Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-26
CITY AND DISTRICT.
Almshouse Labor 80 be Used On the
Eastern Flats.

DOSISG NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. A FAvORIrE
WINTER RESORT FOR TRAAPs-A SYSTEM DE-
vIsED BY THE COMMISSIONERS FOR UTILIZING
PAUPER LABOR. ETC.
The power conferred by law upon the presi-
dent of the board OF District Commissioners to
grant pardOns from the Washington workhouse
has. it appears. within the past few years, been
taken advantage Of by Offenders against Dis
trict ordinances to such an extent as to chal-
lenge the serious attention of the Commission
ers who have given this and other matters con-
nected with the disposition and care of work
house prisoners much careful thought, with a
view to correct many evils.
One of the Commissioners recently told
STAR reporter that the vagrant and vicious
class Of persons who find refuge in this CITY is a
growing evil. They come here by hundreds
from all parts of the country and especially at
this season OF the year, without means or friends
to assist them. Disappointed in obtaining work,
they beg and finally. through their idle and vi
ciOus habits. they get into the wOrkhouse,
which Is always filed. Most of them are quite
content to- remain there. "a they get enough to
eat, plenty Of tine to sleep. and comfortable
garments and GOOD quarters with little or no
work to do. The portion Of land suited for
agricultural purposes attached to the ams-house
is limited. AS the crowds of these vicious pau
pers and dead beats who delight to winter and
summer there cannot be employed in the fields.
their living.
A WINTER RESORT FOR TRAMPs.
There are various classes Of these offenders.
Many of them are known as tramps who do
nothing but wander idly about the country and
steal and beg These like to lay up for the win
ter and there is no more comfortable place than
the Washington work or aims house. When
they can't get in readily they get drunk and do
some act by which they secure a sentence OF
they come out fresh and in good condition to
tramp through the warm season until the ap-
prOach OF cold weather again. Others like to re-
main there all the time. and In some cases,
feign sickness or some constitutional ament in
order not to be disturbed. A large part of them
have taste Tor liquor. and as they can't get
that luxury in the workhOuse. they manage to
get together money enough to employ lawyer
to get them out through an application for par
don The lawyer soon cOncocts a story about
misfOrtunes. business failures sickness and nit
i@ating circumstances connected with the
crime or misdemeanOr for which they
are serving time, and always coupled with the
promise that they will leave the District within
twenty-four hours time. II pardoned they i'm
nedatey start out and beg until they get
money enough to get drunk. (which state they
remain as long as possible, when they are again
caught up as bPggars. and sent down again to
the wOrkhOuse- To be sure it is not very ele
waiting life. but is Just suited TO idle and vicious
paupers. who assemble here from all the states
and territories. Cases are known where par
dOns have been granted five or SIX times to the
same individuals conditioned that they leave
the city at once. not again to return. The Com
missioners say that many other practices in the
government and care of these creatures seem to
encourage them in idle lives and vices.
REFORMS BEGUN By THE COMMISSIONERS
''Have the present Commissioners done any
thing to prevent these growing evils?" asked
THE STAR
''Yes. they have. and are still at work, making
reforms in the system of management" said
the Commissioner
$40 you propose to make use of pauper la
bOr?" asked the reporter.
That IL Just what we propose to continue to
do. as We have already commenced it." said the
Commissioner. There was not quite a unanim-
ity of sentiment upon this point among the Com
mssioners at first. but by degrees they have
come to agree that there Is a class of able
bodied paupers that ought to be made to labor
for their keeping. This false sentimentaity
about not employing pauper or criminal labor has
got TO be set aside Recommended working them
Some two months or more ago and find that
1t works very we'll All bitches and cutters on
the commons in the eastern section of the city
have been leVeled and filled. and the cutters in
the streets in that section both north and south,
to the river have been cleaned out the weeds
and grass pnlled. and free Courses for the water
to run through them secured. These street
cutters were found in bad condition. i'm many
places filthy and breeding disease. and the gut
tiers on the commons were becoming deep and
dangerous They are now all right"
1T is strange that this has not been made
known before" suggested the reporter.
ut is probably from the fact that the work
house gang was relieved Of their striped suits
OF clothing" said the Commissioner, lit being
deemed best not to make display of them"
do you propose to continue to thus work
thein?" inquired The STAR man.
Yes. decidedly; there will be no further free
hotel kept by this government for this class Of
people, and when We get the system COM
pleted-and there are many things yet to COM
passive will say. let the tramps come on as
many as like it. from all quarters. Well take
care of them and give them all the wOrk they
want, and all the victuals they need an clothing
too"
WORK TO BE DONE IN THE FUTURE.
"What do you mean by the system and other
things to be cOmpassed5" suggested the re-
porter.
1.-The swamp land attached to the workhouse
must be reclaimed and improved said the Com
missioner. There is much vegetable growth
there which might annually serve for a COM
post for the upland This has to be gathered.
the swamps dtched and drained the natural
and proper water channels opened and kept
Clear Then there is the same work to be done
In that portion of the premises heretofore used
by the United States government for maya
Zine grounds. but which is now part of the
WORK aud almShOuSe grounds"
Has this work been entered upon?" asked
The STAR
Yes" said the Commissioner 'the prepara-
tons have already been commenced, such as
building of roads OF tramways and the manu-
facture of carts (by the inmates) for use about
the bOrGers and in these swamp lands All this
You see Is a good long job for these able-b bodied
free boarders. and will last for years NAV be-
The Commissioners entertain no sentiments
about setting these tramps and beats to work,
and say let them come on All shall have en-
pioyment who come, and If the weather Is IA
vorable, by next spring they hope to make a
good showing on the Eastern Branch flats In
the way OF bitches. tramways, cart roads, re-
coyery OF wild oats and other vegetable matter
for compost, carting Of sand and mud from the
channels to raise the borders of the swamps
higher and the general Improvement of the
sanitary conditions of that vicinity This will
In no way degrade honest laborers who will be
employed on contract work and paid from the
appropriations. as usual. Neither will it lessen
the amount OF their employment"
In Closing his remarks the Commissioner said:
1T Is pity the Jail authorities do not take the
sane view OF this matter. II would be of great
advantage to the government and even to the
inmates themselves to labor and there is much
need OF similar improvements around that build