Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-03-28
THE TRAMP NUISANCE.
WHAT is TO BE DONE WITH
THE NoMAOs?
The Trustees of the Poor won't Feed
Them Any More, and the Levy
Court Don't Want to Board
Them In the Jail.

The Trustees of the Poor held their
monthly meeting yesterday at the aims
house. The members present we're:
Baldwin, Cooch, Ogle, Lackey, Davis,
satterield, Mooney, Herbert, Solomon,
Springer and German. H. j. Nowland,
having been re- lected as the member OF
st. Georges Hundred, was sworn into
Office by Frank K. Herbert.
Superintendent Guthrie reported 254
inmates IN the almshouse and 113 in the
insane depart ment. This is about the
largest Lumter ever in those two insu
tutioDs at any one time. There were five
deaths during the month; 920 meals were
furnished to 407 trampe. The tramp
question occupied the Irincipal time Of
the board in its deliberations How to
eurtRil expenses and run the institution
with the least money was what the guar
dams OF the poor were looking for.
Nearly all T. e members expressed their
views, and all seemed determined TO
adopt that plan that led to the most
rigid economy. Levy Courtman Wier,
one OF the committee from the Levy
Court, took an active part In the debate.
DIR. Springer, of Chiistiana, and II. A.
Nowland, OF st. GEORGES. strongly ad-
vocated cutting down the amounB paid
for outdoor relief to one half the amount
was adopted. The board also gave in
etructions TO the superintendent not to
furnish meals TO tramps during the
month.
Messrs. Dr. Springer and II. A. Now
land were appointed a committee to lay
the request of the board for $45, 900 be-
fore The Levy Court. The monthly pay
roll OF 1858. II was passed.
REE0RR THE JPyy rnyfur
In the afternoon Messre. hr. Springer
and b. A Nowlsnd appeared before the
Levy Court and laid the request of tie
Trustees of the Petr for a 100 appro-
priation for the coming year before that
body. They accompanied the presenta-
tion OF their subject with earnest re-
marks, showing the necessity OF increas-
ing the appropriation.
DR.. Springer referred to the fast In
creas'ng population of New Castle Coun-
ty and the consequent incre ase of pauper
ism and destltution. The appropriation
had been $40, 900 year at the old aims
house and It was the same now, showing
the rigid economy that had been praciiced
by this Trustees of the Poor under chang
I'd circumstances. He alluded to the
needy improvements that had been made
that created n deficiency. Referring to
the tramp question he said the Board
had come to the conc usion to furnish the
tramps with no more meals the coming
month, and they had also cut down the
amounts paid for outdoor relief to one
half though he doubted there would be
many cases Of suffering by such actions
Mr.. Wier said he would much rather
board the tramps At the almshouse thar
at the Jail, because 1t was much cheaper
We have to board them anyway, and VIZ
might as well adopt the cheap plan.
President Grubb said 1t was a pity there
was no workhouse to send them to and
make them work.
Mr.. Nowlsnd and Mr.. Springer agreed
with the president, but there was neither
wOrkhouss nor penitentiary In the State,
and they had TO do the best they could.
Mr.. WI. said that tramp couldn't be
made to work even If there were work.
house. They were here and they had to
be fed. II they were not fed ut the aims
house they would be sent to the jail,
where they would cost more than five
times as much. They are here, and we
have to make the best of 1t. We cannot
see them starve.
Referring to the money paid for out
door reliet, he believed the Trustees of
the Poor were often imposed upon by
persons who were fully able to make
their own living. He believed, however,
that DIR. Springer, of Christiana, WAS
very careful and investigated the cases
before he supplied them.
DR.. Springer said it was hard some
times to find out the real ttate of the
case even by the most rigid investiga-
tion. He referred to the case OF q woman
who applied for relief. He Investigated
the case and got her place to work in
family, but she wanted not less than
$l.5O week with no milking or wash
ing 70 do, and wanted to be taken or rent
home to see her friends every two weeks.
The debate was prol, Dged indefinitely,
but acton on the request of the Trustees
Of the Poor for $751; appropriation was
deferred.
1t appeared from the testimony of the
superintendent and employees that the
tramps were generally strangers, and
that the same applicants rarely applied
twice for help. The average cost Of the
meals furnished TO these tramps were
STATED at ~ cents, amounting during
the month to 4l 40. The discussion OF
this subject, led to general discussion
OF the question of out door help, from
which 1t appeared that about 81, 600 or
about one-tifth of the entire appropria-
tion fer the support OF the poor was ex-
pended ir this way.
The lack of money on hand preyeh ted
the board from carrying out many need
ed Improvements. A motion to ask the
Levy Court for an appropriation oil S45,-
900 for the coming year was adopted.
This is an increase oil $4,000. 1t was also
brought out In the discussion that about
$4,000 worth of permanent improve
meuts had been made out of appropria-
lions of the last year. This, with the in
creased number of people In the institu-
ton, had caused "a deficiency of about
$5, 600 which 1t was desirable TO provide
for this year. The appropriation has
been t4O, 900, no more than was given at
the old almshouse.
Levy Courtmen Wier aud Eliason
were committee to ark of the Trustees
OF the Poor the use of their office on Sixth
street between shipley and Orange for a
coroner office aud morgue. The com.
mtttee explained the necessity OF sup
plying morgue in some central place
and of establishing rule in the matter
which should be definite, instead of
leaving It to the decision of the coroner.
The Board, however, did not take
kindly to the request OF the Court and
dec lined having n mnrpua NJ THAR of1},a