The New York herald., 1922-02-21
MATERNITY BILL
HITS FEDERAL ACT
Albany Senate Measure Adopts
Miller's Reputation of
Interference.
Special Dispatch TO THE Nrw York HERALD.
New York i-araId Bureau.

Special Dispatch TO THE Nrw York HERALD.
New York .i-rrald bureau.
Alsaiiy. Feb. 90.
Conforming to recommendations OF
Gov. Miller Division Of Maternity,
Infancy and Child Hygiene will be es-
tablishea in the State Department OF
Health under terms of bill introduced
tonight by Senator Frederick NJ. Dav-
export Of Oneida. After many confer
ences the Legislative leaders have de-
eided not to accept Federal aid in ma
territy care, as provided in the Shep-
rard-Towner act of Congress.
Gov Miller objected to the Sheppard
Towner act asN undue interference by
the Federal Government in State affairs.
The Davenport BILL which is backed by
the Governor Is reputation of that
act The Senator said
This State, if this measure is enacted
into law. formally repudiates the grow
ing tendency of the national Govern
ment to encroach in a subtle fashion
upon the functions and activities of the
States. A policy which drags the State
governments at the chariot wheels OF
the national Government in COM
stantly increasing number of matching
proposals and multiplying functions and
expenditures, is fraught with ultimate
disaster not only to the States but to
the national Government itself.
Inquiry reveals that the State is not
doing what it ought to be doing in the
supervision OF the prenatal care Of
mothers which has so much to do with
the death rate of children during the
first month or six weeks of life. The
death rate of infants due to conditions
connected with childbirth and the inn
mediately succeeding weeks, remains
about the same as 1t has long been or
shows some tendency to increase.
Here is a human issue to which the
people OF the State owe 1t to themselves
to pay strict concern. A Government
which does not protect to its utmost
mothers and little children, not knowing
how or not able to care for themselves
is a Government without humanity and
without promise of permarcnce. 1t Is
the responsibility of the State to hold
in solicitude the mothers and new born
children in the plain homes Of the coufl-
try.
at is proposed under this bill that
the State. foregoing entirely the funds
of the national Government and separat-
ing itself from the national bureau and
national leading strings, shall appropri-
ate 100000 for the establishment Of a
division of maternity and child hygiene
within the State Department of Health !;
that this bureau shall cooperate with
and stimulate local conditions influence
ing the health OF mothers and children !;
that It shall advise localities as to pro-
viding adequate care to whom such care
is not otherwise available.
"The bill provides for holding health
consultations for mothers and children
in the rural districts In cooperation with,
local health officers and other ply
sicians. 1t provides for instructing local
health nurses in the hygiene of mater
nifty and infancy. 1t makes available to
mothers, through instruction by phy-
sicians, nurses ana publications, ihfor-
nation concerning the hygiene of mater
nifty and infancy. II looks toward the
prevention of blindness in infancy and
the care and rehabilitation of crippled
children not otherwise provided for