The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-11-28
THE TRAMP QUESTION.
Editor of B1aSain

A@ttttOT q Ot1tottS
DEAR SIX In order to call the at
teAtion of the people and their Repre-,
aentaaves to the tramp" question
which is assuming such threatening
aspect, I have drawn up TIE following
Act. 1t is conceded that something
must be done by the next Legislature
Of Tennessee to protect the people
against this vile class, and my object is
by putting the Act in form to not only
call attention to the subject but to get
others to discussing precisely what is
to be done to remedy this evil.
"Tennesseean.
Nov. 25th 1878.
AN ACT 70 SUPPRESS THE TRAMP
NUISANCE.
WHEREAS, The people of this State
are continually harrassed and distress
ed by rowing persons commonly known
as ''tramps," who without settling in
any place, or laboring at any business,
beg for living and steal rides Oh Rail
Roads and other Conveyances, and,
WHEREAS, 1t is the duty Of the
State tc protect its citizens and corpo-
rations and their homes ard property
against this evil class of persons.
Therefore
BE 1T ENACTED. That it shall be
high misdemeano-; for any tramp"
to come, or be, within this State or
within any county or town there
of. And that - shall be the duty of
all sheritfs, cor Istables and justices of the
peace, and all municipal officers, to
cause the arrest of all persons within
their respective Jurisdictions, whom
they, o., either of them have reason to
believe are probably cramps, "and up
Oh sdch arrest, said persons so arrested
shfll be tried before some il 8 ice IF the
= eace, or municipal officer authorized
to try misdemeanor cases, and if it
shall appear to said officer go trying
said prisoner that there is a probable
cause to believe that said person is a
tramp" he shall so adjudge, and shall
enter fine against such person of not
less than five nor more than fifty dol
lars, together with costs, and unless
: said fine and costs are paid said per
son shall be confined in prison until
said fine and costs are fully paid or he
is discharged by law,
SEC. 2. BE it further enacted tina
the officer making the arrest of sucf
person shall be entitled to the sum O
five dollars in ease Of his conviction
as his fee for making suchsarrest, which
said fee shall be part of the costs il
said cause,tG be paid as aforesaid.
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, tina
in case said tramp" fails to pay sale
fire and costs, and is committed to the
comfy jail, the town.authorities in tn,
place where said tramp is confined
+ shall be entitled to take said tramp
b from said Jail and COMPEL him to worl
k on the streets of said town or city, un
. der proper guard, at the rate 0
twenty-five cents Il day, until such fin'
and costs and Jail expenses are full.
: paid, and until he shall have earned {
: sufficient amount besides to send hin
O out of this State in the direction from
whence he came. And it shall be tn,
duty of the officer in charge of sal,
0 prison when such sum shall be realized
d as aforesaid to buy ticket, or pay tn
e passage of said person to a point out
. side Of this State, in the direction from
whence he came and to send such per
son out of this State in the direction
aforesaid.
Z SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, that
shall be felony for any person t
: steal ride ON any Rail Road Car, o
n Steamboat or other public conveyanc
= in this State. and the person SO offend
! ing shall upon conviction, be confines
u in the penitentiary of this State, for
e period of not less than one nor NOR
d than five years.
:. SEC. 3. BE it further enacted tina
! this Act take effect and be in fore
= from and after its passage, the publ
81 welfare requiring it.