CONTENTS Statements of- Bicksler, Mrs. Alice, Washington, D. C., representing the National Burton, H. Ralph, Washington, D. C., representing the National Chase, Rev. William Sheafe, superintendent International Reform Clinchy, Rev. Russell J., Washington, D. C., representing the depart- Dolle, Charles F., Washington, D. C., representing the National Dunning, Mrs. George A., representing the Pennsylvania Birth Con- Gilman, Mrs. Charlotte Perkins, Norwich, Conn.. Goldstein, Dr. Sidney E., New York City, Associate Rabbi, Free Syna- Green, Mrs. Robert J., representing the Catholic Daughters of Hancock, Hon. Frank, Representative from North Carolina Hepburn, Mrs. Thomas N., Hartford, Conn., legislative chairman of the national committee on Federal legislation for birth control---- Hough, Dr. Eleanor, Washington, D. C... Kelly, Dr. Howard, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md......... Kilbreth, Miss Mary G., representing Woman Patriot Corporation. - Kittredge, Dr. Elizabeth, Washington, D. C., representing Medical Lynch, Miss Margaret T., Washington, D. C., representing the Na- tional Council of Catholic Women... McGoldrick, Dr. Rita C., New York City, representing the Inter- Meyer, Dr. Adolf, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.. Montavon, William F., Washington, D. C., representing National Ryan, Rev. John A., Washington, D. C., director social action depart- Sanger, Mrs. Margaret, New York City, national chairman of the com- 6, 137 Sweeney, Hon. Martin L., Representative from Ohio...- Waddill, Mrs. W. B., Henderson, N. C., representing the North Caro- Wolff, Mrs. Alexander, Washington, D. C., representing the National Letter from E. F. McGrady, legislative representative, American Federa- BIRTH CONTROL THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1932 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, Washington, D. C. The committee met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. Charles R. Crisp (the acting chairman) presiding. The ACTING CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. The committee has agreed to have hearings on House bill 11082, introduced by Mr. Hancock, commonly known as the birth control bill. The proponents of the bill requested two hours' time and the committee has agreed to that. Yesterday some. citizens opposed to the bill requested that they be given an opportunity to present their views. Of course, they feel that they are entitled to the same amount of time, two hours. The proponents have requested that they be granted 15 minutes in rebuttal. If there is no objection, the committee will conduct the hearings on that basis. I received yesterday a letter from Hon. Edward F. McGrady, representative of the American Federation of Labor, expressing the opposition of Hon. William Green, President of the American Federation of Labor, to this measure, with the request that the letter be placed in the record in lieu of his personal appearance. Without objection that will be done. (The letter referred to is as follows:) Hon. CHARLES R. CRISP, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN: On May 12 the American Federation of Labor went on record against S. 4436, a bill to amend 305(a) of the tariff act of 1930, and sections 211, 245, and 312 of the Criminal Code. H. R. 11082, presented by Congressman Hancock, of North Carolina, deals with this same subject. At the Senate hearing I entered the objection of the American Federation of Labor to this bill, and said: "Mr. William Green, President of the American Federation of Labor, does not feel that we can support this bill, nor do we believe that we will be able to support any bill that leaders of the church denounce as conducive to bad morals, and that does not receive the support of the medical profession of our country." Very truly yours, EDW. F. MCGRADY, Legislative Representative, American Federation of Labor. The ACTING CHAIRMAN. I would like to ask Congressman Hancock, who is the author of the bill, if he desires to present the witnesses. The witnesses among themselves may divide two hours of time as they see fit. 1 Mr. HANCOCK. Mr. Chairman, I do not. The time on the part of the proponents will be handled by Mrs. Hepburn, who is legislative chairman of the national committee on Federal legislation for birth control. It is my purpose to make a brief formal introductory statement and then I shall have to leave in order to attend an important meeting of the Committee on Banking and Currency that plans to vote on reporting out this morning the home loan bank bill. The ACTING CHAIRMAN. I would like to state to all of the witnesses that the method of conducting these hearings will be as follows: When a witness appears, a certain time is allotted to that witness, 5 or 10 minutes, as the case may be. The committee is working at this time under the 10-minute rule. The witness has a right to decline to yield to any questions by members of the committee during that time. The witness may yield to questions if he desires, but is entitled to use his full time without interruption. After the expiration of that time, the witness is subject to cross-examination by the committee and the time used in cross-examination does not come out of the two hours allotted to each side. The committee will be glad to hear Mr. Hancock. STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK HANCOCK, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA