The herald., 1895-01-04

Inc ooIl0ue eepect OF tho tramp situA
zion In this city oocasioned joint meet
ing OF the police commissioners and
members of tho council, yesterday. in
the mayors Office. There was a join,
discussion OF the subject and various
methods Of handling the difficult prob
lam were presented, ranging, in the way
Of ideas, from the organizing OF vigil
anse committee to renting an old ware
house, where the tremps could be stood
upin rows and fed on soup until they
are properly subdued.
Mayor Rowan had asked Chief Glass
\ - send in q report on the condition OF
the city Jail and the tramp question.
The report was read to thejoint CON"
ference a. follows:
In accordance with your request for
abatement from me in regard to the
present condition OF the city Jail, l
hereby submit the following:
We now have confined in the city
fail over $50 prisoners, and there is not
In the building room and accommoda-
tions to properly care for one-third OF
that number. Twenty-four members OF
the nomad tribe which is now pouring
Into our city were brought to the station
In one body BY the police officers, this
morning, These fellows have been
hanging around the Sisters' hospital on
BOYLE Heights, and begging or demand
ing that the bread of the orphans be
given them. It ia probable that there
ars $50 more OF the tribe of tramps now
in this city, who should at once be put
in Jail to prevent them from roaming
over the city and fleeing our citizsne,
by begging money for bread and spend-
ing it for whisky.
am willing and anxious to do all in
nv power to take care OF these tFamps,
bat cannot put 10 men ia a space suf-
fcient for one. l respectfully invite
your honorable board of police com.
missionera to visit the city Jail at 5 80
O'Clock this. afternoon that you may see
for yourselves the condition OF affairs
existing.
|. We must have more room. 1t is sim
ply impossible to take care of such q
large number of men in our present Jail.
l do not know tina. should make any
further suggestions in this matter, as l
have referred to it in my annual report
to the city council for years pact, but
am afraid that we will have very serious
trouble if action is longer delayed. II
may be that some place could be rented
in which we could, for the time being,
confine q portion OF our city prison ers.
There is no question but the tramps now
in TIE city should all be brought in and
put to work, and tramps now on their
way to the city should be made to I'm =
derstand that if they do come here II
will be to 60 to the work gang and build
roads for the city.
\ l beg OF you to give this your imme-
I date attention. and oblige,
J. M. GLASS.
Chief of Police,
The discussion which followed the
\ reading Of the report of the chic
\ showed that all those present are i'm.
\ pressed With the seriousness of the sit
l nation and the need OF immediate
\ nction.
\ The mayor stated that at least AZ
n Well-known citizens have applied with.
\ In the past few days for permits to carry
n xevolvers.
N The mayor spoke strongly in favor Of
\ che city hiring 10 more teams and extra
h police, and then putting the tramps al
N work ON First street hill and keeping
Y the work going until the tramp nuts.
\ ance abates, At least in this city.
NJ Councilman Munson favored the
||building of barracks in Elysian park
where all the men could be put to work
This is the idea which he has worked
upon in the council for several weeks.
4 After the discussion. when it was ap
parent that no definite action could be
taken jointly, on motion of Mr.. Arnold
the communication from the chief was
referred to the council with recon
mendation that the city rent temporary
uuarters for the care of prisoners, and
that they authorize the appointment O
~ number of special policemen.
Councilmen who were seen by HER
AID reporter after the meeting. said
that ct today's adjourned session of the
council some action would probably be
taken for temporary relief, and the solu
sion OF the question of permanent reliel
Ileft for the incoming council.