New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-18
CONC ERNING MUNICIPAL LDDGlNE-ilO' SIS

To the Editor Of The TT i0une
sir: The subject Of municipal lodging houses Ia
been pretty thoroughly discussed OF late ana n"N'
no desire 10 thrcsh the old straw again, bnt thre
are some aspects Of the cas-" which believe nave
bccn overlooked. The recent Grand Jury "ha' come
10 the conclusion that the difficulties OF the present
system can be remeded by the enforcement OF exist
ing laws Migrants are, according 10 law, " those
who do not give god account OF then'eIVc''
These nre 10 BE- committed on the following morn
Ing Tile prcssntmcn's make no aiin'ioh 10 u''o
who ara not vagrun;, In any sense OF The Woru nut
are simply homeless or without shelter I)r ~" h's'
~ least per ccLt Of this class. 10 aelUh snch
to the aul.hol,r pemtrntlary for SIX months al
the discretion Of the magistrate seems rather harsh
treatment The Grand Jury add that " l.
question Of serious doubt whether IN" establishing OF
free public lodging iorTseS would prove to b" b'hc'
Fetal To the deserving poor We share WIN tn'm
in this doubt but tbs l. not fair statement Oh the
lur,tio We object to being ca,s'd Win those WHO
vould give 10 any able bodied man food AMI lodging
without equivalent. We are opposed to soup htchehs
or to nightly dolcs tramps Of bread and coffee On
the iowcry BY a saloon keeper who is simply feeding
the cnss hr Is helping 10 create. The Charity Com
mssluncrS repeat In their latest communication 10 ue
Ma,or tllrir former advice that the expenditure
necc. for The inauguration Of IN" scheme ahoail
lie assumed by private enterprise and phlanthr0phy'
This method has been trcl thoroughly. as those
familiar with the subject krow, AMI has been found
wanting The compulsory bath and work are esS'-
tin parts OF the system, and privat" IN, tuition
has power II compel either. Tie superintendent oi
Police lin l-a:D stated that in his judgment tho IN
ability Of private corporations enforce the labor
requirement. must render them unit % cope success
fully with this evil The Grand jury Ocil''c
further that free public lodging houses would GER
tninv have a tendency TO attract 10 the city even
A greater number Of vagrants than now find lodgings
in the police stations VITA which We cordt'y agree
hut rs before we object T. putting the question un-
fairly. HE real tramp fees nom II hath ana worn:
n, tine Boston statistic, NJ ". There lie number OF
applicants has been reduced 40 per cent, and Boston
il not very far from New York. His Honor. the
Mayor calls our attention Ia THIS statement Of the
Grand Jury conclusive. but does not apply TO the
subject at all.
10th the Commissioners ard the Mayor suggest that
the labor unions might object the wood eating ~
tl.y have already to convict labor The elect upon
tie labor markc, Of the tremendous Dolly output OF
sawed and split kndling wool. the result al me
wanderers MAY well be left to the Imagination. In
Boston this winter the lodcer, average 100 each Night
The superintendent Of the WayfaterS Lodge states
I'm "A cOmmurcatl Il re cived today that they saw
In getting the men to do their work. Our instil-
lion is pronounced success, ard every large city
should have similar one"
The filthy condition OF the nightly occupants OF
our police station lodging rooms, the lonl nlr. the
unsantary arrangements, the danger to public health.
the frequency Of outbreaks Of typhis ana The GER
tantv of cholera have been again ana again de
rui In spite Of tho qualified protests OF the IpariS
OF Health and Police and even their pledges. the
lnr,r gentlemen In E"Nentst, being In position. nav"
.ot themselves on record n drsiiOns OF p'rpetuang
the present - stem with all its abOminatiDnS II i
the best the proud and wealthy city OF NewNOrk can
afford. UENRl Il. CEAM"I'N, VI. ID.
New-lork, Feb. II, 1903.