Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-26
PROBE OF CHILD DEATHS
TO REACH SMALL TOWNS
Investigation of Infant Mortal
ity Will Be Carried Beyond
Big Cities.

An investigation or infant mortality
that is something out of the ordinary has
just been inaugurated by the childrens
bureau of the Department Of Labor. 1t
is different in that 1t goes out of the
beaten tracks Of such investigations. In
stead Of going through the large cities it
will cover the smaller towns, where the
mortality records are not kept SO COM
pletely as in the larger cities.
Miss Julia c. Lathrop, chief Of the
children's bureau, who has just returned
from visit to the south, declared today
that while the investigation had been
started she could, not at this time esti-
mate when the data would be complete
or even approximately estimate how long
it would take to compile the data, leav-
ing out the amount of time which will be
consumed in tabulating it and putting 1T
into shape where any sort Of conclusions
may be reached.
The work will be taken up and COM
pleted in one city at a time. This. OF
We're started simultaneously in various
parts of the country, but under the cir
cumstances this latter course cannot be
pursued. The investigators will go to
town and take the births for gwen
year. Having ascertained these the real
work will begin. For the probers will
seek to learn the conditions under which
the babies were xeared and whether they
survived the first and subsequent years
OF their young life.
To Consider Every Condition.
Not only will the questions cover the
period of the baby's early life, but will
take into consideration every condition
under which the child lived. Whether it's
parents were able to provide it with suf-
ficient nourishment: whether it attended
school. and if it did. how long; whether
or not it was compelled to go to work
the size of the pay envelope, the condi-
lions under which 1t worked. These and
a great mass of other questions will be
sought to be answered. 49,
When all this data is complete II VIII
be tabulated. The tabulations. it is hoped,
will show how those who were compelled
to work and live under detrimental con-
ditions compared with those who were
born of healthy parents. and had every
advantage. both in school and otnerWise'
for the start in life.
One of the reasons. it is declared, for
not taking the investigation to the larger
cities was the lack of appropriations. In
view of this fact it was pointed out that
the large cities have emcient means OF
keeping very complete mortality records.
and for that reason the children's bureau
probe should be confined to the smaller
localities.
Nav Decrease Infant Mortality.
The results of this investigation. 1t Is
believed, will furnish basis for decided
Improvement in the infant mortality or
the country and will even result In bring
ing about better conditions under which
children work Confined to the smaller
localities, it probably will be the first
information of this kind which has ever
been compiled in such manner as TO
show how the many children pull through
the trials and tribuations through which
some of them in their young hves are
compelled to pass.
OF course, the children's bureau in the
advisory capacity in which 1t acts can
not compel any change in conditions
which it may be shown are needed. But
it can make the investigations and 1t
can publish its findings. Then either
Congress, the state legislatures or what
is perhaps stronger. it may move public
sentiment, which in turn will start other
machinery going and that will undoubt-
eddy result in working the reforms which
are needed
But when the tell-tale figures are laid
down in black and white showing wheth-
er the child who has been born and lived
ulsJer model conditions has great and
ma tefia&-s advantage over him who Is
horn ana is reared under adversely, 1t Is
undoubted by those who have the welfare
of the little ones at hand that any re-
forms which may be shown to be needed
will be brought about.