The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-04-26
Nv GRAHAM RoMEYN TAYLOR.

Nv GRAHAM ROMEYN TAYLOR.
The Children's Bureau was established
by the Federal government two years
ago. 1t came after six years OF EFFORT
on the part Of a large number OF people
throughout the country who believe that
the children are the nations most Valu-
able natural resources and that for their
welfare the government should have at
least the same sort of concern as that
which II shows toward the conservation
of material wealth through the bureaus
of plant and animal industry.
These longer established bureaus had
appropriated for their use last year
S.6s9, 1s1, while Congress gave the Chill
dren's Bureau but s2S.6i0. No one con-
tends that money devoted to crops and
cattle is not important in the upoullding
OF the country. But the contrast be-
tween the two sums is absurd.
Hog Cholera and Child Welfare.
For the study and eradication Of chol-
ara an appropriation of $4,000 was pass
ID only last February. Yet shortly
thereafter the House committee having
In charge the appropriation requested for
the Children's Bureau reduced IL from
-Sls46iO. as asked by the chief OF the
bureau, to s25,64O, the amount per year
SANITATION period ending next June. This
action was fortunately changed on April
II, when the House, on roll call by a
vote of 276 to a., passed the full appro-
priation of s164640 for investigating the
subjects of anfant mortality and danger
Gus occupations of children. II is great
ly TO be hoped that the Senate will agree
to this appropriation and apportion l.
not exclusively for these two purposes,
but according to the plans proposed by
the Children's Bureau, which have been
carefully thrashed out and formulated.
That this is a modest sum for the
needs of the bureau is apparent For the
law creating the bureau requires Of it
large and important work-that it shall
investigate and report upon all matters
pertaining to the welfare of children and
child life. and shall especially investigate
the questions of infant mortality, the
birth rate, physical degeneracy. orphan
age, juvenile courts, desertion. dangerous
occupations. accidents and diseases of
children, employment, and legislation af-
fecting children in the several States and
Territories
What the Bureau Did First.
The foundation for doing this important
work has been laid. President Taft ap-
pointed. and President Wilson has been
glad to retain, as chief Of the bureau,
Miss Julia c. Lathrop. associated since
1880 with Miss Jane Adams in the work
at Hull House, Chicago. Her tact, in
tslligence. and ability have played an
important part in the public and private
Philanthropic activities of Illinois and
in the country wide movements for So
cial advance. The first annual report
Of the bureau. issued in March. covers
a significant investigation into infant
mortality: cooperation with women's
clubs and other organizations interested in
the welfare of children, preparation of
child welfare exhibits. and the prepara-
ton and distributing of publications deal
ing with birth registration, baby saving
campaigns, prenatal care. and Federal
statistics of children
The Importance of the infant mortality
investigation is shown by the startling
estimate of the Census Bureau that about
JcO,OOO babies under one year of age die
each year of whom at least One-half
would now be living had We as individ-
uals and communities. applied those
measures of hygiene and sanitation which
are known and available. Miss Lathrop
points out that the conditions which de-
stroy so many of the youngest lives of
the community must react unfavorably
upon the health of the entire community.
and she quotes Sir Arthur NewshoIme
the great English statistician, as saying
infant mortality is the most sensitive
index we possess of social welfare"
The investigation. in view of the meager
stan and funds available, was limited to
one typical small industrial city-Johns-
town. Pa. But the methods were such as
would be more extensively applied il the
bureau were given the appropriation il
seeks. The study concerned the social
Industrial. and economic surroundings of
each family in which a child was born.
and by following the life of the child
through his first year as long as he sur
vived. the effect of these surroundings
was ascertained. The inquiry was abso-
lutely democratic. applying 10 every fam
ily rich or poor The tact and care with
which it was carried out is shown in the
fact that. although the government agents
possess no authority to go into any home
without the good will and assent of the
mother. l.5ol schedules were secured and
there were but two refusals The report
Of this first field inquiry by the bureau
is expected to appear in the near future
Facts About Nation. Children.
The first publication Of the bureau. on
birth registration. was prepared at the
request of the General Federation of
Nomen's Clubs and was widely used in
this years campaign toward securing for
this country such a system of uniform
hlrth statistics as every other civilized
nation has long Possessed
baby saving campaigns, conducted or
Planned for the summer months by var
ious cities. have been greatly aided by