Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-10-10
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH THEM I?

What shall be done with vagrants
II seems to follow that they shall b,
placed in a situation which will, first
provide for their necessities second
compel them TO perform useful work
third, prevent them from committing
crime; fourth, render il impossible fol
them TO propagate paupers. This, o
course, involves the idea Of confine
ment, with enforced labor. Now, sucl
confinement, with enforced labor, may
be under the immediate direction ant
control Of the town or county or State
authorities, and for n longer or shorter
period. The laws of Massachusetts or
this point, recently enacted, permit
each town or city within its borders
to give temporary relief to vagrants
under such regulations as to labor
with certain limitations, as the author
ities Of such town or city may 500 IL
to prescribe. Wherever this plan has
been thoroughly tried, it has greatly
diminished the number of vagrants in.
testing that particular locality
STATE LAW SUGGESTED.
So far as | am aware, the wisest
and most feasible plan yet devised for
dealing with the yagrant dilemma is
contained in bill prepared and offer
ed to the last Assembly OF the State
of New York, by the State Charities
Aid Association. Omitting, tor the
sake of brevity, many minor, but most
essential details, its main features are
as follows; Adopting the existing ju-
dicial districts OF the State as the ba-
sis of distribution, it provides for the
appointment of Board Of seven man
ayers for each district, such managers
to be reimbursed for their actual and
necessary expenses while employed in
the discharge of their official duties,
but TO receive no compensation for
their time or services. 1t is made the
duty of each Board of managers, with.
in six months of the time OF their ap.
pointment, to hire buildings suitable
for the confinement and employment
OF vagrants.
now THEY SHALL BE MANAGED.
Proper provision is to DO made for
the separation of tho sexes, by placing
them, respectively, in buildings so far
removed from one another that all
inter-communication is practically i'm.
possible. lhe managers are to open
an account with all vagrants duly com
mitted by the local magistrates to the
warehouses; in their respective dis
tricts, charging them with all the ex-
penses incurred by the managers for
their board and maintenance, and
crcditing them with fair and reason
able compensation for the labor per.
formed by them, and at the expiration
of their terms Of sentence, paying to
them such balance as shall be found
due to them at the TINA Of the dis.
charge. The so-called contract sys-
tcm" is strictly prohibited, and no per-
son is TO be allowed TO oversee the la.
Dor OF the inmates, who is not employ
ed and paid by the managers. The
managers OF each district, having hir-
ed two or more buildings, and land
snitahla far the confinement and en-
ployment of vagrants, shall make an
estimate Of all necessary expenses to
be incurred in establishing, equippihg
and maintaining said workhouse for
the year ensuing, and shall then ap.
portion the expense, so estimated,
among the several counties composing
the district, for which said managers
were appointed, pro rata, to the prop
erty tax Of each county, as the same
shall be determined on.
WHAT MAY BE INFERRED.
We have, think, a right to infer
that such a legislative enactment, rig
idly enforced, would drive beyond the
confines Of the State so protected all
tramps who succeeded in escaping ar
rest, and dispersc them over adjoining
States, whore no such laws haG been
adopted. Surely, alike on
moral and economic grounds, such an
is well worth being put to
the test of n thorOuVh trial