The Connecticut labor news., 1921-12-23
URGES GOVERNMENT FOR EXPANSION OF
 CHILDREN'S WORK
Department of Labor Woman Official
 Says Task Is Not Half Completed.

Fanny me ldSk OI SOCldA Stuoy Ao progressive and can not be completed, and thus far the bureau has hardly made a beginning in performing the vast task assigned to it," says Julla C. Lathrop in her annual report to the Secretary of Labor, made public to- day This is her ninth and last report as chief, written on the eve of her resignation last August.
 The report sets forth the co-opera- ton which the bureau has effected with various governmental, state and private agencies, and urges further correlation and cooperation in child welfare work. The achievements of the bureau during the last year are described under each of its five divis- ions, and progress in the bureaus first child-welfare study in our island possessions is reported
 Included in the years work of the Child Hygiene Division were chil- dren's health conferences conducted in small towns and rural communities by the staff of the bureaus Child Welfare Special, motor truck fitted up for health consultations. A total of 1900 children were examined III a section of Kentucky, and numerous cases of malnutrition were found, even among the children of the we'll to-do farmers. Personal instructions were given to mothers and teachers in the proper feeding and general hygienic care of children, and efforts were made to see that permanent, active interest in child-welfare meas ures was established In Arkansas the Special" made its way through floods, and over bad roads and steep mountains, reaching six counties in which I,228 children were examined. As a result, the report states, several communities are undertaking follow up work.
 The principal studies of the indus trial division during the year were concerned with child-welfare in coal mining camps and in cotton-growing, sugar beet, and truck farming areas The report calls attention to tie in furious effect of too early and too heavy labor, in agricultural no less than in industrial pursuits. An aver age age of only II years was found among the child workers of the sugar beet fields studied. An important piece of work accomplished through the industrial division was the prelim- mary report of the committee ap- pointed by the bureau to formulate standards of normal development and sound health for children entering employment and children at work. These recommendations will be re- vised from time to time in the light of further research and experience.
 Juvenile court studies made in 10 courts by the Social Service Division revealed great diversity in procedure, organization and methods. A confer ence on juvenile courts was held in June, under the joint auspices of the Children's Bureau and the National Probation Association. As result of this procedure, committee of judges, probation officers, and others interested in the problem was ap pointed by the bureau to serve as an advisory committee on juvenile court standards. A study of children vio lating laws of the United States showed that the total number of chil dren violating federal laws each, year is probably at least 1000, that many of these children come up for trial in the federal courts, and that the pro- cedure in these courts IS totally un- adapted to children's work. The de- department were most helpful in mak- ing available the data on which the study was based.
 The child welfare study in Porto Rico, undertaken at the request of the commissioner of education of the island and approved by the governor and the Bureau of Insular Affairs, is taking the form of children's year demonstration, with plans for repeat ing the various features which proved effective here in IoI8-Io. It opened with recreation, special emphasis be- ing placed on athletics and active sports, in colse cooperation with the teachers.
 The widening sphere of the bureaus influence and the increasing demands made upon it call for an ex- banding program, says Miss Lathrop. She recommends three new services: First, division of legal research, to enable the bureau to follow and promptly report and analyze the state statutes affecting children; consider able work has been accomplished a11 h,,4 Il,