Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-15
THE u.Rp-LABoR CURE.

tho tramp nuisance Is TO be brough'
AGAIN before the City Council, those be-
hind It being. We learn, prepared 10 meet
the most plausible objections urgeu
against Il when il was first submitted 10
the Council for consideration. and when
made II apparent that II would be de-
coated We are not welded TO this or
that particular method Of coping with
the tramp evil. but we are welded 10 the
nronosition that Il must be stamped out.
Moreover we tell the Council plainly that
there are thousands of good people Ill
Richmond OF all classes who are growing
exceedingly FESTIVE over the failure OF
the body 10 act, and act vigorously, In
this matter.
II IL were a mere question OF citizens
boing besieged in the streets by tramp
beggars. our patience might continue TO
endure. and we might continue 10 accept
with good-natured complacency the ex-
cuses Of the Council for failure to give
relief. But this is only minor phase OF
the evil. knowing the consideration
which in default of vigorous law vigo-
rously executed is shown them here, the
tramps have instituted n reign of terror
In certain sections of the city, on side
streets especially. 1t is almost nightly
occurrence for them to ring front-door
bells at an hour when the male members
of the family are absent and brighten the
women and children in the houses by
their unkempt appearance and more or
less persistent requests for food or money.
In not a few instances members of the
guild have been found concealed in
houses for purposes of robbery, and have
resorted 10 violence in their efforts 10
escape. and in other cases their demands
for assistance have been on the stand
and-deliver order. OF this the people are
getting heartily and Indignantly tired.
They insist upon remedy.
The police do everything in their power |
to abate the evil, but they are not ubiqui- |
tous. The beats or patrols, in the resi- |
dental portions of the city particularly |
embrace many blocks. None knows this
better than the tramp. He watches his
opportunities. and when the policeman
is on one part of his beat makes raids on
the houses in the other parts. And if
perchance he is picked up as a suspicious
character or as a vagrant the worst
punishment that can be meted out in his
case-and it is often no punishment 10
him at all-is 4 comfortable sojourn in
the city Jail at the public expense.
The only way to meet the issue is to
provide for putting tramps to hard labor.
There is nothing of which the tramp
stands more in horror than work We
understand that there is already state
aw under which, in the opinion Of some
he labor cure could be effectively adj
ninistered. II so, let the Council take
steps to render the law operative here.
f not, let there be passed out and out
IN ordinance that will cover the situa-
ion. We repeat, the people insist on a
emedy
We anticipate hearing again the argu-
nent always forthcoming whenever this
ubject is brought up, and which is that
utting the tramps to work would be
aking the bread out of the mouths of !
.onest workingmen and depriving these
{ their Jobs. There is, however. really
othing in it. The conclusion does not
ollow logically upon the premises or ,
rom the conditions We would be among
he last to take the bread out of any
,orkingman's mouth or do aught that
you'd deprive him of a job. But we feel Z
ure that if the Council will address it !
elf earnestly TO the matter it can devise
ONE plan by which the tramp can be put
D hard labor without interfering with !
he honest laboring classes. For the s
ouncil to admit that ii cannot do this
wolves a humiliating confession of in
apacity as a municipal legislative body. /.
furthermore, we have higher opinion I
f our honest workingmen and laborfng s
lasses than seem to have those who I
'ould place them in the attitude of con- !
oning the tramp evil by opposing the \
'orking of tramps under any circum- $
.ances. our workingmen and laborers d
ave as much at stake in the matter Of y
rotecting the women and children or y
ne city from the tramp nuisance as have \
ny other class. The peace and security a
T the home are no less dear TO them than S
ley are to other citizens. We believe, t
lerefore that when there shall have
cen formulated, as can be formulated,
plan having due consideration for their "
gifts, but which will make Richmond
.rror for trampS by the application of
le hard-labor cure the workingmen and | h
borers will heartily endorse it. We are l
ot prepared TO concede that these are so d
anting in civic pride as not TO desire =,
edmond TO be saved from the re- 81
roach Of becoming a "tramps paradise! 81
or are we prepared 10 concede that they q
re so wanting in common sense as not a
see that the hard-labor prescription. 81
iministered in few cases, would quick r
render Richmond immune from the s,
amp evil and conduce UNNECESSARILY to n
e peace of mind of their wives and le
lildren. Before a tramp labor law had
zen operative many weeks there wouldn't
any tramps in Richmond to put it" r,
,on. ~
--------- =,
It was recently noted that there is still bl
ing in Haverhill, Mass, one Francis te
ltters. who, along with many other citi- CO
MS Of that town. signed the petition SO