The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
REPULSIVE BEGGARS THAT
ARE A DISGRACE TO
THE CITY.
MANY OF THE MENDICANTS Pos
SESS CONSIDERABLE PROP
ERTY.
THEIR PRESENCE ILLEGAL.
CR1PPLEs AND ALMs-SEEKERs MAY
BE KEPT FROM PUBLIC
PLACES.

The street peggars of San Francisco are a
disgrace to the community. They are I'M
lawful parasites, and they are frequently
lawless They have become an eyesore to
the inhabitants, and they are shocking
sights to visitors. If the evil is allowed to
continue, San Francisco will gain repu-
tation that will excel that of the beggar
cities of Southern Europe.
The manner in which the blind, the
manned and the pretended cripples have
divided up this city in respect to stands
whereat to ply their mendicancy has
reached such pitch that person can
hardly pass a street corner without sud-
denly coming upon sight, not only re-
voting to delicate women, but sickening
to strong men. The blind have their
stationary location, but the cripples hobble
about, getting in the way of persons SO as
TO purposely block their path. If refused
money, curses and frequently blows with
crutches follow the demand.
Few of the unfortunates are entitled to
the charity they obtain. Most of them are
criminals, or at least of a vicious nature.
That blind man could successfully COM
nit burglary and that a man with one
leg and one arm could beat a strong man
virtually to death are hard statements to
believe, but such criminals are now in the
State prison paying the penalty of their
misdeeds. That the sight of a hideously
blinded woman glaring up at young lady
would cause the latter to faint and nervous
prostration result sounds like tale of the
imagination, but such an occurrence took
place recently at the foot of the stairs lead
ing TO photograph gallery on Post street.
Women are frequently seriously startled by
the sudden appearance of deformed man,
and men are greatly harassed by the
great army of cripples and wrecks who &C
cost, follow and persist in importuning.
This state of affairs would not exist if
the laws were enforced. The indolent
tramp who is too lazy to work would be
imprisoned and the blind or crippled I'M
fortunate would be given a comfortable
home either in blind asylum or the aims
house provided the local ordinances were
put into effect. The law is plain on the
subject and if the police officers were only
instructed to do their duty the streets
its vicious paupers within twenty-four
hours. The orders of the police to 'move
on" would be obeyed and this city would
be rid of most Objectionable class of i'm
ported parasites.
Even those deserving of charity would be
far better off in a properly conducted aims
house than on the street. According to
their own stories they exc out a most
miserable existence, live in squalor on
few cents day, clothe themselves in rags
and suffer for comforts furnished to even
animals. The truth is that many of the
unfortunates have money saved up, while
those who are in daily need are generally
in that condition because of their own
vices. Those Migrants of this class do not
wish to be placed in a home because they
could secure no LIQUOR there, and as many
are confirmed drunkards they strive hard
TO keep out of the poorhouse. Still they
occupy hunks in the City Prison or the
almshouse more frequently than anywhere
else.
The better class among the blind, Grip
pied and infirm prefer the precarious ex-
istence afforded by an independent"
mode OF life to living upon a regular
charity. Under the thin disguise of SELL
ing pencils they contend that they are not
as much the objects of charity as if they
were in the pooThouse. The truth is that
they prefer the life of the streets and the
chance to have glass of beer and whisky
whenever they want it to the confinement
and the regular routine of large charita-
bic institution, 1t is the desire to do as
they please which makes them all want to
beg for a living. Therefore by the non
enforcement of the law the streets are lit
tered with the hideously blind, the shock
ingly deformed and the sickeninglv in
firm.
The people pay taxes for the support of
these untortunates in an institution where
comfort, good air and good food are sup
posed to be given to them. Having once
paid for their support many citizens OBJ
ject to contributing toward the pauper 8
desire to drink and toward the mainten-
ance OF revolving spectacles on street cor
ners.
There is chance now for San Francisco
to become great city within a short time
and progressive citizens object to exhibits
of beggars which lead visitors to believe
that there is very large pauper element
here and that 1t Is due to general
poverty in the land. This is not true, as
nearly every beggar has been imported
from some other country.
The police are often hindered in DOING
their duty by the false sympsthies of some
people. If policeman arrest beggar. be
he blind or drunken cripple, the crowd
will often abuse the officer for imposing
upon a poor unfortunate. The policeman
realizes for once that he is public SER
want, and to oblige those possessed of false
sympathies, or those devoid of sense, he
uses his judgment and violates the law.
The people do not understand that the ar
rested man is being taken into custody for
his own good and for the public welfare.
The beggars are a nuisance to the police.
and the latter will be only too willing to
run the mendicants off the streets when
they learn they disobey the law by allow