San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-01-17
A WISE MOVEMENT.
IT OONTFMLATES THE CARE OF
POOR AND ORPHANED MINORS.
A Plan That Looks to Concerted
Action by all the State Legisla-
lures is outlin ned at st. Louis.

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 1.-THE committee ap-
pointed at the recent national convention
Of the Boys and Girls Home and Employ
ment association, to draft bill OF intro
duction in all the legislatures for the aid
and protection OF homeless and friendleSS,
has completed its work and copies Of the
measure will be placed before all legiSla-
lures now assembled or to assem- BILE. The
bill provides that the clerks of Probate
courts shall open registry books In which
to record applications Of destitute and
homeless minors without employment or
means of support. The names Of persons
desiring TO adopt these minors will also
be enrolled in the registry and the Pro-
bate officers are directed to publish notices
that the registers have been opened.
These notices are to be posted In the
public schools and all pastors Of churches
and heads Of charitable institutions are to
be given copies Of the act bi-annuaIly.
Sections and provide for the registry
of minors and by persons desiring to
adopt them. Section directs the attor-
ney general to provide blank forms OF
notices and also deeds of adoption and
forms OF contract. The form OF contract
of employment must provide that the en-
ploye be sent to public school for at
least four months each year,up to the age
Of 16 years, and the deed Of adoption must
contain clause reciting consent Of par
ents, II any, and a form OF acknowledge
ment of execution of the deed, but the
failure of the parents to execute the deed
shall not invalidate it. The forms OF con-
tract are not to extend beyond the ma jOr-
ity of adopted children. A portion OF
their wages is to be paid in clothing, food,
medical treatment, school books and COM
mon necessities of life, and in addition
not less than 81 a month in cash up to their
sixteenth year and not less than s. per
month thereafter. If the minor is an or
phan the state will execute the contract
of employment as party of the first part.
In any breach of the contract, the par
ty of the first part may be the prosecu-
tor, and the amount recovered is to be
paid to the minor. The Probate court
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 Probate court the names OF all
homeless and unemployed minors and to
have these names entered on the books.
The superintendents of all eleemOsynary
institutions shall also make reports Of
homeless children. The clerks OF Pro.
bate courts are 20 send out on the 1st OF
January, April, July and October, cir
cular letter with number of applications
on their books. The secretary OF the
state is required to make 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 gen.
eraI assembly. The governor is en-
powered 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.
Mr.. w. II, Moore says that bill provid-
ing for the establishment OF an agricu!-
tural institution will be drafted in few
days.