New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-04
THE prBlIc LoDGIyG.Hor>E Question:
\ pREsENTMrNT IL FAVOR or TIE COMMITMENT
OF NNGRiNTS

\ pEESENTMT NT IL FAVOR or TIE COMMITMENT
or NNGRiNTS.
The January Grand rur, finished IT., lahor' Nc''cr
dav bv handing the following pr'srntmcnt to Recorder
Smyth IN Part | of General sessions;
During the present term the ''r"nd Jury mas h"-
voted a part OF IT. dine 10 th" consideration OF t'r
condiou and urn,ecrrcni 81 the Logging room. en-
nrctod with the various police precinct Sia nh"i''
I ,ls CITY devoted (, the accommodation Of destitute
and homeless pcnpr. Owing 10 ia" lnad' liai" Ia
cics Of the station house" and the lack OF proper
system for the government Of "a" Lodging rooms
these plac.s provided by the Police Drpnr ni-nt FL
ircly ont oil motive. of humani'r aud wlch are ,hr
only refuge Of unfortunate people VII" use lh"in
nrc n menace not only 10 The lodg'r' thrm''iN's' bu
10 the members OF til" police force ana III" pnpic ~
large The dodgers. destitute and homeless. or ne
prayed diseased and nmd"~rrving. are crowded In
dI.ciImnat,y In small rooms devoid Of proper hei
facilities. and are TUNED oat the next morning VI the
amc filthy condition In which they presented them
selves til" mn,lrr Of appi ants az Ia" val MS
stat on houses iucr as during ia" col w'a r. ana
q, We are Informed. apmctmc> a. many ~ h!t' or
sixty pcrsos an. crowded into place arc'ly inrg"
cnouch for one fourth Of ia" numb":. III great mn
ioy OF ;he dodgers are Nas's''S' p"' na"' ''' 'eN
dts rNine people.
An prrsons wandering al road or lodging In watch
housns and not giving good recount OF Themselves
are lv law declared to be- vasrant'. and shIm' DO
taken before II magistrate. who. II satshel That VI
rcrson IS vagraut (, required 10y warrant - commit
.ucb offender and II he De IA proper object for such
relief 60 the alms house for not exceeding SIX months
at hard labor or II an Impropc: pcis N, TO b. sent
IN fine aImslou,e then for u Ike lime to the p-ni
lcnlary.
After n careful consideration ~ the situation W.
nave come 10 the conclusion that ia" dldculies Of Ia"
nr.scnt system can he rcmrdird by iii" emo cement
Of ilc existing laws. Each applicant for lodtlng
sbouId be questioned to his means OF livelihood
and II hi, answers should De unsatisfactory and II
appcarcd that he Il pcr-on wihoni visible means
Of SUPPORT he should be taken the following morning
before a police magistrate and committed rs yasran
as provided 10y the laws above quoted.
1--WE believe II 30 be question OF 'erons donb
whether the establishing OF fee public Lodging house
would prove to lie beneficial to til" deserving poor
should such public lodging honsr, exist. they wonlt
certainly have tendency to attrnct 10 iii" city ever
greater numbers Of Migrants thin now find lodting
| i'm In" police Stations And with III" rrgila'ion
herclnnlVr suggested believe that all til" ne'e'
sarv accommodate Ions could hc Afforded dcs"rN in
the unworthy ass summary di'po,e'
| Of without menace To the public health or security
We earnestly commend these suggestions TO the Boar'
of Commissioners of Police To the end that the captain
| and srrcrants may be- instructed each morning Il
convey nh such vagrant dodgers to the police cour
TO hy the mag iratcs disposed OF according 70 law
| The Recorder discharged the Grand Jury. thanking
| n for lis diligence and Industry. II hnd drawn nj
three prescntmcn;s aud pa'S'd on 40 cases. hndih
| indictments w 361 OF them Julius Calm was III
| foreman and william l.. Sddmorc the sccrc'ay.