The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-12-24
The Tramp Nu,sance-How shall Is
be Abated.

We find the following able and time
ly article on that crying evil-the
tramp nuisance-in the Flint Globe
and commend it to the careful perusal
OF every member OF the next legisla-
ture as not only expressive OF our own
sentiments but OF people generally
who do not propose TO be any longer
compelled TO support able-bodied pro-
fessional beggars when there is plenty
OF work for all such vsgabonds to do:
IL is getting to be serious question
what shall be done with that numer-
ous class OF persons who commit the
petty crimes that annoy society, and
that other class, who, without being
classed in the category OF criminals,
vet prey upon society and get from il
what they eat and drink and wear,
without giving in return any sort Of
equivalent. The number Of voluntary
trsmps is perhaps often over-estimat-
ed, and yet they ara so numerous as to
cause serious uDeasiness in the minds
Il all thoughtful people. There is al
ways a defect somewhere, when there
is any considerable number OF healthy.
| able.bodied persons who do not give
my return in some valuable considera-
tion for the cost Of their subsistence.
Laws ana ussges ought to provide that
there shall be- always the least posi-
BILE number OF non-producers among
hose who have no settled incomes
from investments This rule ought to
,pply not only TO tramps, so-called,
Oat also TO the class known as the pet
v criminals.
IL is to be hoped that the next Leg
stature, soon TO assemble at Lansing,
will grapple with this question and
reach some sort of solution of il dur
ing the session. II is hardly to be ex-
pected that law can be framed that
experience and the practical applica-
ion of, will not prove 10 be In some
respects defective. But that is true Of
al laws relating TO social questions,
and the fact does not Justify any delay
in the investigation OF the subject.
We suggest two points for the con-
sideration OF the incoming Legisla-
ture. The first relates TO tramps, and
We believe the things aimed at can be
compassed, in a measure, at least by
an act OF the Legislature.
In the first place, we insist that the
mere act OF asking for assistance from
lOor to door, on the part Of any per-
son who can be classified under the
,enersl head Of "tramps," ought to
uhiect that person to the formality of
{, judicial inquiry. That is TO say, il
n unknown person comes to the door
Of private citizen, whether in the
country, in village or a city, solicit
ing food or clothing or aims of any
kind, it ought to be made the duty, or
at least il ought TO be the privilege OF
the person so solicited, to report such
person to an officer. who should imme-
diately apprehend the offender and
take him or her. as the case may be, to
the nearest magistrate, whose duty il
should be TO inquire into the case. and
il found to be a tramp, should be at
once restrained Of liberty and set at
work. OF course such a course Of pro-
cedure implies the existence of some
sort of place or institution where the
apprehended tramp can be put to work
it advantage, and the law that provides
for the work should also provide the
place where il can be done. The law
ought to presume that tramp is vol
unfairly getting something from socle-
" without rendering an equivalent,
and unless the contrary is proven he
should be classed in the ranks of Grim
mails. II there should prove TO be
worthy but unfortunate persons asking
for aims, that fact could be determined
" the inquiry before a magistrate, as
we suggest, and the proper. remedy
could be applied. But in any event,
very tramp, male or female, should be
reported. apprehended and brought be-
fore a person whose duty il should be
10 hnd out whether his pauperism is
voluntary or necessary. II the former,
then he should be set at work. IL the
latter, he should be set at work IL able
TO work, and if not, he should be
placed in an infrmary aud provided
with proper medical treatment.
In general terms, no tramp should
be allowed TO go at large, but should
be put in the way of legal control by
the proper officers the very first time
he asks for assistance in any Of the
ways common 10 tramps. OF course
this does not imply that all persons
unable or unwilling 10 take care Of
themselves are TO be treated in this
summary way. II they have friends
who will assist them so that they do
not become a charge upon society gem
orally, they should be exempted from
the operation of the proposed law. 1t
IS for the genuine tramp.
There is another class of persons for
whom society, through it's representa-
lives in the Legislature, ought TO pro-
vide labor. When a criminal has been
duly convicted. and finds his way, in
pursuance Of the sentence Of the court,
20 the House of Correction, the Reform
School or one of the prisons, he is i'm
ne diately set at work and is made to
con ribute. by his labor, towards his
own support. and that of others of his
class. This is right, and Just aud safe.
Now, what we insist upon is that all
prisoners. in jails aud in lock-ups,
whether serving out terms under SEN
tence, or incarcerated TO await exami-
nation or trial, should be set at work,
even If their term in durance is but
single day. No prisoner should be al
lowed TO he idle one single hour not
needed for sleep, meals or rest. 10
will of course be said that our iails
aud lock-ups have no provision for
such labor. So much the worse for
the jails and lock-ups, then. This is
one of the defects in our criminal laws
that we insist ought 10 be remedied
aud that at once. IL should be done
for the double reason that il would
prove an absolute good 10 the crimi-
oal, serving both as a preventive and
corrective, and. and at the same time
an advantage TO society in diminishing
the cost OF maintaining iails III IL did
not make them self-supporting. Many
a vagrant, as the Geld weather comes
IN. commits some petty offense for tho
sake Of getting into Jail during tho
winter where he can be idle, warm and
not hungry. Make the jail a work
house from the very hour that he en-
ters its portals, and he will not be so
anxious ~ seek il AS a shelter and a
boarding house.
1he foregoing is a dim outline Of
A. l. tLz..-Lef,l