New-York tribune., 1885-07-08
THE TRAMP PROBLEM.
A NOVEL SOLUTION SUGGESTED.
Edifor OF The Tribune.

To the Ed ator OF 1he 1rtonhe.
SIR, There seems to be one easy way to get
large of money for good object VIZ. by legacy
wish TO suggest ol ject (which may strike some %
your phllan:hroplc rich readers as It strikes me.
The tramp question is one which no humane man can
pass over le.desy. The difficulty is that tramps are OF
two opposite kinds. those who Will not work and those
who are seeking work, and that no one can tell these
apart Many people satisfied 10 assurne that nearly
all are Of the class but there is one homng
evidence against this that the number is greatly in-
creased, often much more than doubled at times when
extensive mines and factories and iron works have
suspended operations CT course tlen. any remedy
attempted be suited 10 both kinds OF traips
that remedy all know Is to provide them Will work
but howl
Nv proposal a. that the kndhcar,edm man woman,
who s looking about 10 see whore money be willed
most helpfuy, shall consider the plan OF giving IL 10
some township region OF country as perpetual und
of which tho interest shall be used to pay tranps and
perhaps unemployed of the neighborhood for break
ing stone 10 macadamze the roads.
There are objections 10 this plan, as to all plans The
work hard. harder than would wish to oher to
tramps or shIftess ers inducement TO undertake
support sl It is not quite 40 hard ~ public
prejudice feels II Ia be; own streets VIC may see
respectable men. not particularly muscular, breaking
one Gay after day at regular wages Again. elaborate
over seenx is required not Only OF the work it-cli but
Of the lodging aud board which the wages may ob'ali
and SO expensive ecay as IL Is IooIy done and
often has to lie done over again; but 10 tie humane
Individuals whom have In mind /, is not the primary
object 10 make IA much road possible. but first TO
secure that the deserving DO not starve and are not
forced 1--we charity unt TO do so become. accept
able and habtual, and. second, 70 secure that tne
undescrving not encouraged but prevented IN their
intentions OF living on oDarity. - -.
This DrcaKiug often been tried, ana mas no
beeu failure but IL IL OF those thugs which 70 be
done well needs be done somewhat large scale
Private charity cannot be relied month after month
for work 40 unnteresting when personal appeals IN
other directions numerous aud pressing; AID any
cement for tramps which IS not en- established
fling clearly understood aud certain 10 be a any given
moment In u operation. does not enable consciehtVus
louseke eper refuse that something 10 eat on "cn
. the tramp system and the pauper system live.
Townships cannot rghteously expend much of the taxes
for the bcneng OF tamps; their duty covers only 80
much provision !cr tranps VIII benefit the township
nut both private and public aid could be oil tanned for
such a scheme this OF which speak. lho pubic
purse would give something for It's roads, ana benevO-
lent, particularly religious efforts would he drawn
toward the tramp lodging nouse.'
need not enter IN TO minutes ia admitting that maoad
amizng roads become obsolete. II u ncasurably
posslbc 50 TO fund.- and such trstees, that
shall II need be- be diverted from time 20 time from a
original methods TO others fitted ~ promote the
object Tor which 1t given The object ltself ia this
case must remain; experience docs not leave us in
need OF the assurance Of scripture that tho poor We
have ALWAYS with us .iIEsgY MASON.
HhafLroDk n. j., June 20, lSe5.