Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-09-27
Tramps.

To he People If Vermont:
Our pauper laws. relating to the tramp
species. ought to be amended in tho follow
ing particulars. to wit:
l. The overseer of the poor in the several
towns, in addition to his present duties
| should be a commissioner, empowered TO ad-
minister oaths, and examine all transient
poor, known rs tranps, and make record
thereof, and send n copy thereof to the coun-
ty commissioner ; and in his examination
ascertain of tramp his name. nationality.
age, intelligence, habits, religion, (what
church, politics. (what paIty,) does appli-
cant use alcohol! smoke and chew tobacco
does he use opium? married or unmarried.
and applicants reasons for asking aid. Take
photograph and copies of each tramp. and
let all this record 90 up to the county COM
missioner, and if necessary to the Secretary
of State, copy of photograph included. Let
the penalty for being a tramp be severe
enough to rid the State of the evil.
q Have the county commissioner (iquor
commissioner make abstract. or compile the
same, and make return of all the tramps
with copies of their photographs and all in
formation which the law as amended requires,
sent to the Secretary Of State, who shall put
the same in documentary form, and publish.
at tho expense OF the State. and send copies
thereof to the several town clerks. and such
other persons as the law may require, on the
first day of February annually. And an All
stnct OF compilation thereof shall be pub
lished in newspaper in each county III the
State in which newspaper is printed.
}. Let our pauper laws be so amended that
it shall be u misdemeanor to feed, clothe or
harbor person known or represented to be
n tramp. by any person. not overseer. or by
4. Il l,.N
may assist sick or disabled tramp to reach
the overseer or town farm, IN which applica-
ton for assistance is made.
l. Let the expenses of non resident tramps |
DO borne by the State.
Some very interesting information will be |
gathered. There will DO none. or very few |
jew OF Quaker tramps. to record. think |
the Episcopalians will be few | know of |
know of none In fact, all orthodox churches,
by members. will be thinly represented
pecially by those in good standing. II has
been said that church going people are no
better than those who do 60 To c,.urch.
Tramps are not church going people, or
church members to any considerable extent.
This proportion will afford an excellent test
by witnesses under oath where to classify the
tramps and who is responsible for the tramp
nuisance.
by selecting the county commissioner you
will not multiply offices, you will only have
to increase his very modest salary little.
and M the sale OF rum is the most fruitful
source of trumps. 1t seems happy sugges-
ton that the commissioner of rum shall he
of its victims.
Others may object and say that by making
the harboring and feeding tramps INSIDE
meanor, you hinder or restrain charity. No
Dne feeds tramp from charity. but from
ear, or dread OF being thought stingy Ii
he law will not allow It, there III NO legal Or
moral claim. Further. any person mind
III can carry the tramp to the overseer, and
nave him provided for without further OK
lcnse and without penalty, and which all
will agree IN better way.
Others may object to have nonresident |
ramps kept by the State. Still there il no
quitable reason for tho objection. as the
ramp liz criminal In society, and the laws
# Vermont style HIM II vagrant, and il il
loped our laws will make him u criminal in
act. The State ought to support its own ,,
and not force n fow towns on the
ines of ullroads to bear the burdens rs the
Avs now ara. Much money is now wasted
n sending transient panpers from one town '
o another. This il no secret.
Make n "black list, "a rogues gallery" of
ramps, and publish the same in reports AMI !
ewspapers, and your tramps, which New O
hampshire has driven among us, will be
ONE self-supporting, or move along. c
Castleton, Sept .. MIC 4