the
only punishment is mot to exceed FIVE
years in the penitentiary," provided for by
section 1866 of the code
At tho present time there is no super
vision whatever OF these baby farms "
and there are many Of them in Des Moines
as we'll as other cities of Iowa. The
mothers Of the babies try to forget them
and are in position to ASK no questions
as to what becomes Of the infants In
many cases they are told that the infants
are dead and never see them after they
are born. There is no state supervision
over their disposal and indications arc
that many of them are disposed Of accord
ing to the worst fears of the officer of
the Iowa Humane society. but in a man
ner more humane than that of the infant
starved to death last week, because the
suffering is less prolonged.
Searching for old Documents.
! The judiciary committee room of the
house and the two office rooms adjoining
are piled and stacked with documents.
books boxes and letter files. After a full
months work the persons in charge of in
dexing and cataloging the documents to be
placed in the hall of archives are not one
rthird through with the documents from the
governors office alone. At least two
months more work will be necessary and
then the stun taken out win still have to
| be placed in the proper cases and cabinets.
When the secretary of ther states Office is
| reached Il is expected it will be worse yet,
and the auditors office Is simply appalling
AT the last session Of the legislature
there was enacted a bill providing for a
hall of archives i'm the historical building
into which should be placed all documents
and letters and other material more thar
ten years old. Mr. Parrish of Iowa City
pupil of Prof. shambaugh, is at work IL
the state house classifying the material
The governors office was the first attacked
for old documents. The material was al
moved to the house judiciary oommitte,
room, one of the largest committee ROOMS
in the state house, and chairs and tables
are literally covered with documents:
When the work of taking the document!
10 the committee room was started Mr.
Parrish rummaged through the vault in the
governors office and discovered an uppei
gallery TO the vault and leading on from
this gallery by a narrow passage was dis
covered a little room 7x9 feet, which Wa!
: literally filled with documents, some o
which are the oldest official papers issue
by the state. A letter from Robert Lucas
/, territorial governor, to his adjutant genera
ordering him to repair at once 20 Val
T Buren, county and enforce order whel
! civil war broke out In 1889 over tn
boundary question, was among the letter
found in that room.
The oficial journal of Robert Lucas, tn
first territorial governor, is in existanoe
but there is big gap in the Official jour
h nails from that time on until fifteen year
I or so later. II seems to have beer tn
custom of the governors to consider thei
: journals private property or else they ar
Z lost. Mr. Parrish is making a dilligeu
search through all the dark corners OF th
state house. and there are many there T
= see II he can md these journals He la
not yet struck the floor OF the little roor
i leading off from the gallery in the vaul
J OF the governors once, except a littl
= piece OF floor near the door. When h
d, has fully explored the contents OF IN
g room he hopes to have uncovered man
a valuable documents.
Primary LeEtsIatiOH.
l. There viii be a primary law enacted q
4 the coming session Of the legislature az
= oording to the expectations Of politician
generally. Those who como 20 this eli.
Y are pointing out that there is a pvimar