The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-03-06

Mr.. EDITOR DEAR SIR 1T seems to me
it is about time that a word or two were said
in reference to the abuse which is being heap
ed upon special officer Hill, week after week
4 through the columns of the Hunterdon Coun-
ty Democrat. What ails this man Runkleg-
He has worked himself into such a passion
that prose will not answer any more. but he
must infict poetry (?) upon the public. Be
fore saying anything further on the subject,
viii Just quote from the law In regard to
tramps. This is not for the information Of
ye local. of the Democrat, flor q he knows
1t all ~ but for the general public who may
not be SO conversant with the law in regard
to the tramp nuisance
'sIt is made the bounden duty of every
i" Constable and police officer who sees such y
tramp, or who is notified thereof by any in
"habitant, (the notice need not be in writing)
"to arrest such tramp without warrant, and
"take him before q justice Of the peace or po-
"lice justice. Any wiIful rcfusal on the part
''of the constable or policeman to arrest the
tramp will subject him to penalty or ten
"dollars, to be sued for Ia an action OF debt,
land to go for the use Of the POOR OF that
"district."
The act then goes on to say that the megis-
trate " must ercmine,'' &C., sc. Il will be
seen that the act is mandatory upon both Of
ficer and magistrate. So.all this noise is made
because an officer carries out law passed by
an immaculate Legislature and approved by
the Governor Of the State. That the law is
bad one. no one will deny, but "this man
Hill lis certainly not responsible for it. If
you feel like "pitching in" to any one, Mr..
Runkle, go for our representatives in the Leg
slaturc. One verse of your poetry flung at
their heads would completely cow them and
make them cry for mercy. But Policeman
Hill makes some money out of this thing, and
that is where the shoe pinches. According
to this poetic Runkle, there is not man In
virtuous Pennington who would put burden
on poor taxpayers. OF course there is no
truth in the report that there 10 an honest,
virtuous officer in Pennington, who has be-
sought these tramps to come before him and
be "sent up" That he has bought any num-
Der of cigars and papers of tobacco for these
same tramps. OF course this officer would
not take the fees Oh, mol Perish such q
His motive is purely philanthropic one. He
wants to save this money for the taxpayers
No one doubts it. He would even go so far
as to put this money In his pocket for safe
keeping, of course. The Democrat lays great
stress upon the fact that the Sheriff's bill for
boarding tramps and prisoners, since last
May, was $4,000, and officer Hill is to blame
for it all. Now figuring up to March LIST this
would be an average of $24000 per month =
Now, for the information of the public will
the Democrat please state how much of this
bill was contracted previous to the LIST of No
vember last? For previous to that time not
single tramp was sent from here. Also how
many prisoners, other than tramps, were in
jail since November. Let the public know
the truth. One fact should like to call to
the attention of the Democrat Last Win
ter scarcely week went by that some one in
Lambertvile or vicinity was not robbed
Then the tramp was allowed to prowl around
the cou;,try. This Winter not single rob-
berry has been comcaitted. In conclusion, I
beg of Mr.. Runkle that if he must give vent
to his superfuous spirits by sbusifg Mr.. Hill,
for the sake OF the many readers OF the L'em-
ocrat, trust lie will in future confine himself
to cheap wit and not inffct any more social
ed poetry GU the public.
Respectfully yours, A TAx-PAYER.