Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-09-05
OW TO DISPOSE OF TRANPS
iuggestion That They Be
Forced in the Army.
lNCLE SAM MAY BENEFIT THEREBY
The Plan Would Thin Out the
Migrants.
Local Business Man Advances a Capital
idea for Abating a Nuisance That Is
Becoming Almost Intoierable-A Hint to
the United States Congress.

II have suggestion to make con-
corning the abatement OF the tramp
nuisance, remarked local business
man to reporter Of 1.-THE Gazette"
Wednesday. II think the very best
thing to do with Migrants would be to
put them In the army. OF course, it
would take national legislation to do
this, but think it could be done, and
| am positive it would have a better
effect as regards the abatement Of the
nuisance than anything else. The
majority of them do not care a snap for
imprisonment; in fact, they are per-
fectly willing to sacrifice liberty for the
sake Of living in idleness. +"
But wouldn't it be a difficult
matter to keep them in the army?" the
reporter inquired.
Not at all, 7" was the reply. "They
would be stationed at forts and other
places where escape would be almost
impossible, and could be divided up
about the country so that even if they
desired to resist the mandates of Uncle
Sam they could not do SO. If they
should desert occasionally, the punish
ment could be made sufficiently severe
that they would have to suffer for il
when captured, and to capture them
would be an easy matter. At any rate
if they were put in the army, they
would steer clear of the cities or other
settlements where they would be liable
to arrest.
do not think there is any question
about the government getting some
benefit from them if they were com
PEELED to enlist when found guilty OF
chronic vagrancy. And as most of the
fellows who are troublesome are chronic
Migrants, it would be an effective way
of getting rid of them.
Then, again, there is another way
Of looking at this disposition of the
tramps. There are very few of them
that would object to being enlisted,
and as most of them are daring fellows
they would not hesitate to 60 to the
front when occasion required.
would suggest that Congress take cog
nizance of the tramp question, which
is becoming something of puzzle to
communities all over the country, and
il the national Legislators are Of the
opinion that any good can be gotten
out of the tramp, let them pass such
measures as will make vagrancy an
offence against the Federal government,
as 1t certainly is source of worriment
and annoyance to people in every State
and Territory in the United States, II
the government will consent to take
care Of these indolent fellows, I am
sure there is not State that will in.
terpose the least objection.
One thing that bears me out in my
belief that such men would not hesitate
to serve the government is the fact
that police officer told me not long
ago that the majority of tramps who
are sent to New Castle Jail are perfectly
satisfied to go there and say that thev
do not intend to do any work as long
as they can live at the expense of the
community. In reading the reports OF
the municipal court trials | see the
same names time and again, and the
fellows who are kept in Jail almost
continually are the very ones that the
city and county would readily part
with.
The objection may be offered that
this is a free country and the people
have right to do as they choose, anG
Uncle Sam has no right to interfere
with the liberty Of anybody that i,
not guilty of an offence against tn,
nation Very true; but this is ar
offence against the nation, and in fac
any government in my opinion, and
cannot see any objection TO the govern
ment meeting out the penalty to sucl
offenders. y