The broad ax., 1921-12-10
u. s. DEPARTMENT OF, LABOR
cHuDREN's BUREAU. WASH
INoToN. d. C.
Provisions of Maternity BIN. Nov =
Law, Accepted in Advance
by Six States

/ - - ~
On the day before Thanksgiving
President Harding signed the Ma
tcrnity Bill" providing for federal
cooperation with the states in-pro-
noting the welfare of maternity and
infancy. After more than three years
Of struggle. the bill was passed by
both houses of Congress by over
whelming votes. The Children's Bu-
reau of the L. s. Department Of La
Dor is given the administration OF the
act. and the Chief of the Children's
Bureau is made the executive officer.
A Board of Maternity and Infant
Hygiene, consisting OF the Chief OF
the Children's Bureau. the Surgeon
General of the U. S. Public Health
Service, and the United States Com
missioner Of Education. is given GER
tain powers OF review and approval.
A total appropriation Of 81 10000 is
authorized for the current fiscal year
and an appropriation of $l,240OoO for
for each Of FIVE years thereafter. Ex-
cept for a very small percentage to
be used for administrative purposes,
the money is to be divided among
the State accepting the provisions OF
the act, to be used, together with
State funds. for promoting the wei
Iare and hygiene of maternity and
infancy.
So eagerly was the passage OF this
Dill awaited that at least six States
n the 1921 sessions of their legisla-
ureS passed laws accepting the act.
( il should become law, and author
zing a State board or division to CO.
operate with the Federal Govern
nent. These States include Delaware,
Minnesota, New Hampshire, New
Mexico, Pennsylvania and South Da-
,ota. The rest of the States will not
lave to wait until the next regular
ession Of their legislatures. for the
aw provides that if the legislature
las not acted the governor may, IN 50
ar as the laws of his State permit,
ccept the provisions of the act and
uthorize a State agency to cooper
te with the Children's Bureau until
he legislature has had opportunity
o act. More than 80 States have
hid welfare or child hygiene divi-
ions in their State Boards Of Health,
nd in these States the law provides
hat its administration shall be in the
ands Of these divisions. Any State
esiring to benefit from the act must
ubmit to the Children's Bureau de- c
allied plans for its administration, c
nd these plans are subject to ap- S
roval of the Federal Board of Ma S
ernity and Infant Hygiene. I
How much money will a State ac- I
epting the act receive from the Fed v
raj government to be used in mamking b
and infancy more safe? In
ne first place, $4,000 the first year,
nd 5000 a year thereafter will be
aid each State indicating its desire
, cooperate. An additional 5000 p
ill be paid providing the State sp-
ropristes 5000 of its own for the s
ame purpose. That makes a total of S
5000 the first year and $4,000 r
ear thereafter available from Federal a
lnds 20 each State regardless of its c
ze. In addition $4,000 a year is n
rovided to be distributed among the n
tates on the basis of population, pro- II
ding the amounts thus apportioned IL
re matched by State appropriations.
The act contains specific clauses
parents in their right to u
berty Of action, and providing that a
Ie States shall take the initiative in n
-eparing and carrying out plans. Il