The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-30

Tramps Barred Out Of Rhode Island.
Stringent provisions for the punishment
OF tramps were enacted by the last Lcgisla-
turc OF Rhode Island. The workings OF this
measure were examined at the last meeting
of the Social Science Association, and made
the text Of an edfying discussion. A report
OF the proceedings has been issued and II il
worth while to note some Of the facts
brought out and the views propounded on
that occasion.
II appears that copies Of the new law were
posted on the highways leading from border
towns to adjoining states, and 1t was the
opinion Of some county officers that the
periodical invasion OF Migrants had been
materially checked. But at the date OF the
Congress no prosecutions had taken place
under the statute In the city Of Providence
We infer that this pcremptory legislation
was not supported by public sentiment, and
we are fortified in the conclusion by some
remarks Of Professor CHACE Of Rhode
Island, which are cited In this report. That
State, he said. had never been particularly
troubled with tramps, but large number
OF young persons who had wandered forth
from New England merely To see the world
had contracted the bad habit OF drifting
back again. individuals, he added, had
occasionally been sent to the house OF
correction under sentence OF court who were
honest men seeking occupation, and he
dropped the pertinent but, as it proved,
sterile hint that there Is some danger OF
confounding men who are running away
from work with those who are going
after It.
| 1t is the distinctive feature OF this notable
law that 1t neither requires proof OF habitual
vagrancy nor admits extcnuating circum-
stances. Any able-bodied man found beg
ging from house TO house and we conclude
that the wayfarer who Should sock but
twice to satisfy his hunger would fall
within the purvew of the statute-is deemed
guilty Of n misdemeanor, and, upon convic-
| tion, sentenced to hard labor on the public
roads. Under these circumstances 1t is not
surprising that a certain number OF poor
| persons should have been deferred from
| visiting the State OF Rhode Island. We do
| not See that the fact attcsts an irreclaim-
able disposition on the part OF the tramp.
yet we find 1t made heavy count In the in
dictment against him. That a man could
really want work and yet insist upon fair
wages for 1t appeared a glaring contradic-
ton in terms 10 some ladies and gentlemen
Of the Social Science Conference, and that
any one should object to receiving pay for
days labor In the form Of prison lodging
| and prison fare was accepted as q conclusive
proof OF ncorrigible vagrancy.
| Mrs. DALI of Boston handled the tramp
with particular severity. She would begin
with disfranchising the mendicant on the
ground that the man who is not fit to sup
port himself is not fit to vote for member
OF the Legislature. 1t might possibly be
mooted whether to be out OF work, and to be-
unfit for 1t, are at all times convertible
terms, but into that question this lady does
not enter. She Is no casust, and her con-
viction Of the tramp's aversion to labor is
rooted in experience 1t seems that last
winter, In Boston, she asked some persons
Of the mcndicant order TO clear away a
| heavy fall OF snow from her roof and side
walk, and they desired TO know how much
they were going to get They had the hardi-
hood to ask pecuniary return, and none Of
them would be satisfied she says, with an
ordinary breakfast. In view Of such an
enormity Mrs DALI points out the criminal
wastefulness Of investing money in soup
kitchens She appears to be sweeping re-
former and advocates what she calls the
German restriction upon marriage No
pauper, she thinks, has any right to marry,
but she omits to furnish definition OF pau
perism, holding it synonymous apparently,
with reluctance to work upon board wages
remuneration.
A good many members OF the Social Sci
ence Conference took part in the discussion
Of this subject, but nearly all were OF one
mind. The debate would have lost nothing
In spice and variety IL some adventurous
person had taken the side Of the tramp. 1t
might have been pertinent for instance, to
ask whether tho number OF Migrants was
observed 70 diminish in seasons Of general
prosperity, and whether an increase was
coincident with n collapse Of national in
dustrios This seemingly relevant line OF
inquiry might have boon pushed further L.
a comparison OF the extent Of vagrancy in
countries Of large landholdcrs lk,
England, and In countries OF peasant
proprietors like France, or even as between
the village communities OF Russia and the
manufacturing districts Of New England
But 1t Is plain that these considerations
were deemed homogeneous and unfruitful by
the majority Of the Congress, since they de-
clined TO encourage one or two members
who seemed disposed to enter into them
DIR. CADwALLADER stated that gentleman
living near Philadelphia had offered EN-
ployment to some thirty tramps, and witt
two or three exceptions, they had accepted
It,. They went to work removing stone anC
, their labor was properly remunerated
! The speaker thought that the recent
troubles in Pennsylvania had mainly arisel
from the large influx of people into manu-
featuring and mining regions, and from the
neglect OF agriculture. DIR. CADwALLA
DER, however, was promptly followed
I by Mr. ToUsEy Of New York, VIII,
= declared that tramps must be made to work
either in prison or out, but he forgot to men
tion whether work performed would cnttl'
them toany pay. On the whole, We fear The
social problem which underles the sad phc
nomcna OF vaRrancy and mendcancy will no
he solved hy the Social Science Association
A little generosity, n little equity, and littl,
earnest observation of the actual world seen
| 10 be requisite ior the study Of such ques
, | ti1ua tVpu ha mara hnnlf tynrp, xXill a,pna