New Britain herald., 1919-01-08

The war has brought the value of human life into focus. The tragic loss of life in vindicating international justice and ensuriag our national ex- iStence has caused universal sorrow. We deeply mourn the loss by shot and shell and by disease of the lives of many thousands of our young men. The public of this state was aroused and drastic action was taken to lessen the mortality caused by the recent epidemic not yet subsided. Yet every wear among children less than five wears of age we witness an excessive mortality without it's causing much perturbation of spirit. This empha- sizes our moral responsibility for per mitting preventa ble waste of human life. We have been intelligently con- cerned about preserving an1mal life and have carefully provided for the examination of cattle for tuberculosis and of swine to prevent hog cholera and have created commission to de- tect and eradicate such diseases among our animals, but we have not been equally or intelligently solicitous of the health, life and welfare of our children but have left it tn the 2f- forts of charitahly disposed citizens
 It is stated upon reliable authority that 4,828 children under five years Of age died in Connecticut last veal. Fischer's report on national vitality estimates the economic value of child under five years of age to be sA5O. According to this estimate Connecticut's loss last year from this cause was $4,624.100. It is further stated that one-hoIf Of these deaths are easily preyCntable, from which tt can be seen how inexcusable IS this economic waste and what a large fac tor it may be in the future of our country. Tn addition to this is the cost of sickness, the loss of tImo and decreased efficiency of the parents of these children.
 Our records show that one third Of the men examined on the first draft were not physically fit, many of them for causes which would have been renediable had they had proper care in childhood.
 The time has come when we can TO longer afford to neglect this i'm portant subject.
 Labor Employment Service.
 With the drain upon man power in cident to the creation of a great army there was an inevitable labor crisis Inasmuch as Connecticut was the chief III unitions center of this country the crisis was peculiarly acute here. Connecticut furnished about 77,000 men for the army and navy Of the United States. To effect the necessary readjustnent, the United States Elm ployment Service and certain auxiliary services were organized. While this was necessary there was danger that it might not be in full sympathy with the needs of this State, or might de- Velop a policy out of harmony with the Connecticut situation. To obViate such possibilities the Council of De- fense incorporated the Employment Service into it's structure and it has been financed very largely with State funds The wisdom of this course las been amply vindicated by the results attained. The servce has been efti- cient and has moved in complete har- mony with the council.
 It now transpires that on of the chief agencies during the dem obiliza- ton and reconstruction period is to be the United States Employment Service. Under those circum stances it is obviously the part of wisdom to re- tain our control over it's operations within this State. The permanent ] policy is not yet outlined from Wash ington. It is my belief that any such agency should be controlled by the State, though it may be advisable to have st Federal connection. Proposals by the Department Of Labor are now being formulated which, I am inform ed will be ready for submission to this General Assembly by the first of April. Arrangements have been made for the continuance in the meantime of the connection with the Federal Employ ment Service which was secured by our Council of Defense.
 Dependent and Neglected Children.
 There are some twenty-five hun drcd dependent and neglected children who are now wards of the State. The problem of juvenile delinquency and the great number of mentally dcfec- tive children whose presence in the schools and in the county temporary homes with normal children, is q seri- ous difficulty which demands study and adequate legislation.
 Patchwork laws dealing with these problems should be avoided. The laws relating to dependent and neglected children have undergone no fUnda- mental revision for more than thirty years. ] recommend the appointment of commission to study the laws re- latng to children and the practice of other progressive states, and to re- port to the General Assembly of 1921 g revision of our existing laws and to recommend such changes and addi- tions as may seem advisable, bring ing together into one code all the laws relating to children.
 EpMcptics and Feeble Minded.
 During the two years last past the Board Of Trustees Of the Mansfield Training School and Hospital has ex- pended $1S8,O ,O0G in constructing new buildings at Mansfield for the care of the feeble minded, and has removed thereto those previously located at the State Institution at Lakeville. There are several hundred additional