The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-07-23

Tramp Labor Colonies.

Tramp Labor Colonies.
Pastor Q Boedelschwingh, bless hint
he ought to succeed in anything if he
has succeeded in learning how to pro-
ounce his own name-has devised a
method Of doing away with Migrants in
Germany which is worthy Of serious con-
sideration in all civilized countries. The
method has worked so we'll that in P,rus-.
STA vagrancy has fallen off one-third,
with an annual saving to the state Of
$1,000, 900. In Westphalia, where ten
years ago there were 1000 tramps, there
are now s'next to none," and to that
province is saved in consequence $685.
900 a year. This is the practical side Of
the plan and the one which commends
itself most to the American mind.
In Germany, Of course, pauper relief,
like everything else, is under government
control. Wandering paupers are dis
posed of in three separate establishments.
First there are ttstation almshouses" at
regular intervals, in which, for a small
sum OF its equivalent in labor, a vagrant
may obtain lodging and a meal. He is
then provided with a certificate which
enables him to tramp on to the next sta
ton. There are lodging houses called
friendly inns" rather better than the
station almshouse, where not only
tramps, but respectable persons out Of
work, may find food and shelter. These
are maintained by a system Of private
b~enevolence. Thus nobody is allowed
to prey on private individuals. Third
are the labor colonies.
If a person comes begging to a farm
house or area door he is sent to the sta
ton almshouse OF friendly inn. He
must carry also the official certificate
with him that he is in plain English a
tramp, and he must besides walk for
nine hours or work that long before he
can get the food and lodging. In Ger
many the government even prescribes
the least number Of miles a tramp shall
walk in a day.
The official certificate which he must
in every case produce shows just what
he is and where he came from last, or he
is arrested and sent to the house Of cor
rection.
The labor colonies, pure and simple,
however, promise the most hopeful solu-
ton Of the tramp question. The station
eallnnslousea and friendly inns give tenn
porary relief and employment. The
colonies promise permanent reform. It
is here that the work of good Parson,
Won Bodelschwingh comes in.
He bought a farmhouse and some
wildlands near Bielefeld; where he lived,
borrowing the purchase money. The
working theory with which he began
his task was this: Keep the vsgrant al
ways busy. He must work his due pro-
portion Of the time at regular stated
hours. He must sleep the regular stated
time, he must pray during the allotted
period, OF at least go through the mo-
lions of it. Not one hour is allowed
him to relapse into his old idle habits.
t'Pray and work. is the motto of all the
German labor colonies, of which there
are now several, established on the
foundation laid down by the parson
with the name.
This genuine labor reformer announces
that food, lodging and moderate pay
will be given to all who work under his
regulations. The food and lodging are
of sufficiently fair quality, the pay is
five cents a day, which would amount to
perhaps fifteen cents in America.
4 The mai receives no money, however.
He gets orders on the store which is
maintained on the farm. Money he
could spend for liquor or make his es-
cape with. Nobody, however feeble, is
excused from work; something is found
to employ all. Aman may stay at the
labor colonies two years and must stay
three or four months. The work Of this
vagrant colony has changed the wild
lands of the farm into a blooming gar
den and beautiful landscape.
The best part Of the story is, however,
that the parson and his aids find that
only one man in twenty is an incorrigi-
bic vagrant. Fifteen per cent Of the
persons discharged from the labor colo
MES go into permanent situations, and
o%ne-fourth Of those who have left the
colonies are known to have become re-
spectacle citizens.
The union Of public with private char
ity in Germany has resulted we'll.
highlands part Of agreement in the
triple alliance will be an engagement to
use her fleet, if necessary, in maintain
1ngt the present status Of affairs on the
Mediterranean. This practically would
make her side against France and Russia
in case Of difficulty. England would do
better to throw all those old European