The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-14
LESS WEDDINGS, MORE D|VORCES,
 RECORD OF 1920
Report of State Health Officer Shows Marvellous Growth in Work of His De-
 partment
By FRED IT. GORMLEY Montgomery Bureau. The Age Herald, 22l-2 First National Bank Building

Montgomery, May l3.-(Special.) )- One of the surprising facts in the biennial report of the state health department made public Saturday by br. S. W. Welch, health officer, Is the great increase in the number of divorces and the great decrease in the number of marriages in Alabama in 1920 compared with 1919.
 During 1919 the total number of divorees was 2,3S3. which was in- creased to 3547 in 1920. While the number of divorces became greater by 1,t64 the number of marriages de- creased 1,S42. The total number of marriages in 1919 was So,Se6. com pared with 2S,554 in 1920.
 While fewer persons were getting married and greater number of per sons were obtaining divorces, births increased S,021 and deaths increased 2655. A portion of this increase must be attributed to the more perfect or ganization, for the registration of births and deaths. During 1919 the total births reported to the bureau
 
 with a total of 52,S1S in 1920. During 1919 the total deaths reported to the same bureau was 21,595 compared with 24,250 in 1920.
 Activities of Department
 The report gave a history of the activities of the department during the two years beginning January |. 1919. and ending December 3f, 1920. It shows a marvellous increase In the .af k1 AaxS I,..~ L. increase in the appropriation made by the legislature at the regular session of 1913.
 For instance, during 1919, the year under which the department operated with the old appropriation. total re- ceipts from the state were $33, ,600.1S, while total expenditures were s33,- 409.S7. The legislature of 1919 in- creased the annual appropriation for 1920 to s100,00o and provided for further increase until the depart ment Is now receiving $150,000 d year. Under this increased appro- priation the department received $96,- S0612 in 1920, while total expendi- lures were S96,s03.67
 One of the large activities men toned in the report is the construe- tion of a magnificent home for fec ble- minded at Tuscaloosa. The legls- lature of 1919 made the appropria- tion, work will soon be completed and the home will be opened during the next few months. The idea was originated by Governor Kilby in his first message to the legislature. He obtained 1t in general study of state governments and the respon- sibility of state governments to the people which he made before he was inaugurated governor.
 Duty To unfortunntes
 In his first message to the legis- lature the governor, speaking of the necessity for the protection of feeble minded said: The sacred duty of the state toward these unfortunates should be discharged according to standards of the most enlightened civilization and no consideration of monetary nature should be allowed to block the way"
 The legislature did not permit monetary consideration to block the way. The result has been the con struction of modern home which will have cost about $200,000 when completed. In 1t will be placed the feeble minded. those who have leen hopelessly incurable from birth, those who have never had the mental ca pacity to compete in lifes work with those of normal mind and body. Those who were normal mentally and have become insane will not be placed in the home. It will be exclusively for those who have been feeble minded from birth, who have been wards of the state from the time they came into the world. While the superin- tendent of the insane hospitals will be superintendent of the home for feeble-minded it will have no connec- tion with the insane hospitals