The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-09-20
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%un
hin WASHINGTON
BY Waller Sheod
WNU Correspondent
WNU Washington Bureau
62l Union Trust BuiIdin9

HOW many war babies have been
- born In your community? How
many children have become wards as
a result Of war casualties? So impor
tant are questions raised by these two
factors, the children's bureau of the
department of labor is undertaking q
nationwide survey.
According to records of the veterans
administration alone, minor wards I'm.
der guardianship of the administration
will reach approximately 100000. Al
ready the veterans administration has
10000 minor wards under guardian.
ship as result Of World War I. In
addition, Uncle Sam has underwritten
the cost of babies to service men, which
has already cost more than S119 OOO, 900
for about 100000 babies and another
10000 who are on the way. This
money is being used to pay for ma
ternity care, nursing and hospital care
for these infants of men in the armed
| forces. This government aid Is avail
able to wives and infants of men in the
four lowest grades in the Army, Navy,
Coast Guard and Marine Corps. The
average cost is less than 500.
The records show that, proportion
ately. the small town and rural areas
have the largest number of babies and
that, as is true in every wartime
period, the boys outnumber the girls.
The children's bureau has deter
mined that present guardianship laws
are archaic" and that many children
under guardianship are being cheated
out of their inheritances and income"
No less tragic, although not so dra-
matte, is the plight Of many children
who, because Of Indifferent or incom-
petent guardianship, are not getting
the proper care and upbringing," the
report declares
The bureau asserts that it intends to
lay before the country the conditions
affecting and surrounding children I'M
der guardianship and suggest legisla-
ton which will improve both the laws
and the administration of the laws.
Model Statutes Planned.
The children's bureau Is also con-
cerned with thousands of children un-
der guardianship who are receiving sur
vivor's insurance as part of the social
security program.
1t is apparent that If there is to be
any great change or liberalization of
the guardianship laws, it must start in
the state legislatures, since the state,
nDdnr Of hoe
the responsibility for the welfare of
children. 1t will be the purpose of the
children's bureau to draw up model
laws seeking more protection for these
minor wards and present them to the
various states for adoption, or for re-
codifying of existing statutes.
The National Commission for Chill
dren in Wartime, which is made up of
outstanding men and women working
in the child welfare and youth field,
including representatives of labor un-
ions and farm organizations, has just
completed years study which is in
line with this move of the children's
bureau. 1t recommends a student aid
program written under the experience
gained in the administration Of educa-
tiOnal benefits Of the CT bill of rights
to reach children at high school levels.
The commissions report included
proposals for study Of a four.point
program: ~ Job placement
services to assist young people In
employment; (2) work-sehool pro.
grams to provide to young people
opportunity to combine work and
school,; (s) employment Of youth
on public service projects (simiIar
probably to work done under the
National Youth Administration pro.
5ram), and, (4) skilled counseIing
services with emphasis on the spe.
,ial needs Of those young people
during the reconversion period.
In commenting on the children's bu-
reau plan to move in on the guardian
ship situation, Miss Mary Stanton, con-
sultant on guardanships, said:
Laws Out of Date.
1.-The laws under which we are trying
when judges knew everyone in their
communities and presumably knew
something Of the fitness Of the prospec-
tive guardians Neighbors, too, exer-
Used concern. Today 1t Is obviously
impossible for courts to know what is
happening to all the children for whom
they have responsibility. A probate
court in large county may have sew
,ral thousand child guardianship cases
in year. The smaller and rural COM
munities likewise cannot exercise the
individual concern that 1t once did.
Even If neighbors know of IRREGULAR.
ties, which would not be likely, they
would hesitate to interfere unless the
abuse of the child was fragrant"
It Is pointed out that veterans or
yanizations, such as the American Lee
gion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
have succeeded in getting large meas
ure Of protection for the property of
those entitled to benefits under vet.