Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-19
The Tramp Question.

This was a leading topic before the late
meeting of the Social Science Association
at Saratoga, and received thorough discus
sion i'll paper read 10y Prof Wayland of
Yale College, which is worthy of careful
consideration. The professor first refers to
the danger from beggars and thieves who
have become so numerous of late, and con-
cludes that all able-bodied beggars having
no homes must, so long as they remain in
that condition, be treated as Migrants. He
bases this conclusion on the facts that it is
very rare that employment of some kind
cannot be obtained by any one really anx-
ious to secure work that it is of the utmost
Importance to society that begging should
be discouraged, and that, to quote from the
tenth annual report of the New York Board
OF Charities Examination has made it
clear that by far the greater number of pau
pers have reached that condition by idleness,
improvidence, drunkenness or some form OF
vicious indulgence" As TO what should be
done with them, the professor concludes that
as they are paupers aud in need of relief,
but also able-bodied and able to contribute
to their support, aud as they are, as a class,
disposed to prey upon the community, it
seems to follow that they should be placed
in a situation which will, LIST, provide for
their necessities I'd, compel them to per.
form useful work 3D., prevent them from
committing crime; 4th, render it impossible
fnr thetn IN nronaOata naunare Tho Milan
OF exacting temporary labor in return for
temporary relief, as applied by some cities,
has not given very good satisfaction, and if
all tramps were sent to the workhouse for a
term of months, it would necessitate the
construction of a large number of work
houses at great expense. The plan which
Prof Wayland does commend as wisest and
most feasible is contained in bill offered
10 the last assembly of the state of New
York by the State Charities Aid Associa-
ton. The plan provides for the appoint
ment of a board of seven managers for each
judicial district, to be reimbursed for theiI
actual expenses, but to receive no compen
sation for their services. 1t is 10 be the
duty of these managers TO hire buildings
suitable to the confinement and employment
of Migrants, and to open an account with al
persons committed TO their charge creditinl
them with fair compensation for VIVA
they might earn above their expenses. 1t il
made the duty of magistrates to sentenc,
Migrants to these warehouses; for terms o
not less than ninety days for the first OF
Tense, or less than sig months for the sec
ond, the expenses of the warehouses; TO b
paid by the counties. II is urged in favo
of this plan that it would transfer convicte
Migrants from jails where they live in idle
ness TO places where they would be obige
to work that the expense to the count
would be lessened that the discipline woul
be reformatory, and that it would be 8
irksome to incorrigible Migrants that the
would leave the state, thus forcing othe
states to enact similar laws, "until at lai
there would be no state In which able-bodie
Migrants would be permitted TO roam |
large, disturbing the good order of societ
stealing or destroying the property of la,
abiding citizens, wantonly taking or enda
ger;ng human life and generally bringing
grievous reproach upon our boosted cviliz
tion by the daily spectacle of lawess violen
unchecked and brutal crimes unpublished.