Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-09
,ruE PEOPLE We. THE TRAMPs.

Richmond must take some "ecio'o
| stem TO rid herself Of the pest OF tramps.
Here we are barely upon the threshoid
| OF winter. and these idle and dangerous
| yagabonds have invaded our city In great
numbers. The appeals they make to our
people are framed to suit the person
| addressed for they are fertile in expe-
| dients and are up" to all sorts OF
lodges 10 procure money. drink, food,
and clothes.
Quite recently a barc-headed fellow
bumbly approached lady and gentle
| man as the latter were leaving their
residence, and begged that hat might
be given him. Asked where was his
| own hat. he said 1t had blown from his
head while he was stealing a ride upon
a railroad train. The gentleman Of the
house having been taught from his youth
I'D that a man who has lost his hat Is
one of the most miserable Of Gods crea-
lures, promptly went into his hallway
and returned with a good travelling cap.
which he gave TO his tramp visitor, VINO
was profuse in his thanks And OH the
tramp went--went TO a house across the
street. and. having put the cap into his
pocket, made the same piteous appeal
And there he got another hat, and thence
he went off to continue his hat-gathering
industry.
But worse than petty frauds like THIS
the tramps have lately undertaken 10
attack our girls! In two cases, recently
tramps have seized girls who were riding
bicvcles on the Missing Link" track
and that they were not robbed, or treated
worse. was due only to the timely ar
rival Of gentlemen.
The fact is that the tramps are get
ting so numerous and so impudent' UNI
less we take severe measures to drive
them away we shall have no peace. Most
of them are able bodied men, who might
get work OF some sort. But If they can
not obtain work the proper places Tor
them are the almshouses or their places
OF residence. All that Richmond ought
10 be expected to do this winter is to
provide for her own poor.
The one thing the average tramp de-
tests more than aught else is work. II
we were to seize every tramp that comes
into the city and put him TO hard LABOR
the news would soon spread. and Rich-
mond would be avoided by the whole
army of tramps. Just such an ordinance
as we need Is now before the Common
Council. and will be acted upon this eve
ming. 1t provides that any person over
II years of age who solicits aims here
shall be deemed a vagrant, and shall be
liable TO a fine of not less than $40 nor
more than 800. and in default Of payment
Of any such fine the offender may be
committed to JAIL with or without hard
labor. If sentenced to hard labor, the
tramp is to be worked OH the improve
ment Of Shockoe creek.
We doubt II Shockoe creek will derive
much benefit from this ordinance-but
the people of Richmond may! Such
law would become known far and wide.
and tramps would avoid our city. That
has been the experience of other anti
tramp towns. and we believe it would
be ours. But If a few incautious tramps
should be arrested here and put 10 work
interfere with no other labor; nor take
the bread out of any honest mans mouth.
We may be sure the City Council will
guard that point well-so well that the
most inveterate fault-indcr will not be
able to question the motives Of members.
Nor need there be any fear that the
ordinance will be harshly enforced
against any poor, miserable man or wo-
man, resident here. who may be sudden
ly forced into the streets to beg for
meals victuals.
Our laws must be uniform-that is TO
say, applicable as well to residents as to
strangers, but police officers are always
supposed TO be clothed with some dis
erection. And so We feel sure the law
will be so sensibly and humanely en-
forced that none of our own worthy poor
will be injured.
We must take some action. and the
pending ordinance seems TO meet the
demands of the situation. To sit down
and do nothing and say 1--WE can do no.
thing would be the height of folly-and
stupidity.
If any councilman knows how the or
dinance may be improved let him offer
an amendment; but in default OF such
Improvement we trust the Council will
hear the prayers of the people and pass
the ordinance forthwith.
We want relief-instant and effective
relief.