The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-14
LODGING HOUSE CRIMES.
a Problem for Police Officials and
Social Reformers.
From the Neio York Press.

from the AetC YORK f'feSS.
The question now agitatlng the minds Of
police officials and social reformers is how
to cope with the many crimes of
which the cheap lodging houses,
now SO plentiful in this city, are
the source. This is an evil which appears
to battle those who would try TO check it.
Cheap lodging houses are increasing daily
and each new one means new, safe resort
for thieves of the lowest order-a place
where they can consor5 together and lay
plans for the execution of crimes without
fear of exciting suspicion.
So great has the evil grown That the po-
lice admit that they are unable to cope with
it without legislation giving them special
power in that direction.
There are now in the city 345 lodging houses
OF the class that is referred to, and during
the year 1888 there were Furnished 4, $40 $50
cheap lodg ings in these places.
The great majority of the occupants of
so-callad beds in these places are men who
are slaves to alcoholic drink and who, hav-
ing lost all self-respect, drifted away from
family and friends and buried themselves
under the lowest statum of social degrads-
ton. The great majority of this class is
harmless by nature snd would not commit
crimes if left to itself These people have
but one desire, and that Is to have conSta Mt
supply of liquor. 1t is their god and for it
they will do almost ANYTHING But their
brains are so duled aud their muscles so
weakened that they could not become
criminals.
There are many ways by which they can
secure few pennies each day with which
to pay for lodgings and fill the whisky flask.
Nerve is required in the thief, and these
people have but little nerve. They would
plod along, begging and doing odd Jobs
about low groggerieS until they died If let
alone.
ELEMENTS OF DANGER.
There are many among these drunkards
who are bright and brainy despite their
long dissipation. These people will not
work or beg, nor are they satisfied with the
pint of bucket-shop whisky that the others
are glad to get each day. They want to
live high a. times. They are s2endthrifts,
who make the money fly when they have
it and look forward to the time whel they
will have more when it is gone.
The ex-convict who finds himself turned
from every mans door and unable to find
employment is forced to turn into a cheap
lodging house and mingle with those who
live there.
The youth who tires of home restrictions
and leaves his fathers rural homestead to
make u fortune drifts into these lodging
houses because they are cheap.
European criminals who have had to
flee from Justice aud who land in this CITY
without money or friends drift to the cheap
lodging houses.
With such a combination of forces uqder
one roof and meeting every day away from
police interference or thu detectives eye,
and ali in want of moner, it is not to be
wondered at that all are brought to the
same level and that the police consider
every regular habitue of a cheap lodging
house thief
Those people who are not profess ional
thieves soon become such. They be gin
with the Ineanest order of thieving.
Drunken men who are unable to protec5
themselves are beaten and robbed by them.
Goods are stolen from trucks on the street
and from sidewalk displays in front of
retail stores, clothes lines are pilfered, tills
are tapped, and inexpensive articles are
stolen from rooms left open in tenement