Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-05-24
The New Tramp Law.


proved BY the Governor, aud is there
fore law,
SECTION l. Be II saacted, &C., That
the following described persons are
hereby declared to be vagrants:
FIRST. all persons who shall unlaw-
fully rerufn into any district whence
they have been legally removed without
bringing certificate from the proper
authorities of the city or district to
which they belong stating that they
have q settlement therein.
Second. All persons who shall refuse
to perform the work which sha be
allotted to them by the overseers Of the
poor as provided by the act of June l3,
1886, entitled "An act relating to the
support and employment of the poor"
Third. All persons going about from
door TO coor, or placing themselves IN
streets, highways or other roads to beg
or gather aims, and all other persons
wandering abroad or begging who lave
no fxed place Of residence in the town
ship, ward or borough in which the va
grant is arrested.
Fourth. All persons who shall come
from any place without this Common
wealth to any place within 1t, and shall
be found lettering or residing therein,
aud shall follow no labor, trade, occu-
patton or business, and have no visible
means of subsistence, and can give no
reasonable account of themselves or
their business in such place.
SEC. 2. Ii 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 required on notice
thereof gwen him by any o: the inhab
itants thereof, or without such notice,
on his own view, to apprehend aud con-
vey, or cause to be conveyed, such per-
son to a justice of the peace or other
committing magistrate of the county,
who shall examine such person and
commit him, being thereof legally con
victed before him, on his own view, or
by the confession of such offenders, Or
by the oath OF affirmation of one or
more credible witnesses, to labor upon
any county farm or upon the roads and
highways of any city, township or bor-
ougb, or in any house of correction,
poor house, work house or common jail,
for 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 superinten lent
of such county farm, house of correc-
tion, poor house, work house or COM
mon Jail, or to the supervisors or street
commissioners and overseers of the
poor of the respective county, city, bor-
ough 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 mag
istrate in every case of conviction shall
make use and sign q record of convic-
ton, annexing thereto the names and
records of the different witnesses ex-
amined before him, and shall by war
rant under hand commit such persons
as aforesaid Provided, Any person
or persons who shall conceive him, her
or themselves aggrieved BY any act,
judgment OF determination Of any JUS
tice of the peace or alderman in and
concerning the execution of this act
may appeal to the present or next gen
eral quarter session of the city or coun-
ty, giving reasonable notice thereof,
whose or Gers tbereupon shall be final.
Sec. 8. That il shall be the duty of
the custodian or custcdians of any such
vagrant to make active efforts to pro
vide work for every vagrant committed
under this act, and not disqualified by
sickness, old age, or casualty; and
whenever labor cannot be provided iu
the place to which any vagrant is COM
mitted, it shall be lawful for such Gus
todian or custodians, and it is hereby
declared TO be his or their duty, with
the approval of the board of directors,
overseers, guardians or commissioners
of the poor, as the case may be-, to con-
tract with the proper authorities CT any
township, borough. city, county, or
other persons, to do any work or labor
outside of 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 be
s5all be fed and clothed in a manner
suited to the nature of the work en-
gagged in, and the condition of the sea-
son and when any vagrant is commit.
ted. under the provisions of this act, to
the custody of the supervisors or street
and overseers of the
poor of any township, borough, city or
county, it shall be their duty to pro-
vide comfortable lodging and quarters
either in q station house or other build
ing. The violation or neglect of any
of the provisions of this section shall
be deemed to be q misdemeanor, and
the person so offending, en- conviction
thereof in the proper court, shall be
sentenced to undergo an imprisonment
for term not exceeding three months,
and to pay Q fine not exceeding one
hundred dollars, either or both at the
discretion of the court.
SEC. A. Ii any person not being in
the county, township, or place in which
be usually lives or has his home, shall
apply to any director, overseer, guar
dian or commissioner of the poor of
aoy county, city, borough, township or
stating that be is desirous to
return to his home, but is poor and has
not the means to do 50, the said direc-
tor, overseer, guardian, or commissioner
Of the poor may employ or let out such
poor person to labor at some suitable
place, to be by them selected, and at
such wages as shall seem to them just
and when in the opinion of said direc-
tor. oyerseer, guardian or commissioner