The herald., 1893-09-29
THE uNHMPLoYEp.
How to Solve the Tramp Question and
Employ the Worthy.

&A0W 70 EOiX8 the tramp Xu8ttA0M an&1
Employ the Worthy.
EDITORS HERALD Your recent edit
orial regarding the laboring man as con-
tradistinguished from the professional
tramp" ia prima facie evidence Of your
appreciation OF the true laboring man,
and therefore the basis of my presump'
ton in offering for publication in the
valued columns of the HERALD the fol-
lowing, viz: At all times there are
thousands of unemployed laboring men
scattered throughout this country, and
during periods OF general business de-
preston this army of non-producina
consumers acquire vast and alarming
proportions.
1t ia safe to assume, however, that the
great majority OF such men are honest.
capable and willing toilers. and it is
equally fair to assert that not an moon
siderable per cent Of the same are
chronic or professional tramps anc Grim
inals.
Notwithstanding, when canvassing the
country in pursuit of employment,
whether in fact or only ostensibly, these
people are treated on an equality, and
not infrequently the innocent is sus-
pected and incsrcerated as q criminal ;
the tendency of which is to add recruits
to the actual criminal list.
These momentous considerations, the
financial loss to the country resulting
from the enforced idleness of the former
class, and the appalling but inevitable
deprivation and suffering on their part
and that of their dependents the GRIM
inal acts and it's consequences of the lat
ter class present condition OF public
concern not second in importance to
other questions which are, and for many
years have been, prominent in our ma
tional legislative halls.
When there was plenty of public land
subject to entry it absorbed great por-
tiou OF the willing and ambitious labor
ing men of the country, but, by lavish,
if not to cay criminal process of legisla-
tion, this grand inheritance is denied
the present and future generations.
We have, however, vast area OF
desert land susceptible not only to
reclamation, but capable, under proper
and possible manifestations, of being
among the most productive and profit
able in the nation.
Let congress create permanent
bns6au of internal Improvements, the
duties of which shall be to direct the
reclamation of said land, construct, i'm
prove and keep in repair levees, high
ways and public parks.
To employ, in the prosecution OF such
work, every laboring man who makes
application for WORK.
Board and lodging should be provided
all men thus employed, and only nom.
inal wages in addition thereto.
The object. 90 far as it relates to labor
ing men, should be to provide an oppor-
tunity for self-support on the part OF
such, and only such, as cannot find work
elsewhere; and hence the wages should
be soil as to not attract mem from
other fields of employment.
Then, when labor is in special de-
mand, for instance, for harvesting, fruit
and hop picking. etc., etc., those need
ing such could, by making application
to said bureau, readily obtain them on
short notice.
such system would also mark the
line between the willing laboring man
and the chronic tramp.
The law should also provide that. after
the establishment of this enterprise, all
men found ''tramping" should be
deemed criminals, and incarcerated at
hard labor.
The operation Of this system would
not only provide employment for the
otherwise unemployed labor of the
country, and the inestimable comfort re-
sulting therefrom, the curtsiling of the
criminal list, the prevention of crime,
and the sure punishment of this class OF
criminals, but would add to the ma
terial prosperity of the country as a
whole by saving millions of dollars in
property now annually destroyed as a
result of the present condition OF our
levees, and provide desirable and profit
able homes for millions of our citizens
by the reclamation of the desert lands.
1t would be question of only few
years when the taxes accruing to the
general government from property thus
saved, and that reclaimed, would more
than equal the cost OF establishing and
maintaining such an enterprise.
The time for it's Inauguration can be
no more opportune than now.
The number of unemployed men is
perhaps unprecedented in the history OF
this country and the approach of winter
near at hand. and unless provision be
made for thei. self-support they will
necessarily become public charge.
The necessary material for use in the
work was never cheaper than now and
provisions for boarding the men are
also remarkably cheap. Winter is the
best time for operating on the desert.
Congress is now in session and II it
acts promptly much suffering and crime
would be averted. W. A. IyARooE.
209 North Grand aYeEUe. 4