Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1882-03-09
Apprentices.
BRENNAN, March 7, 1882.

BRENNAN, March 7, 1882.
Editors Banner:
l noticed a communication o
Capt. J. E. Gray in your week
ly issue of the I'd instant, If
which he takes strong grouuc
in having the children on the
county poor farm apprenticed
The law referred to undoubted-
ly provides that the county
court may bind a minor as an
apprentice when the parents Of
such minor have suffered him
to become a charge upon the
county. The honorable writer
seems to be a little astonished at
the action of the county COM
missioners in saying: Now.
l am at a loss to know why our
county commissioners have been
supporting SO many children at
said poor farm, when, in my
opinion, it is their duty to turn
them over to the county judge,
who, am satisfied, would soon
find plenty of responsible par
ties who would be glad to take
those children and do better by
them than said commissioners
possibly can at their pauper
asylum"
Now, sirs, our county COM
missioners only supported such
children at the poor farm, who
were destitute of means and
without home. Our commits
missioners, on several occa-
sions, expressed their regret to
be compelled to provide for
those children at the poor farm,
as it is not a proper place for
them. AT the last February
regular term of the commission
ers' court this subject was
again under consideration. Our
county judge stated that he
thought at the March term ofthe
county court he wonld be able
to turn some of the children
over to responsible parties. The
county judge and the commits
sioners are very anxious to
have responsible parties take
charge of those children, aud it
is hoped that some one will
come and make application to
the county judge and comply
with article 20, page 10, of the
Revised Statutes, and become
guardians OF those unfortunate
children. Until this is done,
they will have to remain on the
poor farm, as there is no MINOR
asylum in the county.
The county judge has no
power to apprentice these
minors unless competent per-
SONS will agree to take those
children. Efforts have been
made by the county judge and
the commissioners to secure
such guardians without avail,
so far.
The editors of the BANNER
heretofore published the
proceedings of the commission
ers' court as a matter of news, !
and, if desirable, our superin-
tendent of the county poor
farm would, I am satisfied, furn-
ish them a list of names, not
only of those "many" children,
but of all the paupers supported
At said poor farm.
Hon. ]. E. Gray, who repre-
sents the interest of the people
IF this county in the legislature,
Or law-making department, has,
a right to take an
interest in county affairs, but,
n his communication, says;
4 submit this with knowledge
hat some may charge me with
neddling where 1t don't CON
:ern me, but if 1t shall have the
effect to accomplish what l
lave here indicated, l will be
lilly compensated"
Now sirs, when the honora-
Die gentleman in calling the at
ention of the officers and tax
payers to such important mat
ers, who would charge him
With meddling where it don't
concern him?
Hon. J. E. Gray is an old
md respectable citizen and a
ax-payer Of this county, and a
burden on the county concerns
lin as much as other tax-pay-
RS and. in my opinion, any
uggestion, indication or even
'meddling" where it does con-
:ern him, which will effect a
to those children, and
relief to taxpayers, is dis
:harging duty which all the
rood people will appreciate.