Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-11
URGES CHILD BUREAU
Measure Is introduced by Rep
resentative Barnhart.
TO COVER A WIDE FIELD
Bill Provides That Reports Be Made
on Matters Relating to
Juvenile Life.
TO COVER A WIDE FIELD

A bill Of wide interest to educators,
philanthropists. hurnanitarians and aid
societies and associations generally was
introduced In Congress today by Repre-
sentative Barnhart Of the thirteenth In
diana district. The bill provides for the
establishment in the Department Of Com
merce and Labor of q bureau to be
known as tho "children's bureau" which
shall be under the direction of a chief,
to be appointed by the President and
approved by tho Senate, who shall have
practical experience in Juvenile hygienics
and ethics.
The bureau shall investigate ana re-
port on all matters pertaining to the
welfare OF children and child life and
shall especially investigate tho questions
Of infant mortality. birth rate, physical
degeneracy. sanitary conditions Of schools
and orphans homes, juvenile delinquency.
Juvenile courts. desertion, dangerous &C.
cupation, diseases and care OF children,
employment and such other information
as may have bearing on the health, EN-
cheney, character and welfare Of human
life.
1t also is provided that the chief Of the
bureau shall, from time to time, publish
the general results or conclusions Of these
investigations, together with helpful sug-
gestions. as public documents for free
distribution.
Similar to Gardner Bill.
This bill ought to pass and become a
law" said Mr.. Barnhart. "A bill some
what similar to it was introduced in a
previous Congress by Representative
Washington Gardner Of Michigan. but
numerous important features have been
added. principal among which are the
provisions that the officials in charge
shall be a practical authority in juvenile
work. that his reports shall be public
documents for free distribution. and that
the scope of the bureaus endeavor shall
include child employment and the SAM
tary conditions Of schools. orphan homes.
etc. The government has bureaus in
vestigatng the health and breeding of
farm animals, poultry. ETC., and issuing
all sorts Of bulletins on how to take
care Of this, that and the other. but no
effort is made to school the people OF our
country on the best method Of properly
sturdiest. happiest and best race Of peo-
pie possible.
1T Is said young mother asked a
government department for instructions
she received q bulletin list giving about
400 treatises on farm and home topics
ranging all the way from hog cholera to
calisthenics. and from home building to
the USES ana ABUSES OF the muSkEat, out
not q word OF greatest Importance to all
young parents and to most older ones.
An Important Work.
Il believe that the government has
other and moro important missions than
the fixing Of tariffs and the financial and
industrial development Of the country.
Money IL worth nothing to people in ILL
health. and money is really q curse to
those who. through Inheritance or neglect
in youth, are depraved. Money cannot
buy health and happiness. These can
come only through sound bodies and right
living. and the government has no high
er duty than to provide ways and means
Of enabling parents and guardians to
give good health and good morals to
children.
"The future greatness Of our people de-
ponds on how useful we and they can be
In contributing to the avoidance Of mis-
!! cry, rather than how much money they
can make. And II we are to check the
growth Of disease. II tntemperance. of
crime and OF trouble-making generally We
must inaugurate = liberal system Of pro-
tecting children from conditions harmful
to them and to postertty. We ali admit
that our penal aud benevolent Institutions
are becoming too full Of delinquents and
dependents OF all sorts, and the only way
to prevent much Of this misfortune IL the
proper rearing Of children, not only for
their own sake, but for the sake Of their
offspring even unto the fifth genera
tion.'
INT Ia tH ala