Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-20
such a measure of preference would ma
terially increase the birth rate.
Railways show the Way.

terldlly increase lne DlTln rave |
Railways Show the Way.
DIR. Bertillon points out that already the
great railway companies, both state and
private, grant supplementary allowances
to those of their employees who have big
families: for instance, $50 annually TO a
man with four children. This system of
favor might be considerably extended.
Dr.. Bertillon also insists that the success
sion law must be altered so as to render
It possible for a father so to make his will
as to prevent the cutting up or forced sale
of landed property or a business or factory,
etc, though he does not go so far as to
suggest the restoration of the law Of primo
g]eniture. He tells me that General Toutte
is drafting an interesting proposal that the
children and grandchildren of a testator's
sons and daughters should count in the
division of an estate, so that unmarried or
childloss heirs in the line direct would re-
ceive a smaller portion than those with
children.
other Inducements In Prospect.
Ambrose Rendu. who is a barrister at
the court of appeal and a municipal coun-
cillor, is the president of the Popular
League Of Fathers and Mothers" Mr..
Rendu is heart and soul with DR.. Bertillon
and tells me that he is agitating to secure
a diminution of taxation in proportion to
the number of a family. For instance, as
taxation may be reckoned at about one
tenth Of income, he would tighten the bur
den of paterfamilias by as many tenths as
he has children. ard, more than this, would
grant a dispensatiOn from military service
to one out Of three sons. He points out
that in Belgium bonuses are annually given
by the countess of Flanders and the court
to mothers Of large families, and thinks
that this example might be followed with
advantage in France. So, too. the heads of
Industrial and business undertakings might
be induced to give the preference to en-
plOyes in proportion TO the number of their
children, other things being equal. NJ
Rendu points out that It is the father of a
numerous family who deserves best of tho
state, fer he pays the most taxes. AS
taxation is calculated in France on tho
amount of rent paid, and as a numerous
family requires a larger dwelling than a
celebate or a childless couple, this is self
evident. Again, he and his family mus
pay the blood tax" by serving in tn,
army, whereas the celibate's debt is paiC
only once.
4 short time ago a peasant r]escrvis
called up for service presented himself a
the barracks gates driving a donkey an,
cart, IN which We're a dozen fowls, severa
! rabbits and a COW. He explained tina
being unmarried he had no ore TO LOO
, after his property whilst he was with hi
regiment, and so he had brought il alonJ
70 with him. II is said that the colonel sen
r the man home. 1t would have been niue
better. declare the numerous family" ad
heTents, If he had offered to release IN
man on condition Of his getting married an
s rearing a family.
IS DR.. Bertillon has shown that the ev
n consists in the low average Of Frenc
% families and not in the fact that there al
y fewer marriages in France than clscwher
This being the case, It certainly seen
a reasonable to expect the state to step
and favor those who are doing their dut
as good patriots to save France from wins
DR.. Bertillon picturesquely calls death /
. chloroform." r.. FRANKLIN.