The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-03-02
EXIT TRAMPS."
More About MisappIied Charity-A
Letter from Thomas HOrnbroOk,
Esq, App, owing the Course Of May
Or Sweeney and the Registers Ar
ticIe on Exit TTamps."

ticte on Tx III IfHhps-
In an article published on the subject,
Il short time since, we made extracts from
Northern and Eastern journals showing
to what great extent the evil had in
creased. and how in the larger cities they
had learned by cxteriencc, the proper
WAY to minister to suffering humanity
and at the same time, check the abuses
which belong t. adispcnsation ofcharity,
as',wcll rs TO everything else ofhuman in
ycntion. 1t was there shown that those
cite, which had been the first to
introduce the idea of soup house, HAD
also been the first to abandon them, Us
really productive OF more harm by at
tracing large number of professional
idlcrs than, they worked good, BY lessen
;ng the sutterings ofthe worthy distressed.
In many places the rule was adopted and
adheared to, that no one shall be furn
ishcd with food aud lodging without do
ing something in the nature of an equi-
valent, unless positively disabled, and 1t
was found that this rule tended at the
start, to keep away that class of "round-
erS, that would do anything rather than
work for living.
a. we then predicted the same result
has been experienced here, until it has
become necessary for the well being and
health of the city that decided steps
should be taken to rid the community of
class, which not only threatens danger,
from the commission of crime, IA step
into which the class very readily gIides)
but more than this, from its actually be-
coming likelihood that, through them,
diseases would be introduced.
We do not mean to impugn the praise
worthy and benevolent designs of those
who originated and carried on the soup
house. Their motives were cminently
worthy, and proceeded from sponta-
neous kindness of heart; but while it
may have been productive of much re-
lief to those Of our own people in actual
necessity, it served also rs means of
bringing here the idlcrS and yagabOndS
of every locality, at all accessible to the
city, and the citizens instead Of being re-
lirved were positively burdened by i'm
Fortunate begging. We are satisfied
now that the managers Of this charity
have seen their mistake, and are more
convinced that had the suggestions
thrown out in these columns short
time since been Needed or others similar
to them been adopted, general and sub
stantial good would have been encoun-
tered.
The following letter from Thomas
Hornbrook Esq, whose deeds of charity
and bencvolcncc are we'll known in this
community, commencing the action of
Mayor Sweeney and Health Officer, As
well as the REGISTERS position, will be
read with interest:
WHEELING, w. Va, March /, 1875.
Editors of the Register:
SIR approve cf your article Exit
Trampa" in this mornings REGISTER. |
have for sometime thought / would com
municate to the daily papers on the sub
icct of trampS, but have been 50 unwcll
and afflicted in my family, that it would
have appeared presumption on my part.
Nv views on this subject are well known
10 some of our best citizens, that Is in
giving aid and comfort to the unfortunate
human beings called "tramps." | hope
the action of Mayor Sweeney and cur
Health Officer will be approved by all
GOOD citizens of our city. When our
deserving needy, unfortunate poor Of the
city need, aid, ! will re always ready to
contribute Of my means judiciously to
redeem them from suffering
remain yours truly,
Tu,S HpVNpUnnE