The Cairo bulletin., 1913-04-27
Original Bill Repealed in 1908
Cause Of Defeat Of Chapman
Of Vienna.
WAS NOT RIGIDLY ENFORCED
New Bill Now Before Senate is More
Strict and Drastic Than
Old Measure.


aroused and much opposition is
being exhibited to Senate Bill No.
IS13. known as the Vital Statistics
Act now before the Illinois Senate.
The history of vital statistics leg
islation in Illinois is both interest
ing and instruttive. The act to
create and establish a State Board
of Health for the State of Illinois,
approved May 2S, 1877. provided
for the registration of births and
deaths. 1t became the duty OF ply
sicians and accoucheurs to report to
the county clerk all births and
deaths, coming under their super
vision, with certificate as to the
cause of death and such relative
| facts as the State Board OF Health
might require in the blank form to
be furnished by the Board
| This act was dead letter at all
time In its application to reports
Of births, and was very laxly en-
forced in the matter CT reports on
deaths, ,s a{r
In their annual report to the Gov
ernor In 1900, the Illinois State
Board of Health recommended the
enactment OF law forbidding the
interment or cremation OF dead
body without a permit from some
lega ly constituted authority; in
other words, law with a compul-
sorry burial permit feature.
Governor Tanner, in his biennia
message to the General Assembly In
1901, approved the recommendations
OF the State Board of Health. Ac-
cordingly, a bill providing for the
registration of births and deaths
embodying compulsory burial per.
NIT feature, was prepared by the
Secretary OF the State Board oil
fFlealth and was introduced in the
Senate by Hon. Pleasant r. Chap
man Of Vienna. After encounter.
ing some opposition. the bill fna ly
became a law, and went into effect
Jan. l 1909. The law worked fairly
satisfactory during 1902, although
1t speedily became apparent to the
State Board of Health, that all re.
ports of deaths were not beinl
made and the law was not beinl
enforced, especially In counties no
under township organization. II
was in these counties that the mos
formidable opposition to the en-
forcement of the law was found.
Il 1t is said that the introduction o
this bill caused the defeat OF Chap
man for Congress by r. II. Fow
Ter who took an active part In tn,
| repeal of the Chapman bill in 1903
| The present Act prvides for tn
taking of vital statistics Throughout
the State by the Illinois Board o
Health. 1t requires birth certil
cate before child may enter schoo
and burial certificate is necessar.
before body may be buried.
Every person upon whom tn
duty is placed of reporting brit
or death, or the enforcement of tn
law, is subject to fine, If he fail
to do so. A fee of 25 cents Is to b
paid to each person reporting
birth or death. Each registrar, t
whom the report is made, is to b
paid Is cents. Should there be
: sub-registrar who makes the repor
to the registrar. he is to receive l
cents, so that the reporting of
birth or death may cost the count
SIS cents. Each report ordinaril
will cost at least 40 cents.
{ County supervisors and city al
dermen are subject to penalty ur
less they appropriate enough to pa
all of these expenditures in thei
respective counties and cities.