The herald., 1895-01-24
PasadenA's Tramp Ordinance.

sho ioPoIt VI tuo ptOcSbuiuga OI bno
council of Pasadena published in the
Express of the 9Th, was the following:
Another ordinance passed its first
reading, making it misdemeanor to
beg from house to house On the streets,
wandering on the streets at late or unu.
sual hours, sleeping in barns, sheds or
0uthouees " ithout permission of owners.
Persons convicted of any OF these
offensen may be punished by a>fine OF
500, or imprisonment not exceeding
three months, and required to labor for
the city during the time of imprison-
ment. The court is given jurisdiction 80
suspend sentence on condition that the
prisoner agrees to leave the city and not
return"
This ordinance, the writer 10 told,
went through the council ut its final
reading with a whiz." And this in a
Republican city and city OF churches.
The Bible says eye have the poor
with you always go that whensoever
ye will ye may" May what? Imprison
them, seems to be the in expectation Of
the members of that city council. The
thoughtful reader of that ordinance can
but exolaim: What in the name OF
common sense and justice, to say nothing
OF humanitarian considerations. is there
reasonable or wise in such an ordinance
as thatf Can the gentleman who intro.
duced that resolution tell us what
hungry men, who cannot get work, are
to do2 A gentleman on the train going
from Los Angeles to Pasadena one even.
ing wss heard to say that he had more
respect for man who would steal than
for ons who would beg; but such surely
is not the average sentiment of the oiti-
zens OF Pasadena.
If men have no money, nor honest
means OF procuring something to eat, or
place to sleep, what can they do but
eteal or ask some one for something to
eat and place to lie down at night?
and sleep to live, and the constitution OF
these United States says they have a
right to life. According to this proposed
ordinance for the "city OF churches"
people must not beg for place to
sleep, nor yet must they ''sleep in any
ones barn, shed or clubhouse without
the owners consent" and if. in obedi-
enCe to the provision of the law, they
remain in the street at 'late or unusual
hours" they are to be punished by
fine of sl00-which, OF course, they
cannot pay-'or go to prison for three
months and required to labor for the
city during the time OF imprisonment"
One would naturally suppose that
simple justice, leaving Christian princi-
pies ont of the question, would require
that all the poor man could earn above
the cost OF HE board would be credited
to him and given him on his release, 40
that lie may not be Immediately COM
PEELED to again violate the ordinance
and beg a crust and the privilege OF
sleeping in come ones barn, stable or
clubhouse, or to occupy them without
begging the privilege.
The writer was under the impression
that men could no longer be imprisoned
for debt. But corporations being con-
sidered as having no souls, are probably
allowed special privileges. a0-tsfs6
But the report says that "the court is
given jurisdiction to suspend sentence
on condition that the prisoner agrees to
leave the city and Ynot return" How
delightful prospect for the surround
ing neighborhoods II may be very
merciful to the prisoner, but utterly in.
confederate OF the comfort and safety of
those towns to which they go; for God
having created them they must be some
place. By what principle OF law or
justice can court turn criminals loose
upon another community? If they be
not criminals they should not be CON-
demned to prison. If they are criminals
no court should have jurisdiction to set
them free to prey upon other commu-
mites.
Said lady to a gentleman the other
evening, when the cruelty of this propo-
sition was being discussed: 81 do not
see that heather board could do
anything worse except to shoot down
its tramps." Altar a moments thought
she added "And then they would have
the expense of burying them; that
might deter them from doing that,
while by the present meann they make
a profit on their labor"
co." replied the gentleman, "they
could have the tramps dig their own
graves before shooting them, and in
that way save part of the expense"
II unmerciful propositions of those
in authority excite such indignation and
bitter expressions on the part OF persons
who have no fear OF ever being destitute,
and therefore have no personal interest
in the matter what must be the effect
On the minds of honest, industrious men
who cannot obtain employment, and are
suffering for the necessities OF life, and
then ars Imprisoned for asking q fellow
being for something to eppease the
pangs Of hunger? l know almost every
lie sorely tried by the con-
slant applications for iood but let ne
not drive tbs unfortunate TO desperation,
and multiply criminals. Let us pa
tiently bear our share of the misfortunes
OF ths times until some means can be
devised spd adopted to prevent the me-
csssity for begging.
Truly does the Bible say that "the de-
str1ction OF the poor ia their poverty"
Let us rememb Der that we are our bro
thsrs' keepers, and instead OF driving
them Gown, let ue endeavor 10 keep
them UP while the Influences are 80
strong against them.
There is an old saying that "the near.
or 30 the church the farther from God"
1t somstimes appears that the more
the iess Christianity. Can it
be that tins people OF Pasadena have
forgotten the words of Christ: "Inas-
much as ye have done it unto she least
Of these, my brethren, ye have done it
unto me-? M. V. LoNGLEY,
South Pasadena.
There is good reason for the popular
lty of Chsmberlain's Cough Remedy.
Davis IL BuZard of Wast MOntaYav