Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-22

Where trial justices subsisted upon fees,
tramp was boon not to be spurned.
She thought that if small bounty were
to be offered for all professional 'hobos'
i believe that was what she called them
convicted and sent to the State prison
At Thomaston, they would soon leave our
State for some healthier climate Good
work shops, close confinement, and
frugal diet would also, in her Judgment,
contribute to the same worthy end The
trouble with Maine people was that they
had allowed their good nature and
characteristic generosity to be imposed
upon altogether too much. Again it was
not a question that appealed specially to
city people, for they had the protection of
their day and night police forces. They
also had the jails and could therefore
stand an increased local expenditure of
the county money for the maintenance OF
tramps with fair degree of cheerful
equanimity. They We're therefore, dis
posed to make light of the protests of the
people in the rural districts against this
evil, and think them unduly timid and
captious.
Nancy Hotslla thought there were
many things bearing upon this question
especially the non enforcement of the
iaw-that the general public didn't know
much about
Della Simpsilly said she thought that
tramps were often unnecessarily ma
ligned For her part she had seen a
number of very amusing fellows in their
ranks-and oh, what a romantic life they
led She was sure that there were very
few Of them who couldn't furnish the
material for a first class novel. No doubt
large number of them were the victims
of fate. In many cases it was doubtless
disappointment in love, For her part
she always did pity disappointed lovers.
Tabathy Tibbals remarked that about
the only love she guessed any Of them
ever knew was the love of ease. All of
them appeared to be born with THAT
tired feeling" AS for being the victims
of fate it was all nonsense, and sillicst
nonsense at that. (Tabathy never has
any patience with Della) No true man
would over permit fate tn make II vaga
bond of him. Anyone who was able to
tramp about the country and beg his
food, was able to work and earn an
honest livelihood. For her part she was
frank to say that she had no sympathy
whatever with the mandy PANTY spirit
Of the age. 1t was getting to be SO that
the industrious law abiding citizen was
about the only one in the community who
came in for no consideration. If it were
really necessary for men to tramp, and if
= h,v bl. Fp do hing alec n
good nice tread mill should be provided
for them ut the State prison This would
give them ample opportunity to crafty
their walking propcnsitics, and. at the
same time, turn their over developed leg
muscles to honest uses.
For once in her life Tabathy appeared
to have struck responsive chord and it
was plain to see, from the approving
glances showered upon her. that her
of the tread mill met with
quite general favor.
! ventured to remark that such n device
might be worked to great advantage In
with the Dutch cure for lazi
ness but the suggestion fell flat
Mrs. Carfern said that the so called |
tramp law really provided for the arrest
and conviction of tramps as Migrants. |
This was the door by which they might
enter the State prison Mt Thomaston. and
partake of it's wholesome labors. 1t was
a significant fact though that in nearly |
every instance where professional hobo
is arrested he is sent to the county Jail rs
a drunkard or disturber of the peace in
stead of being bound over for trial as a
vagrant As result he was able to en-
joy q happy winter, warmly housed and
fed at the expense of the tax
payers Really it did seem as if the circle |
should start a public inquiry to ascertain |
the reason for this condition of affairs. |
Why should professional buns be per-
nitted to snap their fingers at our statute |
law, and turn our State into n winter |
PARADISE How long are the rural CON-
munities of Maine to be subject TO his
terrorism? How long are officials to be
permitted to take advantage of techni-
calities in order to avoid the enforcement |
of the laws These are questions of
public interest and will not down.
These sentiments appeared to be very