The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-28
UNCLE SAM taR HIS CHILDREN N Future Citizens As Important As Crops and CattIe-
 ChiIdren's Bureau Work and Funds.
(By Graham Romeyn Taylor.) (Exclusfve Service The Survey Press Bureaul)

 The Children's Bureau was esta.b- lfshed by the federal government two years ago. It 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 na- tion's most valuable natural re- sources and that for their welfare the government should have at least the same sort Of concern as that which it shows toward the conservation of ma teriaI wealth through the bureaus of plant and animal industry
 These longer established bureaus had. appropriated for their use last year s7 6ss, ,191. while Congress gave the ,Chi1dren's Bureau but $25.640. No one contends that money devoted to crops and cattle is not important in the upbuildipg of the country But the contrast between the two sums is ig- nored.
 HOG CHOLERA AND CHIIDREN,S
 WELFARE.
 For the study and eradication of cholera an appropriation of $6o0s0eo was passed only last February. Yet shortly thereafter, the House Commit tee having in charge the appropria- ton. requested for the Children's Bu- reau reduced it from $164, $40, as ask ed by the chief of the bureau, to s25,- 40, the amount per pear provided for the experimental and organization pc riod ending next June. This action was fortunately changed on. April IT. when, the House, on roll call by a vote of 276 to AT passed the full approprias- ton of $164 $40 for Investigating the subjects of infant mortality and dan gerous occupations of children. It is greatly to be hoped that the Senate will agree to this appropriation and apportion it not exclusively for these two purposes, but according to the plans proposed by the ChiIdren's Bu- reau. which have been carefully threshed out and formulated.
 That this is a modest sum for the naeds 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 Tate, phy- sicaI degeneracy. orphanage, juvenile courts, desertion, dangerous occupa- lions, accidents and diseases of chiI- dren. employment legislation affecting children in the several states and ter ritorfes.''
 THE BUREAU'S FIRST WORK.
 The foundation for doing this inn portant work has been laid. President Taft appointed. and President Wilson
 
 the Bureau. Miss Julia c. Lathrop, associated since 1890 with Miss Jane Addans in the work at Hull House, Chicago. Her tact, intelligence and ability have played an important part in the public and private philan- thropic activities of Illinois and in the country wide movements for social ad-a vance. The first annual report of the Bureau. issued in March, covers a sig nificant investigation into infant rnor- tality; co-operation with women's club and other organizations inter ested in the welfare of children, prep aration of child welfare exhibits and the preparation and distribution of publications dealing with birth regis tration, baby saving campaigns, pre- natal care, and federal Statistics of children.
 The importance of the infant nor taIity investigation is shown by the startling estimate of the Census bu- reau that about 3OO,ooo babies under one year of age. die each year. of whom at least one-half would now be living had we, as individuals and com munities, applied those measures of hygiene and sanitation which are known and available. Miss Lathrop