The Washington herald., 1912-02-01

ecummins. Dixon, Gamble. Gronna, Gug-
genheim, Jones, La Toilette. Lodge. Nc
Cumber, Mclean, Nelson, Nixon, Page,
Perkins. Poindexter, Richardson, Root,
Stephenson, Sutherland. Townsend, and
Wetmore.
S2s,o0O Appropriated.
The bin provides for. the appointment
by the President, subject TO the Sem
ate's continuation. Of. a chief, who shall
be in charge OF the chiIdrens bureau, at
salary Of, 5000 per, year. Provision
Is 1lso made for an assistant chief and
such clerks as may be necessary TO carry
on the work. The total appropriation
amounts to little more than S25,oOO per
year.
The bureau shall Investigate and re-
port upon all matters pertaining to the
welfare of children and child life and
shall especially investigate the questions
Of infant mortality, the birth rate. juve-
nile courts, desertion, dangerous occupa-
tons, accidents, and diseases Of children,
employment. Legislation affecting chill
dren in the several States and Terri
tories"
The bill. as originally proposed, pro-
vided that the bureau might from time
to time publish the results of its in
vestigations. The Senate adopted an
amendment by Senator Pomerene, Of
Ohio, providing that the details of the
Investigations shall not be published in
these reports.
Measure Strongly Opposed.
The passage of the bill marked the con-
clusion of a spirited debate extending
over three days. Senators Gallinger, OF
New Hampshire. and Hepburn, Of Idaho,
Republicans, and Senator Bailey, of
led in aft m q
opposition OF the latter was placed
largely upon constitutional grounds. Sem
atOr Overman, Of North Carolina, also
protested against the passage of the bill,
and Senator Stone, of Missouri, Joined in
the opposition TO the measure.
Senators Borah, of Idaho; Dixon. Of
Montana; Owen, Of Oklahoma; Hitch
cock. Of Nebraska, and Hoke Smith, OF
Georgia, championed the measure in
speeches. Senator Root argued the con-
stitutionality OF the measure
The Culberson amendment to the bill,
which was not accepted until after two
similar amendments had been defeated,
precipitated a lively debate, in the clos
ing hours OF the bills consideration.
When the amendment was first suggested
by Senator Thornton, of Louisiana, who
protested against the measure as calcu-
lated 10 allow an agent of the govern
ment 10 invade the home, Senator Borah
declared that the adoption OF the amend
ment would emascualte the bill and make
II practically useless. Subsequently, he
declared that the amendment was unnec-
essary, as the proposed legislation con-
terred upon the bureaus agents no right
to enter a mans dwelling over his OBJ
lection.
Senator Stone declared that the oppo-
siuon to such amendment expressd his
opposition to the bill He asserted that
without such an amendment the sanctIty
OF the home would become a. joke, and
that $500 clerk, clothed with authority
ana puffed with impertinence, could in
wade home and demand the production
Of the children =
: Would Have Affected LIncoIr.
Senator Hepburn declared that had
such lazy been on the books in his
time Abraham Lincoln would have been
taken from his parents. because he lived
in log cabin and slept on an earthea
hoor, cflaracterszed,' he SAID. in fhe roeF-1
ical language OF these agents as suualor.
Inc advocates of the children's bureau
are pleased with the action of the Sem
-srte: 1t marks their first distinctive step
Of advance IN a fight that has extended
over many years. While some OF the
governmental bureaus have heretofore
investigated conditions of children and
child life, the work has been fragmen-
tary and sporadic. They have sought TO
have government bureau established
solely for the investigation of this aues-
ton continually, so that the States may
have the advantage OF comprehensive in
formation upon which to base IegisIa-
tion for Juveniles.
The child labor leaders all over the
country have centered their energies on
the passage Of the bill. and it has been
contended in. some quarters that the
principal purpose for the legislation is
to enable humanitarian societies to ex-
pose conditions that prevail in the cotton
mills throughout the country, in the
hope of getting desired State legislation
for the protection of the children who
work in mills and mines.