Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-23
KEEPING BOOKS ON HUMANITY
ONE OF AIMS OF NEW BUREAU
OF GOVERNMENT.
NEEDLESS MORTALITY
HEAVY AMONG INFANTS
Halt Of Children Who Die IN First Year
After Birth Might Be Saved BY
Common Sense Care and Treatment
Conservation Of Humanity cnisf
Object Of children's Bureau.
Especial correspondence

Washington June 23.-An etnclent
system OF keeping books with respect
10 humanity is one of the chief aims OF
the chlldren's bureau OF the iederai
government, according TO MISS Juila u
Lathrop, VINO is the mead OF the bureau.
One oI the most important features Oh
the bureaus work is that OF study OF
the great problem of child moStailts.
The bureau is not yet year OLD, out
aireaoy much important Work mas peeu
zone Studies into the saving OF the
lives of children have been in progress
for some months and much progress
has been made in these studies. II Is
the idea of Miss Lathrop that II condl-
tions can be improved SO as TO save
lives Of ba bies, large contribution Will
have been made to the general welfare.
Needless Mortality.
The census bureau estimates the
number of children that die IN TINS
country before they reach the age OF
year at 10000 annually. The hgnres
a 9 TO this awful mortality are based on
returns from eight states whlch nave
exact records of births and deaths. Ex-
merit sanitarians estimate nan 'nis
number a, least could be saved IL means
already at hand but which are negiec.eo
were utilized II was With recognltlon
of these facts that the children oufeAu
began study of infant mortaii,!. II
was determined to make stuules III
some of the smaller cities because the
ch,,dren.s bureau has not the money
for going into the work on great scare
and because much attention has ALREADY
haen given by various activities to the
great cities
The children's bureau has about COM
pleted the first of its series OF stuoies
into infant mortality. The enort nus
been made 10 learn the number OF emil
dren born in a given year ana men
trace The progress OF each child thru
.be first year Of life or such part OF
the wear as the child survived Is
stated by Miss Lathrop that the sue
cess in getting information has oeeh
gratifying and that from many sources
co.oneration has come IN aiding tne
bureau to get at. the truth one OK tne
ru,es which has been sedulously oo-
served ty the agents OF the bureau 10
,ha, its agents are not to 30 into any
house without the good Will OF the
owner.
Need Of Vital Statistics.
The need for complete vital STATISTICS
in every state has been made more
clear than ever in this inquiry. Only
e;ph, state. have these statistics IN
eract form. The children's bureau Is
using its influence TO promote 1esisia-
ton by the etates for better ana more
/ complete methods OF dealing with SltA'
statistics. This sort OF bookkeeping al
applied to tho life and death OF the
people, Miss Lathrop regards as OF the
utmost importance. II is matter 1oi
| the states. not the federal government
However. unless each state does its
share in tnty respect, the federal gov
eminent is seriously hampered IN get
| ting statistics, either on child NOR
| tality or any other line OF study.
Conservation Of humanity Is one OF
the chief objects Of the, children's Dur
eau. The inquiry into child mortality
has this distinctly in mind. Following
the exposure Of the facts which VII
| be the result Of the investigation. IT II
hoped states. municipalities and ofhe'
governmental units win beetir them
selves to their utmost to grapple will
the problem Of saving the lives OF TN
babies. II it is easily possible as SAM
tarians say, to save at least 4oo,oo'
babies from death annually. 1t Is cas-!
10 perceive what the effect OF sucn ef
fort would be on the increase OF popu
lIation in this country. It would meal
a direct increase OF several millions II
population annually, to say nothing
great economic savings or OF the en-
! HANGED happiness in millions OF homes