Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-04-28
PROTECTING The UNFORTUNATE.
MIR. Sutton Makes a strong Appeal for
Better Care of the Working Tramps.

Mr.. Sutton Makes a strong Appeal for
Better Care of the Working Tramps.
There was a large crowd of farmers
and other visitors at the Levy Court
room this % 'rning The members of
the court became so involved in discus
sions with their visitors on the out.
look for big fruit crops and on the Five
Commissioners bill, that they forgot the
time of day and the court did not come
to order for business until II o'clock
Mr.. Sutton stated that Magis
trate Thomas Bratton and Con
stable William e Duhadway of
Appoquinimink hundred, whose bills
were contested, had come to Whining
ton to-day to find out on what grounds
their claims were objected to- They
offered their books and vouchers to the
co.. ittee or court for examination, aud
requested that the illegal bills be
pointed out to them.
Mr.. Gillis said that the committee
would not do anything to day, as Mr..
Clark was absent and he had requested
that no report be made unless he was
there to condrm 1t. After long discus
sion, in which the Republican members
objected to settling with the men ia Mr.
Clarks absence it was decided to defer
the matter.
Mr.. sutton of the committee to en-
force the Ball Tramp Law, and the Com
mittee on jail Commissioners, stated
that the Levy Court would have to make
some provision for the care of condemned
Migrants who are able to work on the
stone pile. de said that first of all
the men could not subsist working,
as they do on two meals each day, es-
pecially those that they are now getting
The sheriff does not intend to increase
the daily rations Of bread and soup I'M
less so ordered by the Levy Court Then
he will either furnish the men with two
square meals, or double the present
rations
The speaker continued Then Mr.
President, those men are working out in
that hot sun with their clothing hanging
in rags, and many of them almost naked
Nearly all Of them have their shoulders
and back exposed to the streaming sun,
and very few Of them have hats Then,
too, the men are compelled to walk over
and stand on the sharp stones and their
shoes have been cut and torn in shreds,
and in short time they will be bare
Now. gentlemen. while these men
are convicts and a nuisance to the com
munity, we must remember that they
are human beings, and 1t Is my honest
opinion that something must be done to
prevent than from torture. They are
working as we'll as if they were being
paid well for their work. and have not
given the slightest trouble.
Mr. Killgore-"Well, Mr.. President,
that bill was passed to drive the tramps
and chronic DRINKS from this county. /
think. Now If we ara going to give them
two square meals day aud furnish them
with new clothing and shoes, many OF
them will be satisfied to remain here
Mr.. Hickman would just state, Mr..
President, that there is already a pro
vision that the Jail commissioners shall
provide the prisoners with clothing, and
we make an annual appropriation for
that purpose
Mr. Sutton-"This, sir, has never
been the custom with the thirty day
men, or "bums" as they are called. The
life prisoners and long term criminals
are always supplied thus, but the
'bums' are allowed to go nearly naked.
if they have no clothing OF their own.
The matter was finally referred to the
Tramp Law Committee. with power to
act. 1t is thought that the matter will
be compromised by providing the
laborers with heavy shoes and with one
more meal similar to those
they are now getting. Then q
a shed or roof will probably be
built over the walls, as il is well known
that the men can never stand the sum
mer sun, which comes down between
those four stone walls with uRinter
rupted fury. If the latter is done, the
prisoners can also work in rainy OF
snowy weather.