The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-20
NOW TO CARE FOR TRAHPS.
The Problem the Society OF Associated
Charities Has To Deal with.

The Society Of Associated Charities.
to follow in the line of similar organi-
cations which have been in existence
for some time in numerous other cities.
one Of the principal objects of the or
ganization is 10 provide shelter for PEN
niless strangers who come here and Sc
cure them employment, if possible. It's
members will also endeavor. through
their officers to avoid an overlapping OF
charity. administered heretofore by the
various organizations, and the detection
Of fraud perpetrated often by imposters.
The city OF Washington only a few
months ago took a step in the same
direction. when the municipal lodging
house and wood yard was established,
which has since then proven great sue
cess.
The following is a partial statement
published in the Washington Star in
reference to the quarterly report of that
institution:
The first quarterly report OF the super
intendent Of the municipal clearinghouse
and wood yard was made TO the COM
missioners to-day. The report says that
under the old system OF free lodgings
coming the haven Of the tramp. Indeed.
this had gone to such an extent that the
police stations and free lodging houses
we're quite inadequate TO accommodate
the corners who sought lodgings at their
hands This state OF affairs was pecu-
liarly annoying to the police by reason
of the accumulated filth and vermin re-
sulting from these dodgers. At the lodg-
ing house each man before retiring is
required to take a hot-water bath, and,
contrary TO all expectations, the men
with few exceptions desired and appre-
ciated IL. They are given night shirt
belonging to the institution and put -
bed. and their clothing is hung in
fumigating room and subjected to a sui
phur bath during the night. Before open
ing the lodging house there were from 100
TO $50 dodgers in the station-houses night
ly and as the clearinghouse is only pro-
vided with forty-two beds its friends
feared It would be swamped at the out
set. on the contrary, Notwithstanding
the station-houses were closed 10 the
dodgers, no one has been turned away
who was willing to do the required work.
During the Inauguration. the house
reached its high-water mark, when sixty
two slept in It's warm. clean rooms. The
city is now comparatively free from
tramps, continues the report, and II ciu-
zens give the institution their support
by absolutely refusing to hand out pro-
visions or the quarter. the tramp NUS
ance will be abated. The tramp and the
sawbuck are not on friendly terms-the
former has gone where lie can obtain
free lodgings and free soup; the latter
stands as a proud sentinel guard"g well
its easily won victory. Not only are the
station-houses relieved from their bur
den. but the work house cares for much
smaller number than usual. The police
court also feels the effect by having less
of the foreign element TO deal with, and
while the municipal clearinghouse does
not claim the full credit for this state
of things, II justly demands recognition
as having contributed largely to these
results. II has driven the tramp from u.s.
hence they are not here to be arrested.
tried and sent down.