Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-27
ONE WAY TO DEAL WITH THn
TRAMP.


As all know, the genuine tramp does not
desire work. The proffer of it to any of
those sworn into this confraternity of I'M
posters is more than distasteful During
the summer season these beggarly wretches,
who are more radically the enemies of
honest wage-winners than any other can
be, will be applicants for "bits," on the
plea that they need food, but really to be
expended in strong drink. They will, as
in the past, invade homes for the expressed
purpose of asking for the "leavings" from
the table, but in reality to ascertain where
they can push imposition to its furtherest
limit and abuse the charity of the house
wife by theft or threat of violence.
The questions of public relief and pri-
vate charity are troublesome always. The
American people have, as yet, failed to
agree upon any satisfactory and systematic
method of uniformity distinguishing the
WORTHY from the unworthy supplicants for
aims. 1t is probably within limits to say
that one-half of all the charity dispensed
privately is waste of sympathy and sub
stance. So difficult is it to determine
where charity's gifts may be worthily be-
slowed, that those who feel it bounden
duty and privilege to exercise their be-
nevolent impulses, uncomplainingly submit
to great deal of imposition that they may
not unwittingly dismiss the really worthy
and needy.
1t would seem that, SO far as the
tramp" pure and simple, is concerned,
therefore, the test of profered labor ought
to be applied. That law to enable this
to be done Systematically would be great
good, appears to us plain. But there are
principles underlying the true labor
test that must not be violated. The
work rendered the tramp ought to come
from an official source, representing the
whole taxpaying class, to whom applicants
should be referred Thus the burden will
be evenly distributed, and society, as a
unit, enabled to do itself service, while
it viii also discharge the community Of the
responsibility incumbent upon it to pre-
vent human misery, arising from lack of
food and shelter.
But it is also clear that if public work is
offered tramps at paying rates, the inter
ests of the workingmen who do not
tramp" will be infringed. If, then, we
are to publicly create a genuine demand
for labor by tramps, it should retain the
form and spirit of charity-which helps
by aiding the object of it to help itself
and should not be remuneratiye. To be
true labor test, it must be disagreeable
work that is profered, and as well under
paid. To make artificial paying work for
the rowing beggar class agreeable and
profitable, would augment the tramp
nuisance, for the really poor and worthy
would be crowded out by the bold, able
bodied and inscriptions; so the necessity
of making charity labor-tests disagreeabIe,
and rewarding those who apply under
them indifferently, cannot be evaded and
success attained.
Let US suppose, therefore, that the next
Legislature is brought to the passage of a
law-if present authority is inadequate
qualifying counties, towns and cities to
provide work upon streets and roads for
those who are able-bodied, and who beg,
with the proviso that all applicants for
work shall be paid only enough to meet
the actual necessities of existence-food.
coarse raiment and shelter. Let us sup
pose in county under the operation of
such law, that tramp applies to the in
dividual for money or food, and that the
citizen can justify his refusal to aid, and
still satisfy his humane impulse, by refer
ring tire beggar to an official who is bound
to give employment to all such applicants
at hard labor upon the public highways or
other works at a meager wage-that is, to
help the beggar by enabling him to help
himself-what must be the result? The So
Der, honest laborer for a fair wage would not
thrown into competition with this "as-
sisted" element. 1t, in turn, because the
work is unpleasant and under paid, and
private relief Withdrawn, would not re-
main engaged in it any longer than actual
necessity required. Unable longer to gain
the ear of private charity, all his begging
responded to by reference to the highway
where rock is to be broken and grades re-
paired for few cents per day-but enough