The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-06-02
The Tramp Law.

text of the bill. II it conduces to the abate-
ment of one of the worst evils under which
the public is now suffering, everybody will
be gralifcd. The law is rs follows:
SECTION /. BE il enacted, etc. That the
following described persons are hereby de-
clared to be vagrants
/. All persons who shall unlawfully re-
turn into any district whence they have been
legally removed without bringing certif-
cate from the proper authorities of the city
or district to which they belong, stating that
they have settlement therein.
II. all persons who shall refuse to per.
form the work which shall be allotted to
them by the overscers of the poor, as pro-
vided by an act of June thirteenth, one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-six enti-
tied "An act relating to the support and
employment of the poor"
III. All persons going about from door to
door, or placing themselves in the streets,
highways or other roads to beg or gather
aims and all other persons wandering abroad
and begging who have no fixed place of resi-
dence 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 business, and have no
visible means of subsistence, and can give
no reasonable account of themselves or their
business in such place.
SEC. 3. If any person shall be found of
Tending 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 per-
son to Justice of the Peace or other COM
mitting 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 affirmation
of one or more creditable witnesses, TO labor
upon any county farm or upon the roads
and highways of any city, township or bor-
ough, or in any house of correction, poor
house, work house, or common Jail, for a
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 superinte n lent 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 a
record of conviction, annexng thereto the
names and records of the different witnesses
examined before him, and shall by warrant
under hand commit such persons aforesaid
Provided, Any such person or persons who
shall conceive him, her or themselves, ag-
grieved by any act, judgment, or determin-
alton Of any Justice of the Peace or Alder
man, in and concerning the execution OF
this act, may appeal to the present, or next
general Quarter Sessions of the city or coun-
ty giving reasonable notice thereof, whose
orders thereu on shall be final.
SEC. 8. That it shall be the duty Of the
custodian or custodians Of any such vagrant
to make active efforts to provide work fol
| "a L. g.. /, 4
not disqualified by sickness, old age, ol
casualty and whenever labor cannot be
provided in the place to which any vagrant
is committed, it shall be lawful for such Gus
todian or custodians, and is hereby declar
ed to be his or their duty, with the appro
val OF the board of directors, overseer, guar,
dans or commissioners of the poor, as tho
case may be, to contract with the proper
authorities of any township, city, borough
county, or other persons, to do any work ol
labor outside the place of commitment. II
all cases the work or labor shall be suited u
the proper discipline, health, and capacity
of such vagrant, and he shall be fed ant
clothed in a manner suited to the nature o
the work engaged in. and the condition o
the season; and when any vagrant is com
mitted, under the provisions of this act, t.
the custody OF the supervisors or street com
missioners and overseers of the poor of any
township, borough, city, or county, it shal
be their duty to provide for him comforta'
ble lodging or quarters, either in a station
house or other building. The violating OIL
neglect of any of the provisions of this sec
ton shall be deemed to be misdemeanor
and the person so offending, on conviction
thereof in the proper court, shall be senten
ced to undergo an Imprisonment for tern
not exceeding three months, and to pay
fine no exceeding one hundred dollars, eth
er or both, in the discretion of the court.
SEC. 4, II any person not being in tn,
county, township, or place in which he usu
ally lives or has his home, shall apply t.
toner's of the poor of any county, city Dor
ough, township or district, stating that h
is desrious to return to his home, but i
poor and has not the means to do so, th
missioners of the poor may employ or lie
out such poor persons to labor at some Sui
table place, to be by them selected, and a
such wages as shall seem to them just an
when in the opinion of said director, over
= seer, guardian or commissioner of the poo
such poor persons shall have earned a self
cient sum, said director, overseer, guardian
or commissioners of the poor shall, witt
9 the money so earned, and with such ad
D ditons thereto from the treasury of tn
D county, city, borough, township or distric
i as they may think reasonable, cause sue
# person to be returned to his home, wheth,
t in this State Or elsewhere; Provided, Tia
c the expense shall not exceed twenty dol
n lars
G Sec 8. That the custodian or custodian
t of such vagrant may, at discretion, dscharq
| snph warrant at onV tipa with in tho to.r,