Say Little, Do a Lot

The official U.S. Government policy on birth control used to be to say noth ing about it, and do less. Last week it became clear that the Government has a new policy: say as little as possible, but do quite a lot.

Dr. Murray Grant, public health director of the District of Columbia, told the New York Academy of Medicine that the Children's Bureau, a unit of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, has recently allotted $5,500,000 to support clinics where birth-control information and supplies are given. These are in New York City, Baltimore, Detroit, Philadelphia, Augusta, Ga., Portland, Ore., San Juan and Ponce in Puerto Rico, and on a statewide basis in West Virginia.

Children's Bureau funds are appropriated for maternal and child welfare. Under the old policy, federal money was considered unavailable to support birth control, although family planners have long insisted that limiting children to the number that parents can support adequately is an essential feature of both maternal and child health.

New York City has already received $1,463,000 to help support seven of its clinics, where services include birth control help, reported Health Commissioner George James. And Hospitals Commissioner Ray E. Trussell said that the 14 city-operated general hospitals are greatly expanding their birth control services. In 1964, Bellevue Hospital gave advice and supplies to 5,000 women.

Federal, state and city officials all emphasize that they are not peddling contraceptives or propagandizing for their use. The clinics wait for patients to ask for information and supplies; the Federal Government waits for states and cities to ask for grants.

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