Evening star., 1909-02-15
DEPENDENT CHILDREN
THEME OF MESSAGE
Continued from First PageD


product of civilization Children should
not be deprived of it except for urgent
and compelling reasons
Surely poverty alone should not dis
rupt the home. Parents of good character
suffering from temporary misfortune, and
above all deserving mothers fairly well
able to work but deprived of the support
of the normal breadwinner. should be
given such aid as may be necessary to
enable them to maintain suitable MONIES
for the rearing Of their children.
The widowed or deserted mother. If
good woman, willing to work and to do her
best, should ordinarily be helped In such
fashion as will enable her to bring up
home. Children from unfit homes, and
children who have no homes. who must
be cared for by charitable agencies,
should, so far as practicable, be cared for
IN families.
Summary Of Conclusions.
I transmit herewith for your informa-
ton copy of the conclusions reached by
the conference of which the following is
a brief summary:
1. Home care-Children Of worthy par
ents or deserving mothers should, as a
rule, be kept with their parents at home.
2. Preventive work-The effort should
be made to eradicate causes of depend
ency, such as disease and accident, and
to substitute compensation and insurance
for relief.
3. Home f1nding-Homeles and neglect
ed children. If normal, should be cared
for in families. when practicable.
4. Cottage system - Institutions should
be on the cottage plan with small units,
Is far as possible.
5. Observation-Disclosures caring for
dependent children should be incorporat-
ed, on approval of suit able state board.
6. State inspection-The state should in
spect the work of all agencies which care
for dependent children.
Z. Inspection of educational work-Edu-
cationa1 work or institutions and agencies
caring for dependent children should be
supervised by state educational authori-
ties.
of dependent children and their parents,
based upon personal investigation and
supervision. should be recorded Tor guild
ance of child-caring agencies.
8. Physical care-EVery needy child
should receive the best medical and surgi-
cal attention and be instructed in health
and hygiene.
10. Co-operation-Local child-caring
agencies should cooperate and establish
joint bureaus of information.
II. Undesirable observation-disclosures
legislation against transfer of dependent
children between states should be re-
pealed.
IL. Permanent organization-A perma-
nent organization for work along the lines
of these resolutions is desirable.
13. Federal children's bureau-Estab blish-
ment Of a federal children's bureau is de-
sirable. and enactment of pending bill is
earnestly recommended.
IA. Suggest special message to Congress
favoring federal children's bureau and
other legislation applying above principles
to District of Columbia and other federal
territory.
Compliance With Request.
While it is recognized that these con-
clusons can be given their fullest effect
only by the action of the several states
or communities concerned, or of their
charitable agencies. the conference re-
quested me, in sction IA of the conclu-
sions. to send to you a message recon-
mending federal action.
There are pending in both houses of
Congress bills for the esta blishment OF a
chidren's bureau. !. e.. Senate bill No
s323 and House bill No. 2414S These
provide for a children's bureau In the
Department of the Interior which ''shall
investigate and report upon all matters
pertaining to the welfare of children and
child life. and shall especially investigate
the questions Of infant mortality. the
birth rate. physical degeneracy, orphan
age, Juvenile delinquency and juvenile
courts. desertion and illegitimacy. dam
of children of the working classes, en-
ployment, legislation affecting children In
the several states and territories. and
such other facts as have q bearing upon
the health efficiency, character and train
ing of children"
One of the needs felt most acutely by
the conference was that of accurate in
formation concerning these questions re-
lating to childhood. The national gov
ernment not only has the unquestioned
ricy 0f lr..h jv ctinh toll ttorc
but is the only agency which can effect
lively conduct such general inquiries as
are needed for the benefit of all our citi-
zenS. In accordance with the unanimous
request of the conference, I therefore
most heartily urge your favorable action
on these measures.
Much to Be Learned.
1t is not only discreditable to us as
people that there is now no recognized
and authoritative source Of information
upon these subjects relating to child
life, but in the absence Of such informa-
tion as should be supplied by the fed
eral government many abuses have gone
unchecked for public sentiment. with
its great corrective power, can only be
aroused by full knowledge of the facts.
In addition to such information as the
census bureau and other existing agen-
cies of the federal government already
provide, there remains much to be as
certaned through lines of research not
now authorized by law; and there should
be correlation and dissemination of the
knowledge obtained without any dupu-
cation of effort or interference with
what is already being done.
There are few things more vital to the
welfare of the nation than accurate and
dependable knowledge of the best meth
DDS of dealing with children. especially
with those who are in one way or an
other handicapped by misfortune: and in
the absence of such knowledge each
community Is left to work out it's own
problem without being able to learn of
and profit by the success or failure of
other communities along the same lines
of endeaVOr. The bills for the eStab-
lishment of the children's bureau are
advocated not only by this conference,
but by a large number of national or
ganiZa tions that are disinterestedly
working for the welfare of children, and
also by philanthropic. educational and
religious bodies in all parts of the coun-
try.
1 further urge that such legislation be
enacted as may be necessary in order
to bring the laws and practices in re-
gard to the care of dependent children
in all federal territory into harmony with
the other conclusions reached by the
conference.
Legislation for District.
Congress took step in the direction of
the conclusions of this conference in 1893,
when, on the recommendation of the late
Amos G. Warner then superintendent of
charities for the District of Columbia.
the board of children's guardians was
treated with authOritv among other.