The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-15
SPECIAL MESSAGE
BY PRESIDENT
:. cared for in families.
fcontinued from page u

coached by the conner Cneo' VI
~ following is brief summary:
w Home care.-Children of worthy
..onts or deserving mothers should,
POI a . rule. be kept with their parents
at home NJ -.
mould be made to eradicate causes
II dependency, such as disease and ac-
o;dent and to substitute compensation
and insurance for relief.
- Home ding.-Homeless and
,oglected children, if normal, should
~ cared for in families, when prac-
ticable.
Cottage system. ~ Institutions
should be on the cottage plan with
small units, as far as possible.
( Observation-Disclosures caring
,or dependent children should be In
cornorated on approval OF suitable
state board.
6 state inspection state
should inspect the work of all agencies
which care for dependent children.
I. Inspection of educational work.
Educational work of institutions and
agencies caring for dependent chill
dren should be supervised by state
educational authorities.
3. Facts and records.-Complete
histories of dependent children and
their parents, based upon personal in
vestigation and supervision, should be
recorded for guidance of child-caring
agencies
g. Physical care. - Every needy
child should receive the best medical
and surgical attention. and be instruct
ed in health and hygiene.
10. Co-operation.-Local child-car-
ing agencies should cooperate and es-
tablish Joint bureaus of information.
II. Undesirable legislation.-Pro-
hibitive legislation against transfer Of
dependent children between states
should be repealed.
u. Permanent organization.-Ap per-
manent organization for work along
the lines of these resolutions is de-
sirable.
10. Federal children's bureau
Enlistment of federal children's hui
reau is desirable, and enactment OF
pending bill is earnestly recommended.
a. Suggest special message to con
gress favoring federal children's bu-
reau and o.ier legislation applying
above principles to District of Column
bia and othe- federal territory.
While it is recognized that these
conclusions can be given their fullest
effect only by the action of the several
states or communities concerned, or OF
their charitable agencies, the confer
ence requested me, in section Ia OF
the conclusions, to send to you mes
sage recommending federal action.
There are pending i'll both houses oil
congress bills for the establishment
Of children's bureau, l. e., senate bill
No. 1923 and house bill No. 2414S
These provide for children's bureau
in the department of the interior which
shall investigate and report upon al
matters pertaining to the welfare OF
children and child life, and shall es
pecally investigate the questions OF
infant mortality, the birth rate, phys
ical degeneracy. orphanage. juvenile
delinquency and juvenile courts, deser
ton and illegitimacy, dangerous occu
pations, accidents and diseases of chill
dren of the working classes, employ
ment, legislation affecting children II
the several states and territories, ant
such other facts as have bearing
upon the health, efficiency, character
and training of children"
One of the needs felt most acutel!
by the conference was that of accurate
information concerning these ques
tons relating to childhood. The ma
tional government not only has the un
questioned right of research in sucl
vital matters, but is the only agenc,
which can effectively conduct sucf
general inquiries as are needed for the
benefit of all our citizens. In accord
ance with the unanimous request o
the conference, / therefore mos
heartily urge your favorable action OF
these measures.
1t is not only discreditable to us a
a people that there is now no recos
hlzed and authoritative source of in
formation upon these subjects relatin,
70 child life, but in the absence o
such information as should be SUI
pied by the federal government man,
abuses have gone unchecked; for pull
nc sentiment, with its great corrective
power, can only be aroused by flu
knowledge of the facts. In addition t.
such information as the census burea
ana otner existing agencies of the fec
eial government already provide, Their
remains much to be asce.taine
through lines of research not now at
thoflzed by law; and there should b
correlation and dissemination of tn
knowledge obtained without any dupl
caton of effort of interference wit
Nhat Is already being done. There ar
iew things more vital to the welfar
VI the nation than accurate and de
pehdable knowledge of the best metl
Vos OF dealing with children, especia
y with those who are in one way @
another handicapped by misfortune