The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-02-23
RooseveIt's Latest Idea
Meets Opposition
PART Of THE UPL|FT PLAN
Opponents Of the Measure Point Out
That There is Nothing Provided for
in it That Has Not Already Been
Covered With the Exception Of a
Bunch OF Fat Jobs.

Lowered WITH tie OIL 4
Bunch Of Fat Jobs.
By THOMAS J.. PENCE.
Washington, u. c., Feb. 19.-This
has been a great season for commits
Sions and such like organizations
which are supposed to work for the
general uplifJ.
The White House has been the dy-
lamO from which these suggestions
have emanated. There was the farm
life commission, the art commission,
the conservation commission and SO
on ad infinitum. The latest uplifting
scheme is the establishment of q chill
dren's bureau in the Interior Depart
Inent. The object of this bureau is
the investigation Of the welfare Of
children and child life" Mr.. Roose-
Welt is urging Congress to pass this
measure, which provides incidently
for the creation Of q lot of good pay
ing jobs.
The House Committee on EXpen-
ditures in the Interior Department has
reported in favor of the bill, but Rep
resentatiVe r. n. Page, of the Seventh
North Carolina District, has prepared
q strong minority report, which is
signed by Representative Hardy, Of
Texas. There Is no hance for his
measure becoming a law 1t this SEES
sion. Mr.. PAGES report in opposition
~ HI opAALt IeoSuIe VII De Iedd
with interest by Tar Heels. 1t is here
with:
The undersigned members of the
Committee on Expenditures in the IN
terror Department have not been able
TO agree with the majority il theiI
report upon this bill, and we respect
fully submit herewith our reasons for
opposing the passage of this measure
The committee had before it q num-
Der OF people fayOring the bill, rep
tesenting various organizations for
the ~betterTnent of child life, as Well
as the director Of the census and the
commissioners Of labor and educa-
ton.
h bill provides for the establish
ment OF q new bureau in the Depart
ment of the Interior for certain speci-
tic purposes: The welfare of chill
dren and child life, infant mortality.
the birth rate, physical degeneracy.
0rphanage, Juvenile delinquency and
Juvenile courts, deSertion and illegiti-
macy, dangerous occupations, acct
dents and disease of children of the
working classes, employment, legisla-
ton affecting children in the several
states and Territories, and such other
facts as have a bearing upon the
health. efficiency, character, and train
ing of children, and from time to time
publish TIE results of these inyestiga-
tons"
1t is clear TO us that already there
eXlStS governmental departments fO1
the gathering Of all necessary infor-
nation desired by the advocates Of
this bill; III fact, much of it is being
gathered. The ems is the one great
statistical bureau of the government.
and deals with infant mortality and
the birth ate. 1ho bureau Of labor. if
It IS doing the work it was created to
90, is investigating all subjects con
nected with the working people. hill
dren as Well as adults, including dan
Eefous occupations. employment. and
diseases Of the children of the work
ing classes. The bureau Of education
IS doing work and gathering statistics
as to legislation affecting children in
me several States. and such facts as
Dear upon the health. character, eff.
clency, and training of children.
Iherefore tht establishment of the
bureau viii mean a duplication Of
work. In addition to all that the Ma
Iional Government is doing along the
mes indicated. every State in the Tn
ION IS engaged in identicalIy the same
YORK. Nothing, perhaps, affecting the
"tople has had from the legislatures
Of the several States during recent
1eaIS so much attention as the welfare
81 the children. resulting in child-labor
Tvs the establishmtnt of orphanages
~ relornatories In fact, it appears
Indt TINS whole movement for. the
29neht OF children had its inception
N States and cities. We believe this
- De specifically the work of the vari-
"a states and that the entrance OF
- National Government into this
M 3Iu would be followed by a loss of
rha a q cessation of effort on
mr. part OF the States. The bill goes
10 the domain Of the health and
nraTacter Of its citizens, q field not
my belonging to the States b,t ono
- which the States are better t,ual-
oeal. Tor the reason that they
oiioW up the work of inyestiga.
18th necessary legislation,