The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-12-07

THE ROCK PILE TO GO
II Gov. Lewellins Can Danish That Pun
ishment of the Crime of Being
Homeless.

One OF the most remarkable circulars ever
issued by the executive Of any State was
sent out by Gov. Lewelling at Topeka, Kan,
The latter is addressed to all Boards of Po-
lice Commissioners in Kansas and particu-
larly renders nugatory all vagrant laws.
After reciting the hardships Of the poor in
olden times, speaking specially OF the reign
OF Elizabeth and in Fra nee just previous to
the Revolution, the Governor reviews the
present condition Of affairs among the
poorer classes in the country. He scores the
laws now on the statute books, which call
the man out OF work and penniless a CON
fdence man. Speaking Of the vagrancy law
Of Kansas he says: ut separates men into
two distinct classes, differentiated as tbose
who are pennless and those who are NOT
and declares the former criminals. Only
the latter are entitled to the liberty yuaran.
teed by the Constitution.
ITO be found In city without visible
means ofsupport or OF some legitimate
business Is the involuntary condition of
some millions at this moment and under
the law we proceed TO punish them for be-
ing victims to conditions which we, as n
people have fortej upon them"
The circular then continues as follows: al
have noticed in police court reports that
sleeping in abox car isamong the varieties
police judges have usurped a sovereign's
power not pc mitted in the highest functions
of the state or of the nation and victims of
industrial conditions have been peremptor-
lily ordered to leave town.
The right TO 20 freely from place TO
place in search OF employment, or even i'm
obedience TO mere whim, is part Of that
personal liberty guaranteed by the Consti.
tuition Of the United States TO every human
being on American soil. Even voluntary
ideness is not forbidden. IL Diogenes
prefer poverty, ,if Columbus choose hunger
and the discovery Of n new race, rather than
seek personal comfort by engaging in some
legitimate busi ess,' am aware OF 10 power
in the Legislature, or in the CITY Councils
10 deny him the right to seek happiness in
his own way. so long as he harms no other
person.
III men commit oflense let them be ar
rested and punished, whether rich or poor
but let simple poverty cease to be crime
In some cities, IL is provided by ordinance
that IL police court lines are not paid or Sc
cured. the culprit shall be compelled 10 work
out the amount us IA municipal slave and
rock piles and bull pens are provided for
the enforcement OF these ordinances. And
so it appears thatthis slavery is not impos-
ed as a punishment, but solely as a means of
collecting a debt. Such city ordinance are
In hagraut violation OF constitutional pro-
hibtors. The rock pile and the 'oull pens
would never have been used in degrading
the ffiendess and poor. Let these
twin relics OF the departed auction
block era cease TO disgrace the cities
of Kansas. And. at the dawn ofChristmas
Day let the rock pile and the bull pen
anu the crime Of being homeless aud poor
be obsolete in all the cities of Kansas gov
erned by the metropolitan police act.
1T is confidently expected that their
own regard for constitutional liberty and
-, '-.,mane impulses will induce Police
Ihere nerers TO carry out the spirit, as
turkeys witIar of the foregoing sagges.
or rifles at RoberI