Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-16
CARE OF NEEDY CHILDREN
President Sends to Congress Conclu.
sions Of Recent Conference.
HOME LIFE GREATEST BOON
Roosevelt Approves Statement chill
dren ShOuId BE Kept with Par
ents where Latter Are
worthy and DeservinE.

| Roosevelt today sent 10 congress a special
message recommending certain legislation
requested by the conference On the care
OF dependent children, which met recently
in Washington. and transmitting to con.
gress the proceedings OF the conference.
The text OF the message is as follows.
''On January &-3s. 1909. there assembled
in this city. on my invitation. a conference
on the care of dependent children. To this
conference there came from nearly every
state In the union men and women actively
engaged in the care of dependent children.
and they represented all the leading relig-
ious bodies.
The subject considered is one of high
importance to the well being Of the nation.
The census bureau reported in 1894 that
there were in orphanages and children's
homes about $500 dependent children.
There are probably $1,000 more Cthe precise
pumber never having been sscertRined) in
private homes, either on board or in
adopted homes provided by the generosity
OF foster parents. in addition 20 IN 80
there were $500 children in institutions for
Juvenile deinuuents.
Each of these children represents either
potential addition to the productive ca
| pacity and the enlightened citizenship Of
the nation, or II allowed to suffer from
neglect. a potential addition to the de-
structive forces of the community. The
ranks of criminals and other enemies OF
society are recruited in an altogether undue
proportion from children bereft of their
natural homes and left without sufficient
care
Nations IRterest In ChiIdren.
''The interests of the nation are involved
in the welfare Of this army OF children no
less than in our great material affairs.
notwithstanding a wide diversity OF
views and methods represented in the con-
fei ence. and notwithstanding the varying
legislative enactments and policies OF the
states from which the members came the
conference, at the close Of it's sessions,
unanimously adopted a series OF declara-
tiers expressing the conclusions which
they had reached. These constitute wise,
cor structive and progressive program of
child caring work. II given full effect by
the proper agencies. existing methods and
practices in almost every community would
be profoundly and advantageously modi-
fled.
More significant even than the contents
of the declarations is the fact that they
were adopted without dissenting vote and
with every demonstration OF hearty ap-
proval on the part Of all present. They
constitute a standard Of accepted opinion
by which each community should measure
the adequacy Of its e1isrirg methods and
to which each community should seek to
conform its legislation and its practice
Keynote i'm Home Life.
''The keynote of TIE conference was ex-
pressed in these words:
Home life is the highest and finest prod
ust OF civilization. CiildIen should not
be deprived OF IL except for urgent and
compelling reasons.
Surely poverty alone should not disrupt
the home. Parents Of good character suf-
fering 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 homes for the
rearing OF their children. The widowed or
deserted mother IL a good woman. willing
to work and do her best. should ordinarily
be helped In such fashion as will enable
her to bring up her children herself in their
natural 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.
'I transmit herewith for your informa-
tion a copy of the conclusions reached
by the conference. of which the following
is brief summary:
Summary of Conclusions.
Il Home CRre-Children Of worthy par
ents or deserving mothers should. as a
rule, be kept with their parents al home
- Preventive Work-The effort should
such as disease and accident, and 10 sub
stitute compensation and insurance for re-
lief.
"a Home Finding-Homeless and neg
lected children. II normal. should be cared
for in families, when practicable.
- Cottage system-Institutions should
be on the cottage plan with small units as
far possible.
&. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS caring for
dependent children should be Incorporated.
OF srsts InsnscdioaaThs oSS sac SO Do@fe ,,s
inspect the work Of all agencies which
care for dependent chiloren.
Educational work Of institutions and
agencies caring for dependent children
should be supervised by state educational
authorities
g Facts and Records-Complete his
! tories OF dependent children and their par
entg, based upon personal investigation and
ance of child-caring agencies.
80 Physical Care-Every needy child
should receive the best medical and SUI
gical attention, and be instructed in health
and hygiene.
10. Co-Opsration - Local child caring
agencies should cooperate and establish
joint bureaus OF information.
II. Undesirable Legisla slation-Prohibitiva
legislation against transfer OF Dependent
children between states should be repealed
- Permanent OrganiEa tion-A perma-
nent organisation for work along the lines
of these resolutions is desirable.
IA Federal Children's Bureau-Estab-
lishment OF a federal children's bureau A
desirable and enactment OF pending hill is
earnestly recommended
IA Suggest snecisl message TO congress
tavoring federal childrens bureau and
other legislation applying above princirIes
to District Of Columbia and other federal
territory.
Federal Action Asked.
While II is recognised that these con
clusions can be given their fullest effect
only by the action OF the several states or
communities cOncerned- or OF their charit
able agencies. the conferences requested me
in section "a of the conclusions, 10 send 10
you a message recommending federal ao-
tion.
There are pending in both houses Of
congress bills for the sstAblishmsnt Of a
rhfIdrau'a bureau aanat. tstl -