Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-08
II STATES ACT
ON MATERNITY
INFANCY BILL
Four Still to Be Heard
From and Three Re-
fuse.
BY CONSTANCE DRExEL.


WASHINGTON, May s.-Forty ono
States have already accepted the proyt-
sions of the Sheppard Towner maternity
and infancy act, four more still have to
act and only three have turned 1t down
for the time being, according to state
ment prepared for the Public Ledger
service by the childrens' bureau today.
The three States in whose legislatures a
State bill appropriating the necessary
/ money to accept a Federal appropriation
on fifty fifty basis failed in the pres
ent sessions are New York, Massachu-
sets and Rhode Island. Louisiana,
Washington Nevada and Maine have NOS
yet taken any action whatever.
OF the forty-one States where the Fed
eral bill has been accepted. thirty ons
did so by reclamation of the Governor
because the State legislatures we're not in
session this year. The remaining ten Of
the States have passed all the necessary
State legislation necessitated by tbs
Sheppard Towner act.
So few legislatures are meeting this
year the women urged Congress strongly
to pass the bill during the session early
last year. 1t finally passed the House
late in the special session. in November
and was signed by the President the
L
the provision was put in the bill enabling
Governors to accept the provisions Of the
bill, their actions to hold good until
six months after the legislature meets.
People are stating the bill has to do
with birth control. 1t has not. That it
provides for compulsory registration OF
pregnancy which it does not. 1t Is said
to be in danger of folsting upon the
mother care which she does not desire,
which the hin itself expressly states II
is moi permitted to do" writes Dr. Noble,
chief of the Division of child Health.
The Childrens Bureau says the opinion
Of The attorney general of Massachusetts,.
is not to he taken seriously unless suit
is entered in the Supreme Court of the
Unite dtSates and unless the Supreme
Court should happen to uphold the Mas
sachusetts opinion. which the authors Of
the bill consider out of the question.
Perhaps 1t may be wondered what
State Leligsatures have to do with q bill
that had been passed by Congress. The
answer is the Sheppard Towner act Is 4
fifty fifty arrangement, most Of the Fed@
eraI appropriation depending upon Z
like appropriation from the State.
The general purpose Of the bill Is 70
stimulate the States themselves to enter
upon campaign Of assisting In the
care of maternity and infancy. with a
view of decreasing not alone the death
rate but the sickness rate in both.
New York turned down Federal aid
largely. II is whispered, because Mrs.
Frank yander,ip. chairman Of the New
York State League of Women Voters.
did not call In the help of Mrs. Arthur
F. Livermore, vice chairman Of the Re-
publican State committee and president
Of The Republican Women's Club of New
York also member Of the Republican
national executive committee.
Thus 1t was that Mrs. Vanderlip made
the mistake of going up to Governor
Miller, who doesn't like the league any
way. without the support OF the State
organization of Republican women. and
though she seemed to have the backing
of every womens organization In the
State. she lost out.
However. 1t is pointed out the babtes
Of New York got a boost anyway.
Though the Legislature turned down the
Federal aid offered in the Sheppard
Towner bill. bill did pass which ap-
propriated 100000 and created State
board of maternity and infancy. And
what is better still. DIR. S. Josephine
Baker OF the New York City health de-
partment who has made such a success
Of saving mothers and babies In the
crowded tenement sections Of the great
metropolis has agreed to serve on the
board as a consultant.
Thus the rural districts and other To-
calitics in New York State where the ma
ternity and infancy deathrate Is very
high, will have the benefit of the expert
ence of New York City in educating wo-
men TO take proper ca e OF themselves and
of their babies at the most crucial time OF
their lives 1t is done largely through
consultation centers, clinics and visiting
nurses.
All in all what may he termed the hrst
great national effort in legislation Of
American women after securing the
rights of suffrage has borne fruit. Is II
not a vindication and a justification Of
their desire TO enter politics that the
first great effort should have been made
for the benefit Of home and family ties?
Copyright, 1892. by Public Ledger Cont
pany.