Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-01-10
WOULD PUBLISH APPLICATIONS
Child Welfare Commission Would
Make Important Change In
Marriage Laws,

uoSss 0S0 3O"Os
Creation of child welfare bureau
in the state board of control where
much like work is already carried on
and establishment of a board of chill
drens' guardians In each county of the
state, are important recommendations
in a plan by which Minnesota will
better provide and care for depend
ent, neglected and delinquent child
rem, as presented to Governor J. A. A.
Burnquist by a voluntary commission
on revision Of laws relating to child
rem, says letter from the Child We'll
fare Commission.
The powerful and wealthy state,
says the report signed by Chairman
E. F. Waite, judge of the Hennepin
county juvenile court, and which prob
ably will go to the next legislature, is
under three-fold obligation to pro-
vide every child fair chance to be-
gin life sound in mind and body and
with two responsible parents; a rea-
sonable opportunity for development
appropriate to it's natural capacity in
body, mind and morals, and the great
est practical relief from the perma-
nent consequences of his wrong
AAAN
antisocial tendencies.
On this basis the need is cited for
new legislation and changes in pres
ent laws. Marriage law amendments
as recommended would add cOmmuni-
cable diseases to the list of barriers
to legal marriages; require publ1ca-
ton Of applications for marriage IL
senses and a delay between the max
ing of the application and the mar
riage and provide for the examina-
ton of both parties as to the Legality
of the proposed marriage instead OF
one as heretofore.
More adequate state facilities for
the care and supervision OF the feeble
minded to prevent propagation Of that
class is the subject of another rec
ommendation.
Provision for compulsory COM
mitment of feeble-minded persons un.
der proper safeguards, express auth.
ority to the state health department
to regulate against "baby blindness
and venereal diseases, and leg1sla-
ton to increase the responsibilities OF
the adjudged father of an illegit1mate
child are other proposals in the gen
eral plan to better insure the welfare
OF the unfortunate child.
A measure to make child abandon
ment felony under certain condi
lions and another relating to adop
tions are other recommendations by
the commission.
Because eugenic laws of other
states are proving impractical and
for that reason are failing to bring
results expected, the Minnesota plan
as proposed in a revision Of laws re-
lating to children and based on con
servative and thoroughly practical
views Of the commission perfecting it
is model in the opinion of experts.
Amendments to the present statutes
on marriage are simply common-sense
proposals. Communicable diseases
will be added to epilepsy, feeble
mindedness and insanity, the present
list of barriers to legal marriage. To
prevent hasty marriages, it is pro-
posed to require lapse of ten days
for publication of the license applica.
ton before the marriage takes place
and further that both parties swear
to the legality Of the proposed mar
rage instead of one as heretofore.
The same practicability character
ICES other recommendations of the
commission which relates more di-
rectly to the welfare Of children.
Adoption of the entire plan by the
legislature is expected to place Min
nesota among the states leading in
this important branch Of legislation.
To lessen the great handicap OF the
child that through no fault Of his own
is born outside the legal marriage, the
legislature will be asked next month
to impose on the adjudged father OF
such a child the same responsibilities
that rest upon the fathers Of more for
| tunate children.
There is strong sentiment in the
commission toward amending presen
laws to permit the Legitimate chile
to share equally in the estate OF hi
adjudged father and thus remove thu
last legal shadow over children o
that class.
The commissioners, selected TO-
their experience and knowledge @
child welfare problems, at frequen
hearings at the state capitol are TN
ally perfecting the general plan b.
which the state will better protec
and care for it's dependent, neglecte.
and delinquent children. The wor]
is commanding the attention OF man
charitable people who are apprec1atlv
Of the need in this state OF more Ell
- ~,vo ~ ;ro,,ro tho wp11.hnin