The morning call., 1895-01-18
TO PROTECT HOMELESS WAIFS.
An Important Bill H3U Be Submitted on
the Subject.

Ah IOapofpGnt Bill HiU BE submitted on
the Subject.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 1.-THE committee APP
pointed at the recent national convention
OF the Boys and Girls Home and Employ
nent Association to draft bill for intro
ouctlon IN all State Legislatures for the aid
and protection of homeless and friendless
children has completed its work and copies
OF the measure will be placed before ali the
legislatures now assembled or to assemble.
The bill provides that the clerks OF Pro-
bate courts shall open registry books in
which to record applications of destitute
ana homeless minors without employment
or means of support The names of per-
sons desiring to adopt these minors will
also be enrolled in the registry, and the
probate officers. are directed to publish
notices that the registers have opened.
lhese notices are to be posted in the pub
lie schools, and all pastors of churches
and heads of charitable institutions are
to be gwen copies of the act biennially.
Sections and 4 provide for methods
OF registry by minors and by persons
desiring to adopt them. Section directs
the Acknowledgement to prepare blank
and forms of contract. The form of con-
tract OF employment must provide that
the employe be sent to public school for
at least four months each year, up to the
age OF 10 years, and the deed of adoption
must contain clause reciting consent of
parents, If any, and a form of acknowl-
edgment or execution of the deed, but
the failure of the parents to execute the
deed shall not invalidate it. The con-
tracts are not to extend beyond the ma
Jority Of the adopted children. A portion of
their wages is to be paid in clothing, food,
medical treatment, schoolbooks and COM
mon necessaries of life, and in addition
not less than 81 month in cash up to
their sixteenth year, and not less than S.
per month thereafter. If the minor is an
orphan, the State will execute the contract
OF employment as party of the first part
In the event of breach of the contract
the party of the first party may sue the
employer, and the amount recovered is to
be paid to the minor The Probate courts
shall have power to annul the deeds of
adoption.
1t will be the duty of all city and county
officers and police to report to the clerks
of the Probate courts the names of all
homeless or unemployed minors and to
have these names entered on the books.
The clerks of Probate courts are to send
to each other on the 1st of January, April,
July and October a circular letter stating
the number of applications ON their books
A scale is fixed for the payment of the
clerks for their services The clerks are to
make an annual report to the Secretary of
State, giving the number of minors who
have been employed or adopted, giving
their ages and kind of employment. The
Secretary of State is required to make a
report to the Governor with respect to the
law, with such suggestions as he may see
fit. The Governor is to make report to
the General Assembly. The Governor is
empowered to appoint five commissioners
whose duty it will be to visit industrial
homes in other States and make report
of their investigations to the Governor.
w. III. Moore says that a bill providing
for the establishment of an agricultural in
stitute will be drafted in a few days.