New-York tribune., 1909-01-27
WELFARE OF CHILDREN
FEDERAL BUREAU URGED.
Steps to did Dependents Taken by
Conference President Speaks.

nifcance 10 the future webeing of the children
Of the country were taken at the closing session
to-day of the conference the care of dependent
children, held in this city. Expressing the senti-
ments of nearly two hundred delegates. the con-
ference adopted comprehensive report on its con-
clusions as to the most practical plan for proot
| ing the welfare Of the neglected child.
one of the most important recommendations.
which submitted President Roosevelt at
dinner given by the conference at the New Willard
Hotel tonight requested the President TO send a
message to Congress urging the establishment Of a
federal Childrens bureau, of whose objects
shall be to disseminate accurate information In re-
gard to child-carng work and the needs of the
children. The report emoodies the conclusions OF
two days deIihera tons by prominent charity work
ers and others, and deals with every phase OF the
problem of caring for the dependent child
To-night's dinner fitting climax 10 what
is regarded the most important gathering ever
held in the interest OF dependent children Presi-
dent Roosevelt listened with close attention to the
reading of the report, and then expressed his own
views.
Another important recommendation which the
President was urged to impress on Congress was
for the enactment of such legislation will bring
the laws public administration Of the District
of Columbia and other federal territories into har-
mony with the conclusions adopted by the confer
ence
Briefly summarized the conclusions are as fol-
lows:
Children of worthy parents should. a rule, be
kept with tnelT parentSi npT1eeSS anu hoSleCteN
children. if normal, should be cared for in families
when practicable; chid-caring Institutions should
be the cottage plan: states should inspect all
agencies caring for dependent children; educational
work or institutions caring for dependent children
should be supervised by state educational author
ites agencies caring for children should cooperate
to ascertain and control Of dependency.
permanent organization for work along the line OF
this declaration being desirable: prohibtive legsla-
ton against transfer of dependent children between
states should he repealed cooperation between
chid-caring agencies and more thorough precau-
tons for surgical and medical care of children in
all Institutions /
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
Il shall send a special message to Congress-"
said President Roosevelt at the dinner, recon-
mending the establishment of federal childrens
bureau. and a law for the District of Columbia
and the federal territories. which shall apply the
principles and methods you advocate in practical
fashion,
Il will send the message to Congress-" he
peated, 'and then you do your part to get it made
into law. I will do all that In me lies TO see
that your great work regards the federal capt
tai and federal government bears immediate fruit
The President asserted that in institutions of all
there should be the utmost possible care TO
have employe who is not of the best possible
character in any position which will bring that
empioye in in any way with the children
of the institution. II is evil thing" he added,
ito have a bad public servant in any capacity
Congratulating the delegates the work they
have done, the President spoke OF the progressive
and constructive character of the platform" drawn
up when we come here he said. 'fn the name
minded charity, il is gratifying to know
that broad -mndedness and charity have been
shown among your Own selves. Yet you have not
secured agreement at the cost or strength He
expressed the hope that the state legislatures would
mot persevere in course Of conduct which means
a refusal TO do each It's duty by its neighbor."
That children of normal minds who must be re-
moved from their homes should be cared for In
families wherever practicable, but the abnormal
child should be placed in a chdren's institution.
the opinion expressed by many delegates at
the morning session. Judge Julian W. Mack. OF
the Circuit Court of Cook County, H., presided
The speakers included A. T. Jamson. OF Green
wood. S. c., superintendent OF the Connie Max
well orphanage Judge George ". Atkinson, presi-
dent OF the West Virginia Chidren's Home Society;
Josephine NJ. Griswold of Hartford, Conn, secre-
tary of the Connecticut Chidren's Aid Society, and
Edwin d. Solenberger. general secretary Of the
Pennsylvania Aid Society.
The superiority OF the college plan others
was pointed out by Or. r. r. Reeder. superictend-
ent of the Orphan Asylum Society os New York
City; Galen a. Merrill superintendent Of the Min
nesota public schools, and others Elmer Il. Brown,
United States Commissioner OF Education. and
William b. Streeter, superintendent OF the North
Carolina Children's Home Society, advocated
pervision by authorities the educational
work of orphan asylums and similar institutions.
Among those who were invited by the President
to attend the conference at the White House for
discussing ways and for the care of des1i-
and dependent children Adoiph Lewisohn,
president OF the Hebrew ShelteTing Guardian Asso-
ciation, and prominently associated with many
other charitable institutions. Mr. Lewisohn was
prevented from attending, but sent to the Presi-
dent a memorandum embcdying some of his views.
of which he divided the dependents
into three groups, namely, the orphan and half
orphan child; the destitute child with both parents
living, but who for certain reasons are unable to
provide for its support, and the child with I'M
proper guardianship.
legal ties to prevent the full orphan should be
placed for adoption" AS to the half orphan.
most whom fatherless. comparatively few
of these children require supervision and care on
the part Of outsiders" He thinks that II the
mothers received ample pecuniary support. there
would be no necessity whatever for placing these
children either IN institutions in foster homes.
whether such subsidy should be given from private
or public funds he considers of little interest.
The problem seems 20 be solved, says Mr.. Levi
sohn by caring for children, mot In institutions.
nor in foster homes, but with their mothers"
For the few half orphans who motherless
temporary boarding houses needed. particu-
larlv If the father could board in the place
with children
belief that for such children. where there Is a