The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-04
TRAMP AND BEeGAR PROBLEM

The season of the year has arrived
when the charity problem presses heaV-
fly upon the public for solution and this
year finds US little further advanced in
methods than the last. The tramp
problem is always with US and in that.
too, little advancement is apparent. In
the handling of both questions as in
many other things the people of the
United States seem to be far behind
European peoples. J. D. Roth writing
to the Chicago Record describes in de-
tail the manner in which tramps and
all the destitute, incompetent and un-
fortunate are handled in Germany He
says:
At the close of the Franco-Prussian
war Germany was declared the worst
mp-affiicted country in the world,
and it was estimated that within its
territory 200, 600 men and boys were liv-
ing as Vaga bonds, begging from town
to town and from house to house, and
often terrorizing the rural communities
The cost of that army of trampS in
aims and food was computed at $15,-
100000 annually Today the tramp, as
we know him, in many parts of Ger
many is virtually unknown, and few
beggars or peddlers are seen on streets
or highways, except manned or defOrm-
ed persons, who, under certain cOndi-
tiOnS, are allowed to sell matches or
other small wares on the streets. In
discriminate giving of aims or food is
not pracuiced.
Twenty-Five years ago when the Ger
man tramp nuisance was worst some
leading philanthrOpists of the father
land got their heads together to plan
for its abatement Soon they began
the estab abllShment of what are known
as aid stations and work colonies, and
the success of their plans was so great
that in August, 1885, the official reports
showed in existence % colonies and l.
207 stations. Shelter houses Cor home
inns) had been in existence for years
when these hpcraT1 I111t
arrangements were made by which they
became cO-WOrkers in the solution of
the tramp problem, and now 472 of
these homes, with 16 900 beds and a bus
mess capital of $4,000, 900 marks, work
together with the stations and the col
Onies.
Beginning their work, the friends of
the scheme, which has proved so sue
cessful, organized local anti beggary
societies, the members of which paid a
small fee annually into the general
treasury and agreed to give nothing to
beggars applying at their doors. Each
society stamps its name on a small
metal disk and gives this to each house
holder represented in it's membership,
who fastens it to his front door. The
sight of this is sign to any beggar
that he will get nothing at that place.
and that his case viii be referred to
the society'S office, where it will be in
Vestigated before anything more is
done The society has its aid station
near the principal entrance of the town,
and then by a few hours work, the ap-
plicant for aims or food can secure a
ticket which gets him food and lodging
at the inn Cor lodging house,. if he can
not be provided for thus at the station.
1t is assumed that the Wanderer will
earn his food and lodging by a half
days work. After a nights rest and
the necessary meals at the inn (Her-
berge zur Heimath) he is provided with
ticket, on which are written his name
age, birthplace and the way he intends
to go in search of work. If ne wanders
far from that route he is liable to ar
rest by the first rural policeman whose
territory he enters If he arrives a the
next station not later than o'clock in
the afternoon he receives his dinner, his
afternoon work, supper, bed and next
morning breakfast, with a new card,
that viii pass him on to the next sta
ton If he desires it he can seek for
work along the way and still reach his
destination by o'clock. If he reaches
his destination later than that hour he
must care for himself over night, unless
he has some good excuse for his late
ness.
The aid station and the inn aim chief
~ at the temporary care and relief of
the unemployed and the vaga bond; the
work colonies seek to provide a relief
more permanentThe applicant at these
places may stay for months ana some
of them make it a condition of adnnis-
sion that he remain at least three
months Their chief aim is to take the
Wanderer and the unemployed from the
highways and put them in the way of
Self-SuppOrung industry. The first of
these colonies was opened at BieIefeld
Westphalia, in 1882, and it became a
model for those of later date. 1t now
owns several hundred acres of land fer
tile and well cultivated. most of which
has been redeemed from the barren
sand dunes of the neighborhoOd 1t
has Accommodations for 200 cOlonists
who are admitted with the understand
ang that they must remain three months
and may remain two years if they so
wish and it seems expedient otherwise.
FOr the first two weeks of their stav
they receive no compensation other
than board and lodging and after that
they are paid a low rate additional for
their work The wages are not at once
given them. but each man is provided
with credit book in which his creul1s
for daily vrorlz are antarad I1-nrnr,r,r,.-