Eugenics in Germany 



383 



14. A eugenic basis for inheritance 

 taxation of rural real estate is particu- 

 larly important. Otherwise it is to be 

 feared that even the present landed 

 families will no longer be able to have 

 a sufficient number of children. 



15. In the formation of farm colo- 

 nies care must also be taken that the 

 settlers are allowed to have or to 

 expect an adequate progeny. 



16. The encouragement of rural 

 and suburban settlements is also of 

 importance to race-hygiene. 



17. A population policy directed 

 toward a lower birth-rate, in accordance 

 with neo-malthusian ideas, endangers 

 eugenics, because it has been found 

 that the decrease in births takes place 

 especially among the most valuable 

 families. 



18. A purely quantitative popula- 

 tion policy, on the other hand, which 

 attempts to increase the number of 

 births without taking account of the 

 dififerences of inherited capacity, also 

 tends toward decreased racial fitness. 

 because all such measures lead espe- 

 cially to an increase in the birth-rate 

 of the eugenically inferior. 



19. The eugenic point of view 

 should be given due consideration in 

 all assistance extended to families hav- 

 ing numerous children. 



20. Special pay-allowances, based 

 on the size of family, among govern- 

 ment officials are only justified eugen- 

 ically, if a sufficiently careful selection 

 is employed in the appointment of these 

 officials. 



21. The family allowances should 

 be considerably larger than hitherto, in 

 proportion to the base-pay. At pres- 

 ent, especially among higher officials, 

 the child allowances remain much be- 

 low the actual cost of bringing up 

 children. 



22. The best foundation of a peo- 

 ple is an assured permanency of well- 

 stratified families. The interest of the 

 state therefore demands generous pro- 

 tection of the family. 



23. All efforts tending to loosen the 

 natural bonds that unite members of 



a family, especially those which lead 

 to premature separation of mother and 

 children, are to be combated as danger- 

 ous to the family and therefore to the 

 nation. 



24. For the perpetuation of our 

 race, a union of as many capable fam- 

 ilies as possible from all strata of so- 

 ciety, for the fostering of the eugenic 

 attitude and for mutual aid, is desirable. 



25. Delayed marriage in professions 

 requiring lengthy preparation is eu- 

 genically unfavorable. The period of 

 preparation should therefore be ab- 

 1)reviated as much as possible. In par- 

 ticular, a schooling of 12 or 13 years 

 is too long. The members of every 

 profession ought to be in a position 

 to marry by the age of 25. 



26. The eugenic bearing of the 

 German marriage law, hitherto limited 

 to the prohibition of marriage between 

 the closest blood relatives and to the 

 distribution of official blanks for pub- 

 lication of marriages, is inadequate. 



A broadening of the marriage pro- 

 hibition on eugenic grounds is to be 

 hoped for in the future, but seems un- 

 attainable at present. 



But without forbidding marriage, 

 careful investigation of all applicants 

 for marriage licenses is already prac- 

 ticable, and its legal introduction should 

 be sought immediately. 



2j. The time seems not yet to have 

 arrived among us for compulsory ster- 

 ilization of the feebleminded and other 

 defectives. 



28. The sterilization of defective 

 individuals by their own wish or with 

 their consent should be regulated by 

 law at once. 



29. In order to prevent the repro- 

 duction of anti-social and other very 

 defective individuals, their segregation 

 in labor colonies, which can be made 

 self-supporting by the work of the 

 members, should at once be legally 

 provided for. 



30. The indiscriminate and wide- 

 spread practice of abortion has an over- 

 whelmingly dysgenic efifect. 



