The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-05-18
THE NEW TRAMP LAW.
AN ACT TO DEFINE AND SUPPRESS VAC
RANCY.

SECTION /. BE 1t enacted, &c, That the
following described persons are hereby
declared to be vagrants:
L. All persons who shall unlawfully re-
turn into any district whence they have
been legally removed without bringing a
certificate from the proper authorities of
the city or district to which they belong
stating that they have a settlement therein
III. All persons who shall refuse to per-
form the work which shall be allotted to
them by the overseers of the poor as pro-
vided by the act of June thirteenth, one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-six,
entitled can Act relating to the support
and employment of the poor.
III. All persons going about from door
to door, or placing themselves in streets,
highways or other roads to beg or gather
aims, and all other persons wandering
abroad and begging who have no fixed
place of residence in the township, ward or
borough in which the vagrant is arrested.
". All persons who shall come from
any place without this Commonwealth to
any place within it, and shall be found
lettering or residing therein, and shall
follow no labor, trade, occupation or bust
ness, and have no visible means of subsis-
| tence, and can give no reasonable account
of themselves or their business in such
place.
SECTION 2. IF any person shall be found
offending in any township or place against
this act it shall and may be lawful for any
constable or police officer Of such township
or place, and he is hereby enjoined and re-
quired on notice thereof given him by any
of the inhabitants thereof or without such
notice, on his own view, to apprehend and
convey, or cause to be conveyed, such
person to a justice Of the peace or other
committing magistrate of the county, who
shall examine such person and shall commit
him, being thereof legally convicted before
him, on his own view, or by the confession
Of such offenders, or by the oath or affirma-
tion of one or more credible witnesses, to
labor upon any county farm or upon the
reads and highways Of any city, township
or borough, or in any house of correction,
poor house, work house or common Jail, for
4 term Of not less than thirty days, and not
exceeding six months. and shall forthwith
commit him to the custody of the steward
keeper or superintendent Of such county
farm, house OF correction, poor house, work
house or common JAIL or to the supervisors
or street commissioners and overseers of
the poor Of the respective county, city,
borough or township wherein such person
shall be found, as in his Judgment shall be
deemed most expedient. The said justice
Of the peace or committing magistrate in
every case Of conviction shall make up and
sign record Of conviction annexing there
to the names and records of the different
witnesses examined before him. and shall
by warrant under hand commit such persons
as aforesaid. Prorjded, Any person or
persons who shall conceive him, her or
themselves aggrieved by any act, judgment
or determination of any justice of the peace
or alderman in and concerning the execu-
ton Of this act may appeal to the present
or next general Quarter Sessions of the city
or county, giving reasonable notice thereof,
whose orders thereupon shall be final.
SECTION 8. That it shall be the duty of
the custodian or custodians of any such
vagrant to make active efforts to provide
work for every vagrant committed under
this act, and not disqualified by sickness,
old age or casualty and whenever labor
cannot be provided in the place to which
any vagrant is committed, it shall be law
ful for such custodian or custodians, and it
is hereby declared to be his, her or their
duty, with the approval of the board Of
directors, overseers, guardians or commits
sioners Of the poor, as the case may be,
to contract with the proper authorities of
any township, borough, city, county, or
other persons, to do any work or labor out
side the place Of commitment In all cases
the work or labor shall be suited to the
proper discipline, health and capacity of
such vagrant, and he shall be fed and
clothed in manner suited to the nature
of the work engaged in, and the condition
Of the season and when any vagrant is
committed, under the provisions of this
act, to the custody Of the supervisors or
street commissioners and overseers of the
poor of any township, borough, city or
county, it shall be their duty to provide
for him comfortable lodging or quarters,
either in a station house or other building.
The violation or neglect of any of the pro-
visions of this section shall be deemed to be
IIlSuencdnOI, anu Ibc pCIoOh 81 OhChulh5;
on conviction thereof in the proper court,
shall be sentenced to undergo an imprison-
ment for term not exceeding three months,
and to pay fine not exceeding one hun
dred dollars either or both in the discre-
tion of the court.
SECTION T. If any person not being in
the county, township, or place in which he
usually lives or has his home, shall apply
to any director, overseer, guardian or COM
missioner of the poor Of any county, city,
borough township or district, stating that
he is desirous to return to his home, but is
poor and has not the means to do so, the
said director, overseer, guardian, or com
missioner of the poor may employ or let
out such poor person to labor at some
suitable place, to be by them selected, and