The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-12-02
: =
The Tramp Problem.

|
4 Our people have been wrestling
with the great question of the age for
the past weeks-"The tramps and
how to treat then." The winter sea-
son is upon us and the epeople arc be-
ginning to feel that this is a subject
demanding their consideration.
Pursuant to a call of the Township
Trustees meeting was held at the
| Town Hall Thanksgiving night for the
purpose of taking the necessary steps
to mitigate and finally to eradicate
the evil" The meeting was but Slim
ly attended, probably ewing to the
fact of the people being engaged in tho
observance Of the prOclamatiohs OF
President Grant and Governor Allen,
and after organizing by electins IL. +.
Beebe, Esq, Chairman, and E. P. Will
mot, Secretary, aud appointing q
CON mnittee of seven, composed Of 6.
IT, Robinson, Alexander Topping,
Wanzor Holcomb. D. NJ. Clewell, q.
L. Bartlett, DR.. J. Waggoner, and
Bradford Howland, 10 take the mat
ter int consideration and report at
a future meeting, a motion TO adjourn
to Monday evening, November 29th,
| was carried. -.,. .ac s. .--re.
AT the adjourned meeting there was
\ very fair turnout, some two hunured
or more being present. The meeting
was called to order by the Chairman,
and the committee above named sub
mitted their report, which declares
| substantially as follows:
| l.. That it is the duty of every COM
munity to care for its own poor, and
not its duty TO care for tramps whe
wander to and fro through the land.
3. That nearly all the tramps are
vagabonds. unworthy of aid, and
ought not to be encouraged In their
evil ways by the people giving them
food and shelter.
3. That vagrants and common street
beggars-suspicieus persons who can
not give sufficient account Of them
selves should be Imprisoned under
the Ia " atihard labor on the coarsest
fare. They who will not work should
net be fed. ~ rt,'-'.~ 'ilL
4. That the Mayor of Ravenna Viii
lage and the Trustees Of tine township
be requested to issue their proclama-
tions warning all tramps that they
will not be harbored, lodged or fed as
charity in Ravenna, but that all va
grants and common street beggars will
be punished by imprisonment at hard
labor.
Quite an animated discussion sprung
up on the adoption of the report, CIV
ing number Of gentlemen an oppor-
tunity to air their eloquence, but most
Of 1.-The speakers were in favor of the
report, and it was adopted by very
decided majority Of the meeting. And
now many will imagine that this all
absorbing question is settled forever,
and that, so far as Ravenna is con-
cerned, we shall know no more of the
"tramp nuisance" Bat really it seems
| 10 us that the action Of the meeting
amounts to nothing. Neither the
meeting nor the Investigations Of the
committee attempt to get at the origin
of tho evil or to suggest any real, sub
stan,ial remedy. The report does not
discriminate between the unfortunate
working men who on account of the
prestrated condition of the industries
throughout the country are thrown
out of employment. and the worthless,
confirmed strolling vagabonds whe
prefer to beg or steal rather than work
The worthy are confounded with the
UNIV orthy, and the people are advised
not to give shelter or food to any oi
them and at the same time no pro-
vision is made for the care of either
class by the authorities except that
meted out TO criminals. Under this
action these rovers will continue to
annoy private citizens, and, worthy
and unworthy alike, receive aid from
the charitable and benevolent as IN
times past, aud the. great evil in
stead of being mitigated will increase
and become more intolerable.