Mr. HANCOCK. I introduced this bill H. R. 11082 at the request of many distinguished citizens in my State. While I have had very little time to study the bill in its various and interesting aspects, it was obvious to me that the legislation deserved the opportunity of an open and impartial discussion. This was my purpose in introducing the bill. Since I have reached no definite and determined view relative to its merits, but have an open mind seeking light and intelligence in respect to its soundness and desirability, my statement is submitted to aid in bringing the matter before you gentlemen for what it may be worth. Since its introduction I have received letters from many parts of the country-from rich and poor, educated and uneducated-indicative of a somewhat widespread and general interest, and I am hopeful that the legislation will receive the usual thoughtful consideration which this committee gives to all measures coming before it. At no time in the history of our country has the welfare of men, women, and children been more urgent than at this time of economic distress and unemployment. Since the Comstock law was enacted in 1873 science and medicine have made tremendous strides both in this country and abroad, and the proponents of this bill feel that the physicians in this country should be able to obtain the results of research work done in other countries where there has been more freedom for the medical profession which has access to scientific knowledge on this subject. Mothers should have due consideration and be given every assistance to enable them to preserve their health and the health of their children. At this particular time we are all especially anxious to do everything possible to keep alive children already born, and to minimize the far-reaching effects of our present economic depression on the coming generation. Not only are mothers concerned, but fathers as well. Constant anxiety, worry, and hardship on the part of parents can not fail to have a depressing effect on the welfare and happiness of the family. You gentlemen are, no doubt, familiar with the fact that the more privileged classes have generally been able to avail themselves of knowledge which has helped them to control the size of their families, while the poorer and less fortunate classes who are compelled to ge to hospitals, clinics, and public institutions for medical attention are deprived of scientific knowledge and information to enable them to keep their families within the limits of their physical and economic resources. This bill legalizes the entrance into the country of articles and supplies for research work. It makes the mails and common carriers accessible to doctors, hospitals, and clinics, for transmission of contraceptive information to each other and to their patients. Each step in the progress of mankind has been one of control. This question involves many phases of humanity, including medical, eugenic, moral, and sociological problems. The National Committee of Federal Legislation for Birth Control which is sponsoring this bill will present evidence to you from recognized authorities on all of these questions. In conclusion, I would like to insert in the record excerpts from two letters. One of these is from Prof. Joe E. Moore, instructor in psychology, North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering, Raleigh, N. C.: You have seen all about you in this State poverty and suffering brought about, not alone by lack of work or thrift, but by an annual increase in the size of families already too poor to care for the children that they had. You, as well as I, know that no mother wants to have a child she can not give a decent chance in the world. The cries of thousands of hungry unwanted children cry out to you Congressmen for constructive relief. The cries of families in poverty ring in the ears of every Congressman until the insidious Federal laws sections 211, 245, and 312 are forever wiped off our statute books. In behalf of the poor ignorant mothers, of children unborn to the cruel pangs of want, and starvation, and in the interest of all men and women who want their children by choice rather than by chance, I urged you to support the birth control bill (H. R. 11082). The other is from a letter from Dr. Frank P. Graham, president of the University of North Carolina : Scientists, physicians, psychologists, and sociologists here believe that the bill is scientifically and socially sound and desirable. It seems to me that the Hancock bill to amend the Federal law of birth control is in essence a bill to make availabe information for all mothers. It is a matter of democratic fairness. As I understand it from others who have made a thorough study of the bill, it is amply safeguarded against abuse and exploitation. I now yield to Mrs. Hepburn. The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Mrs. Hepburn, will you take charge of the remainder of the time and present your witnesses as you see fit. I would be glad if you would indicate the time each witness is to take, because it will be my duty as chairman to notify them of the expiration of their time. Mr. HANCOCK. Mr. Chairman, before I leave, may I say that I had in mind several changes in the original bill and in your consideration, we hope that you may consider the bill as if those changes had been made. My remarks were addressed to the bill in its changed |