Evening star., 1928-05-03
BY JAMES ]. DAVIS.

| An old adage informs us that health
| is wealth. The dictum is indiSputabie.
| No person is able to accomplish mucn
| in the way OF production If he be SICK,
| and we are learning that the SickneSseS
! of childhood are responsible IN large
measures for the diSablements of age.
| II we can keep our children well. they
are almost certain to become effective
men and women in their later years.
A great deal has been done during the
last few years to make our Capital City
safer for young children than 1t used TO
be. There is q child health center at
the ChildrenS Hospital. conducted by
the Child Welfare Society, and 10
health centerS conducted by the Mu-
nicipal Department of Health, both OF
which report steady increases III at
tendance. Last year nearly ll,u00
visits were made to the health center
of the former and 10000 visits to the
child health centerS of the latter.
What this has meant is apparent in
the fact that the mortality rate of in
fantS for 1927 is the lowest ever re-
Corded for the District. There are ply
Sical examinations of children under ?
years Of age. nutrition clinics for Older
children, and toxin and anti-toxin
clinics for immuniZation against diph-
liberia.
A comparison of the infant mortality
statistics in the District of Columbia
with those of the birth registration area
of the United States-an area which
now includes Al States and the District
OF Columbia-over period OF years
prior to 1927. revealed that the infant
mortality rate for the District was con-
siderably higher than elsewhere.
CoIored Mortality Double.
I am informed by the Children's
Bureau that this higher rate is due, in
part, to the higher death rate among
colored infants. It was found that in
the year 1920 - out of every 1000
white babies born in the District died
before completing their first year. while
the mortality rate of colored babies was
l39 out of every 1000 We learn there
by that the colored infant mortality in
the District of Columbia is almost
double that of the white race.
And there are a number of reasons
for the appalling difference. to which
We must give our earnest attention in
the years to come: for what affects one
group affects the whole public at large.
Special attention 10 increased clinical
work among the colored people, partic-
ularly among the mothers and the chill
dren, Is at once an obvious necessity,
and should be instituted without delay
1t is the preventives. however. as much
as the cures, that We must bear in mind
IN connection with our programs for
child welfare.
Congested housing conditions are
usually present among q large number
OF colored people. / am informed that
Washington is no exception, with its
high number of negro domestic and
personal service workers. Congested
housing space and alley environments
are bad for any people. Not even the
children Of the hardest frontiersman
could survive continued lack of air and
sunlight. particularly among those who
toll for the daily wage
Advocates Equal Wage.
This is why advocated to Congress.
In my fifteenth annual report, that all
workers, including the efficient colored
men and women, should be paid a good
and equal wage in comparison with anv
other working group. Such a wage will
permit working parents To purchase
homes Tor themselves and their children
In keeping with American standards of
living. They may then live in the open
spaces where they may rear their chill
dren in cleanliness and ROBUSTNESS. aided
and stimulated by those great God
given tonics. water. air and sunshine
Then, they may have better means of
recreation. and improved opportunities to
study and train themselves In the care
OF Dooy and mind. When these pre-
FentlVes have been realized, along with