The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-05-23
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THE MARRIED
VAGABOND."
Law Now in This State TO Compel Him
Work.

Several cases under the new law against
desertion or non-support of wife and
minor children by the husband and father
are now pending, and the law will soon be
Interpreted by the courts. Shortly before
the passage of this law circular letters of
inquiry were sent by person of great ex-
perience and unllaggng interest in socio-
logical questions to charity workers in this
country concerning the legal treatment of
idle and Incorporate heads of families, the
charitable treatment Of them as a class,
and the sentiment OF the communities upon
this subject. Seventy one answering
letters from 81 States, showed tnat laws
to compel support of wife and of children or
both, exist in 20 of the 81 States, with
perhaps, the best laws and the best enforce
ment of them in the North Atlantic States.
So far as could be discovered no laws exist.
ed in the South Atlantic and South Contra
States, though absence of remedy did not
argue absence of disease The North
Central States have some good enactments,
and the Western States show plenty of
law with little or no enforcement.
In large majority of cases in States hay
ing non-support laws the inability to secure
judgement without the wfes testimony
renders the law of no effect Women, no
matter how humble their station, are
reluctant and sometimes afraid to turn
the machinery of law against one, who
however, untrustworthy, is still the reed
upon which they instinctively lean.
The enforcement of any law, however, "
said charity worker, depends mainly
upon the sentiment of the community and
the attitude of the public toward what has
been termed the married vagabond' will
depend upona realization OF how infinitely
more baneful he is to society at large than
his less respected brother, the single vaga-
bond, Or tramp. The latter, if not use
full member of society, makes few appeals
and obtains small sympathy. But the
married vagabond hides his idleness or
intemperance behind pitilul array of
toddlins children and feeble wife Screened
by them, and through their suffering he
obtains benefit from charitable individuals
and society. case is known by the
Charity Organization Society of Baltimore OF
man who eight years has lived in deter
IN rnt ~, hi, Il
baby has just been added to the household.
claiming by its pitiful needs aid FROM
charitable physicians, district nurse, diet
kitchen, relief societies ard all the human
help that would be rendered unnecessary by
the honest toll of the husband and father.
The only remedy for such cases would
seem to be determined resolution on the
part of charities to recognize the able
bodied married man as the head of the
house, and require him as such to be its
bread winner, together with a Pharaoh
like hardening of the heart to even when
the sins of the fathers are visited upon
the children, and also by rigid enforce
ment OF the law"
The new Maryland law follows:
Any person who shall without Just
cause desert or wifully neglect to provide
for the support and maintenance Of his wife
Or minor child shall be deemed guilty OF a
misdemeanor, and, upon Indictment and
conviction in any &C urt Of the State, hav-
ing criminal jurisdiction, shall be fined not
more than 500, OF be imprisoned in the
Maryland House OF Correction not exceed
ing one year, or both, in the discretion of
the court