Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-19
The Tramp Questi II.

The question As 10 lHe ussI ih""uN' VI
dealing with tramps is one that concerns
every community. l. was very properly
and considerably discussed in the recent
Prison Convention held in this city, and
the resolutions adopted regarding it were
in the right direction and will bring the
subject prominently before the legislature.
We notice that the legislature OF New
York has already had ia bill touch
ing this matter submitted to it for sc-
ton. the features OF which are briefly
stated I'm an article in the World. The
bill is entitled "An act to provide for the
custody and reform of vagrants.' This
measure" saws the World, proceeds
on the assumption that vagrancy i
an evil which should be dealt with apart
from crime and apart from pauperism.
1t proposes to take, after due process OF
law, the various tramps at large through
out the State who are capable OF earning
a living, and put them in special State
warehouses managed by special set OF
officers and operated with special pur-
poses. At least two of these warehouses
are to be- founded Immediately, the one
for males and the other for females, and
TO these institutions justices OF the peace
or police justices or other magistrates arr
to be compelled, unless otherwise request
ed by the district attorney OF county, to
send prisoners committed for vagrancy,
the first sentence to be not less than nine
" days nor more than six months, and the
second to be not less than six months nOl
more than year. After bird conviction
the tramp is to be sent TO the State work
house for an indefinite period. Every va
grant committed to one of these insttu-
tons is TO be credited with the amount
which he earns and debited with the cost
of his board and maintenance, and the
balance is to be paid over to him upon his
discharge. The discipline Of the wo k
house is to be shaped with the idea OF
making the tramps industrious and self
supporting. and their labor is not to be let
out to contractors. Semi-monhly the Su-
perintendent of Warehouses is to visit
each reformatory and dismiss those whom
be considers able and willing to help
themselves at honest labor, and remove 10
the State almshouses all who are incapable
of physical toll. By system OF registra
ton such precautions are taken that in
few years the history of every tramp in
the State who was ever at one of the
warehouses, with full description of his
appearance and characteristics, will be on
file in the proper department. In an edi
torial synopsis of the measure under dis
cussion it is enough to say that the cost OF
establishing the proposed system of work
houses and the supply of all deficiencies in
maintaining them is to be betrayed out OF
the State Treasury. The plan of govern
ment suggested for them is simple though
necessarily somewhat despotc, and in al
least one district on the Hudson it has
been substantially in operation for some
years past with very good effect, The
whole management of the proposed work
houses is put into the hands of new Off
eisl, to be called Superintendent of Work
houses, who is to be appointed by the
Governor, with the advice aud consent OF
the Senate, to hold office for five years
and to receive a salary of $1,000. lie is
responsible for the efficiency Of the re-
formatory institutions put under his care
and has power to appoint the keeper Of
each workhouse, prescribe the kind OF la
Dor to be done, provide system of disci-
pine, and, in word, control the new de-
psrtment in all its developments. The
blot on the bill is the excessive grant Of
authority to the superintendent; but as be
is made subordinate in many respects to
the supervision of the State Board OF
Charities. it may be assumed that h.
will act under the guidance Of wise and
firm philanthropy. Minor points in this act
for 'tEe custody and reform of Migrants. "
such as the provision in regard to the com
mtment Of children with vagrant moth
er, and the prohibition in regard to the
commitment Of persons under sixteen
years Of age. should not be passed over In
a careful study Of the measure; but we
have said enough to show that it makes a
serious effort TO grapple with the great
social problem Of the day, and it is likely
that this bill or some modification of fl
will pass the legislature during the ses.
sion"
OF course no such elaborate and costly
modes of dealing with tramps can be af.
forded or are required in Maine as ia New
York, but from the measures proposed in