Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-02
RELIEF FOR GEORGETOwN.
Vags and Corner Ioafers There Must Now
Suffer the Same as In Washington.

No longer is the Georgetown "vag,r legally
speaking, a separate and distinct being from his
Washington brother; no longer will the two
stand side by side in court, charged with the
same offense Chat of having no visible means of
support). and yet be separately and differently
dealt with. Under an old Georgetown law
members Of that class Of persons denominated
as '.vags" when arrested could be sentenced to
but twenty days confinement, while those taken
in custody on the Washington side had to Ian
guish for ten additional days. For long time
this difference in the laws Of the two places has
caused much annoyance, and several efforts to
bring them on a par in this particular have
been made. But not until Saturday were the
heutenants of the various precincts notified OF
the complete passage of "An act for the preser-
Walton of the public peace and the protection Of
the property within the District OF Columbia. "
in which act 1t is provided that hereafter the
punishment inflicted upon "vags" shall be the
ington or IN Georgetown. Not only does 1t
apply to Georgetown proper, but to the county
about.
The following is the wording of that portion
Of the act relating to vagrants:
''That all vagrantS idle and disorderly per-
sons. persons of evil life and fame, persons who
have no visible means Of support, persons who
are likely to become chargeabfe to the District Of
Columbia as paupers, or drunk in or about any
of the streets, alleys, avenues, highways, roads
or public places within the District of Columbia,
or lettering in or about tipping houses, all
suspicious persons who have no fixed place Of
residence or cannot give o good account Of
themselves, &C., shall upon conviction thereof
before the Police Court be required to enter
into security for their good behavior for the
space of six calendar months. Said security
shall be ip the nature Of a recognizance to the
District OF Columbia to be approved by said
court in a penalty not exceeding $500, conGi-
toned the offender shall not for the space Of
six months repeat the offense which he Is
charged and shall in other respects conduct him
self properly"
Heretofore the highest bond that could be de-
manded of a Georgetown vag was $40 one.
THE CORNER LoAFEEs.
Section makes justly punishable another
class of persons who heretofore in George
town have been beyond the reach Of the law.
While corner lCafers and Instructors of the
sidewalk In Warrington could be sentenced by
the judge and thus temporarily removed from
the streets. the residents of Georgetown have
had redress, as unless the congregations be-
came profane or disorderly the police were
powerlsss 20 officially dispense them. In the
language of the act: 1T shall not be lawful for
any person or persons within the District of
Columbia to congregate and assemble at the
corners OF any OF The StIectS or avenues, OF IN
any street, avenue or alley, road or highway, or
on the foot pavements Or Gag footways, or any
street or avenue, or at the entrance or on
the steps, cellar doors, porches or porticos Of
any public or private building or office. or at
the entrance of any public public or Office,
within the District Of Columbia and
be engaged in loud talking or
to insult or make rude and
obscene comments or remarks or observations,
or persons passing by the same, or in their
hearing, or to go crowd, obstruct or inconmode
the said foot pavement, &C., as to prevent the
free and uninterrupted passage thereof, under
penalty of not more than s25 for each and
every offense.''
On Sundays it has been the custom of many
young men and boys to repair to the woods
skirting the town and there spend the day in
playing base ball. ca-ds, &c, to the great an
noyance of the residents scattered about. Pre-
vious to the passage of the act the police had
absolutely no power to charge these persons
with committing en- unlawful act unless they
were caught gambling. Now it Is an ofonse
against The laws OF the District Of Columbia to
congregate on the county roads or in the sur
rounding woods,