New Ulm review., 1922-01-04
fTERNITY BILL
NOT OPPRESSIVE
L PROMOTE WELFARE OF
MOTHERS AND BABIES,
is THE CLAIM.
DERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES
$4,000 TO EACH STATE
TO AID WORK.

2le1v, relative to the hnal adOptlOn
4 a result of President Harding's
ature, of the much-discussec
opard-Towner Bill, more popularly
1 wn as the Maternity Bill, awakened
interest of number of our sub.
ribers, who are not acquainted with
u ne contents of this salutory measure
and for their benefit, as we'll as that Of
others who would like to know more
about the new statute, we herewith
reproduce portions of speech anent
: the Maternity Bill, which Congressman
Thomas D. Schall of Minnesota recent
ly delivered in the House.
$4,000 for Each State.
Under the provisions of this bill,
as corrected and amended by the
House committee, $4,000 is appro-
priated to each state, the state to
raise an equal amount in order to en-
JOY the benefits of this Act, to
stimulate, encourage and aid the
several states in promoting the welfare
OF maternity and infancy.
No Oppression Possible.
"The work is to be under the Child
ren's Bureau, cooperating with the
state departments of child welfare
and child hygiene, or, if none such has
been established, whatever agency the
state shall elect to create, so that there
shall be no possibility of bureaucracy
centered in Washington, with high
handed authority to 60 into the states
and dictate how their health depart
ments should be run; to go into the
homes and arbitrarily usurp the
prerogatives of personal liberty. All
those Objectionable features which
made many people feel that the bill, as
it passed the Senate, struck at a vital
principle, the principle of personal
liberty, have been eliminated. The
states can each submit plans of their
own to the board, who pass upon and
decide if they are acceptable. The
decision is not, as formerly contemplat-
ed, left to the judgment of one, and
that one the chief of the Children's
Bureau. Each state is free to provide
in it's own way for it's agency.
Scores Reactionaries.
Congressman Schall severely re-
buked the reactionary opponents OF
public ownership and public welfare
in his address. ''Some have objected
that this measure is Socialistic,' said
the blind Minnesota representative in
the course of his remarks. when
ever the Government attempts to
care for the welfare Of the people, the
same old objection is offered, though
one of the constitutional purposes of
government is to care for the general
welfare of the people. There can be
no higher care, looking to the future of
this country, than to look to the care
and education of the mothers who are
to bear the citizens who, in time, will
be that state; to care for the little
babies, who hold in their tiny helpless
hands the molding of the future. The
child is the community, the child is the
state, the child is the country. His
: welfare is of the highest import. That
this bill is needed, the tremendous
interest it has stirred up will testify.
Deaths Decrease One-half.
"New York has been carrying on the
work contemplated by this bill for
wears. The records have been kept.
It is shown that the percentage Of
deaths of children under one year had
been decreased one-half in the 13 years
of it's operation. Many of the deaths
Z of infants under one year could be pre-
vented by proper prenatal care and
by education, information and advice
n cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation,
furnished both before and after the
1irth of the child Not only infant
Immortality, but maternal mortality, can
be and is lessened.
No Arbitrary Interference.
"There is no thought of arbitrary
interference III CulS Ulll-lluccu, ouCl
lis specifically prohibited. The idea is
to aid, not control, and unless the aic
( and education is desired and solicited
it will not be proffered.
: Humanity Should Come First
[ II have always been in favor of thu
conservation of our natural resources,
said Congressman Schall in his closing
remarks. 81 have voted for the eradi
cation of hog cholera, diseases of horses
and cattle, for the elimination of plan
diseases, for the education of the farme
I and his wife in caring for the product
of the farm. l have voted large ap
preparations for good roads, and, Mr.
Chairman, if it has been right to ap
propriate the government money TO
the promotion and protection O
property, certainly, in the interest o
mankind, against the protection of tn
mother and baby no argument can b.
successfully maintained. If hogs
oa++lo u1hoa+ and cotton can be an