Evening star., 1909-02-15
DEPENDENT CHILDREN
THEME OF MESSAGE
President Advocates Model
Laws for District.
URGES CONFERENCE PLAN
Asks for Establishment by Congress
of Federal Bureau.
NATION SHOULD SET EXAMPLE
Would Ilarmonize Systems in Opera
ton in All Federal Territory.
Would Have States Fall
in Line.
URGES CONFERENCE PLAN
Asks for Establishment by Congress
of Federal Bureau.
NATION SHOULD SET EXAMPLE

LEGISLATION. which. he believes. II
enacted into law, will make an important
epoch in the future wel-being of de-
pendent children of the nation, is rec
commended In a special message by PreSi-
dent Roosevelt sent to Congress today,
in which he makes strong plea in the
interest of children coming within this
class.
OF particular Importance is the PreSl-
dents recommendation for the estab-
lishment of a federal children's bureau;
the enactment of such legislation will
bring the laws and practices in regard 10
the care of dependent children in all fed
eral territory into harmony, and certain
legislation in behalf of dependent chill
dren in the District of Columbia.
The President believes that such leg
islation is important not only for the
welfare of the children Immediately con-
cerned, but important "aS setting an eX-
ample of a high standard of child pro-
lection by the national government to the
several states of the Union. which should
be able to look to the nation for lead
ership in such matters.
Approval of Conclusions
The President also transmits with his
message TO Congress d copy of the con-
proceedings of the recent conferences
here on the care of dependent children,
IN accordance with the request of that
organization. Declaring that their con-
cluSlonS constitute a wise constructive
and progressive program of child-caring
work, the President says that if given
fun effect by the proper agencies exist
ing methods and practices in almost every
community would be profoundly and ad-
vantageously modified
Statistics showing the large number of
dependent children in the country are
presented by Mr.. Roosevelt
Each of these children represents either
potential addition TO the productive ca
pacity and the enlightened citizenship of
the nation" says the President, "or, if al
lowed to suffer from neglect a potential
addition to the destructive forces of the
community.
The ranks of criminals and other enc
mics OF society are recruited in an alto
gether undue 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"
Federal Children's Bureau.
In urging chidren's bureau, one of
whose duties will be to investigate a re-
port upon all matters pertaining to the
welfare of children and child life. the
President points out that:
The national government is the ONLY
agency which can effectively conduct such
general inquiries as are needed for the
benefit of all our citizens
II is not only discreditable TO us as a
people that there is now no recognized and
authoritative source of information upon
these subjects relating to child life" de-
clares the President. but in the a absence
of such Information as should be suDDlied
by f-'a federal government many abuses
have gone unchecked: for public senti-
ment. with its great corrective power can
only be aroused by full knowledge of The
IA cts
He adds that there are few things more
vital TO the welfare of the nation than
accurate and dependable knowledge of the
best methods of dealing with children,
particularly those handicapped by misfor-
tune.
The President makes a strong plea for
keeping the family intact, and declares
that poverty alone should not disrupt the