CHILDREN’S BUREAU

a branch of the Department of Labor, established in 1912, Under the law creating it, the bureau is empowered to investigate and report on all matters relating to the welfare of children and _ child life, especially infant mortality, the birthrate, physical degeneracy, orphanage, juvenile delinquency, juvenile courts, desertion and illegitimacy, dangerous occupations, accidents and diseases of children of the working cla es, and employment and legislation affecting children in the states and territories. This was an entirely new field of governmental inquiry, and a neglected one. The bureau has no administrative authority, and can only secure information and make it available for the states and other interested parties. The establishment Was oppo as unconstitutional and as an unwarranted intrusion of the rights of the states. In 1922 the bureau was headed by Grace Abbott.