The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-02-01
LIVELY DEBATE
|. ON BILL GIVING
KIDDIES HOMES
Measure Attacked on Ground
That it initiates Against
Unwed Mothers

| t1llSl toIASi oPAAAeSA NN'~>SS' 80
which minority members played the
nose important part, the house this
afternoon re-referred House Bill 80
making it unlawful 10 separate a
mother and a child under six months
of age for the purpose OF placing the
infant in any foster home or instltu-
| ton. The bill was before the House
on third reading with two reports in
the majority report recommending 1t
for passage.
The minority contended that it was
not right to prevent the mother of an
illegitimate child from placing it in
a foster home or institution, where 1t
could be better cared for. Those OF
the majority who spoke for it declared
that the publicity that the mother
would get under such conditions would
be good for her soul and for others
who might learn Of the case.
Aside from the debate on this bill,
there was little of interest in the
house. Eight bills were passed, one
of them amending the section of an
act that was repealed two years ago.
l.. l.. Twichell of Cass, moved that
H. B. 46 be indefinitely postponed on
the grounds that Seceion 5SSS, which
it attempts to amend, was repealed
two years ago by Chapter POP of the
session laws of 1917. He read the
chapter referred to, but it made no
difference to the majority, and the bill,
which came in from the caucus, was
passed as per agreement and instruc-
tons. , .....
When II. 3. 80 came up on third
reading, Representative Ness, who
presented the minority report, asked
that the bill be killed as he did not
think it right to prevent mother
from finding home for her child be-
fore it was six months old, if she
could not care for it herself.
Keitzman declared that the bill
should pass because it would "eie-
vdte our MORALS" He said that the
legislature had not been paying
enough attention to the human race
and that the bill would tend to make
the mother more human" adt
Rep. ,Burl Carr of Barnes, argued
against the BILL citing a practical case
that had come under his observation.
He declared that many times a good
home, with all that goes with it, can
be provided for child in the first six
months of its life and that very fire.
quently it it too lie to do SO after
that time. He did not think it right
that the legislature should pass bill
which would deprive such a child of
a home, inasmuch as there is sufficient
remedy in the courts in the case of
adoptions. He declared that the bill
would work an injustice against the
mother and the child.
Representative Burtness of Grand
Forks also spoke against the bill. He
declared that it was far better to pro-
vide child born out of wedlock with
home in the first month or the first
six months than it was to wait longer,
when it would become hard for the
mother to part with the infant. He
deprecated the idea of passing a bill
simply to give publicity to unfortunate
women.
Rep. Dell Patterson, who always
can be counted upon to bear the
brunt Of the leagues fights, informed
the members of the minority that they
did not understand the bill. He said
it did not prevent obtaining home in
the first six months, whereupon l.. l..
Twitchell, just to help him out, read
the bill, which says: "That it shall
be unlawful to separate child under
the age of six months from its mother
for the purpose of placing such child
in foster home or institution"
Mr.. Burtness, then asked Patterson
what foster home was.
There's difference Of opinion"
retorted the league orator. He said
he thought it referred to such insti-
tutions as the Florence Crittenton
home at Fargo.
The committee appointed to invest
igate the question as to whether Rep
resentative eleven was entitled to pay
and mileage, reported that the house
could excuse no member from attend
ance at any session until he has &C
cepted membership therein by legal
qualifications. The committee also re-
ported that Rep. Riba who was seated
in place of Peter Weber," drew seven
days pay amounting to $35 before he
bccaine member and not entitled tt
s;.nlc unless by special resolution
passed by this house
y = ID.