Omaha daily bee., 1920-11-30
Nebraska Seeks
Recognition for
Vital Statistics
Government Inspectors Now
at Work On Records-Fav.
orable Report by Them
Will Admit State.

t~ihNpAht ANNpss ANoN. AN>cA eSN
is trying to get recognition OF the
United States bureau of vital Stats
tics as a reporter OF births. To gain
admission to the United States area
for births. it is necessary that the
Nebraska department of vital statis-
tics prove that it has a record Of at
least 90 per cent Of all the births IN
the state.
During the past few months the
state department of vital statistics
under the supervision of DR.. J. II.
Dillon, public health commissioner,
satisfied the government that Ne
braska was in class by its self as
a reporter of deaths The state
proved to government experts that
it had complete record OF 9o.3 per
cent of all the deaths occurring in
= the state. The state IS now trying to
prove tha. it is equally keen as a
reporter of births.
u. S. Does Sleuthing.
About six months ago the state
made formal application Of the Unit
ed States census bureau for admis-
sion Of Nebraska to the bureaus
registration area for births. The
government authorities in substance
wrote back that they would con-
slider the matter. For months the
state heard nothing more from them.
In the meantime the government
was doing little sleuthing of its
own accord. Early in the summer
. they wrote to every postmaster,
mail carrier, both city and rural.
clergyman. physical. midwife and
others in the state requesting them
TO report to the government list OF
children they knew to have been
born during the months of June and
Iuly.. The state knew nothing about
this until afterwards.
Inspectors Are Sent
Several weeks ago, c. c. tNmane
aud Walter Carter came to the state
health department and introduced
themselves as experts from the Uni
ted States census bureau. They SAID
they came to check over the state S
birth records. The experts brought
with them several arm loads of birth
records occurring in the state during
June and July. These records were
obtained from the sources solicited.
From that day to this and until
the government experts complete
their lob. Miss May F. Hyland. di-'
rector of the states department of
vital statistics, has been leading a
versatile life. She has proved her
self not only all authority on rec
ords Of her department but de-
tective Of uncanny ability.
The government, it is now re-
vealed. expects the state to show
record of at least 90 per cent of all
the births they obtained during the
two month"; period. If the state is
able to do this, they will get federal
recognition for all times to come.
All Records Checked
The government experts are
checking over every birth they have
reported with the records of the
state department. When they find
they have a birth record that the
state has not; they good -naturedly
turn it over to Miss Hyland to in
vestigate. 1t is UP to her to prove,
ii she can. that the child's birth has
been reported. maybe under another
name, or that the government ex-.
perts are mistaken, but quite often
she is able to satisfy them that the
birth was reported in another name.
For instance. the government sX-
perts told Miss Hyland the state had
no record OF the birth OF Syrian
iii Butler county on July II named
David Union. True enough her rec
ords did not contain any such name.
On investigation. however. Miss Hy-
land found that a David junior"
was reported to the state as born
in that county on July H. The state
received its report FROM the county
registrar. and the government from
the priest who baptized the child
1t turned out to be the saAe child.
Had not Miss Hyland been an am
ateur detective, the state would have
lost credit for the record.
= Another Questioned Case.
A few minutes after Miss Hyland
had won the Union junior case Mr..
Hernane called her attention to an
other. 1t was the governments rec
ord of Mary Jane Smith Cooper in
Madison county. The governments
record was from the attending ply
sician. The state had no record of
Mary Jane Smith Cooper's arrival in
the world, but did have record of
Mary Jane Smiths birth. The ex-
perts agreed with Miss Hyland that
It was the same child. the last name
being dropped somewhere
While the state undoubtedly has
a number of births reported during
June and July that the government
knows nothing about, they will not
be counted. The state must prove
that-it has at least 90 per cent O!
those reported to the government.
Complete York December /.
The work of checking up the state
record will continue until about De-
cember J, it is believed. By the mid
die Of December DR.. Dillon expects
to be officially notified of the states
acceptance or rejection jim the gov
crnment's birth registration area.
To obtain a record of deaths is a
much easier matter than of births.
According to Miss Hyland, there is
more ceremony about the death of
4 person than there is of the birth
of another. Undertakers. casket
makers and others are required by
law to report all deaths. Quite Of
ten, Miss Hyland~ says, the state re-
ceives no record Of births when the
mother is attended by other than a
physician. The secrecy surrounding
the birth ofsan unwelcome babe Of
ten prevents anyone in authority
learning of the occasion.
Corn Yield Heavy.
Table Roct Neh Nov 1Q-(Soe-