The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-26
PUBLIC ROCK PILE.
1t Works Like a Charm
in Petaiurna.
Treatment of Migrants in Kansas.
The Beggar Nuisance i'm
San Francisco.

The momentous question of what shall
be done to stop the great immigration OF
ramps which is flooding California with
thousands o unde sirable persons will cause
the following interview with W. A. Evans,
a prominent citizen of Wichita, Kan, in
regard to the experience which his State is
now undergoing, and the causes which led
them, TO be read with interest
Kansas" said Mr.. Evans, "has for the
past two years or more been comparatively
free from tramps. A law passed by the
Legislature in 1889 had the effect of driving
this class of people out of the State. 1t is
this law which Governor lie yelling now
tries to repeal with his proclamation IL
reads as follows:
1.-The Council shall prohibitiand punish the
Carrying of firearms or other dangerous aud
deadly weapons. concealed or otherwise, and
cause 10 be arrested and imprisoned, fined or
set 10 work, all Migrants, Iramps. confidence
men and persons found in such city without
visible means OF support. or some legitimate
business.
This action of the Governor has, as
you knew, been published from one end of
the country to the other, and the result is
already so manifest in the alarming in
crease of tramrs in the State that vigorous
protests are being made by the communi-
ties which suffer.
oOfOiboi lLoWciiIuS JuottucS dCllOD
by the statement that he was at one time
a tramp himself, and knows that a great
many OF this class of people are honest. 1t
is surprising how many eX-tramps are 10
be found in the Legislature of our State
since the Governor has declared himself.
before [ left Wichita there was a body
of 300 or 400 of men who had no visible
means of support and who were strangers
in the city. living unon the community by
begging or theft. Where they come from
nc one knows, but their number is con-
stantly increasing. Ii the case presents
such gloomy aspect in our State, where
at times some cold weather Is 10 be con-
tended with. l have no little commisera-
ton for the people of your State with its
delightful climate when l think OF the
apparent inactivity. il not indifference. of
the great mass of your people 10 the danger
which threatens them.
II was in Petaluma the other day, and
| think that little city has taken the proper
step to meet the requirements OF the situa-
ton. They have stone pile there upon
which Migrants are compelled to work.
Twice day they are taken to the work
ground-in the morning and again in the
evening. If a man refuses to work he
gets no food. Five days OF this kind of
experience, residents of the place informed
me. was sufficient to satisfy the toughest
specimen of the tramp genus, and as the
reputation OF the place Is spreading
abroad in the land the tramps are giving it
wide berth.
I'm Kansas City the authorities have
established a public rockpile. where the
men are paid 40 cents yard for breaking
the stone. OF course the amount a man
earns there Is due entirely TO the degree of
energy he displays. There is no police
surveillance, but several overseers watch
the work and soon spot any person who
endeavors to secure recOmpensation for
work not performed.
Il am surprised at the number of beg
CARS one meets upon your public streets,
aud / observe that it is the cause of com
mon remark among all strangers whom I
chance to meet. 1t would seem to me that
your authorities would be able to devise
some means of giving the deserving moor
work and at the same time putting the
other class where they will be unable 10
prey upon the public"