Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-16
ASKS FOR LAWS
TO AID ORPHANS
PRESIDENT URGES CONGRESS
TO HELP DEPENDENTS
CHILD LABOR PROBLEM DEMANDS
SPECIAL ATTENTION
Work Done by Isaac SeIiginan, Mrs.
Decker and Others May Be
Augmented by Federal
Measures

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-Legisla-
ton which, it is believed. if enacted
into law, will make an important
epoch in the future welIbeing of the
dependent children of the nation is
recommended in a special message by
President Roosevelt sent to congress
in the interest of children coming
within this class.
Of particular. Importance is the
presidents recommendation for the
establishment of a federal children's
bureau, the enactment of such legiSla-
ton as will bring the laws and prac-
tees in regard to the care of depend
ent children in all federal territory
into harmony, and certain legislation
in behalf Of dependent children in the
District of Columbia.
The president believes that such
legislation is important not only for
the welfare of the children Immediate
ly concerned, but important "as set
ting an example of a high standard of
child protection by the national gov
eminent to the several states of the
Union, which should be able to look
to the nation for leadership in such
matters
Conclusions of Conference
The president also transmits with
his message to congress a copy of the
conclusions, together with the full text
of the proceedings of the recent con-
ferences here on the care of depend
emit children, in accordance with the
request of that organization
Declaring that their conclusions
constitute a wise, constructive and
progressive program of child caring
work" the president says that if
''given full effect by the proper
agencies existing methods and prac-
tees in almost every community would
be profoundly and advantageously
modified"
Statistics showing the large number
of dependent children in the country
are presented by Mr.. Roosevelt. Each
of these children represents either a
potential addition to the productive
capacity and the enlightened citizen
"or, if allowed to suffer from neglect,
a potential addition to the destructive
forces of the community The ranks
of criminals and other enemies of So
ciety are recruited in an altogether I'M
due proportion from children bereft of
their natural homes and left without
sufficient care. The interests of the
nation are involved in the welfare of
this army of children no less than in
our great material AFFAIRS
Urges ChiIdren's Bureau
In urging a childfens bureau, one
of whose duties will be to Investigate
a report upon all matters pertaining to
the welfare of children and child life,
the president points out that the ma
tional government is the only agency
which can effectively conduct such
general inquiries as are needed for the
benefit of all our citizens"
1T is not only discreditabIe to US as
a people that there is now no recog-
nized and authoritative source Of in
formation upon these subjects relating
to child life declares the president,
but in the absence of such Informal
ton as should be supplied by the fed
eral government many abuses have
gone unchacked, for public sentiment,
with its great corrective power, can
only be aroused by full knowledge of
the facts'
He adds that there are few things
more vital to the welfare of the nation
than accurate and dependable knowl-
edge Of the best methods of dealing
with children, particularly those hand
icapped by misfortune"
The president makes a strong plea
for keeping the family intact and de-
clares that poverty alone should not
disrupt the home.
The presidents message is one of the
many recent results of the conferences
held in Chicago and Washington under
the auspices of the national child la
Dor committee with Isaac N. Selig-
man of New York as chairman Mrs.
Sarah S. Platt Decker, Allen G. Hall,
Miss Jean NJ Gordon, Judge Ben 3.
Lindsey, DR.. A. J. McKelway and
many other prominent persons partici-
pated in these conferences.