Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-07
AN ORDINANCE AS TO THE PUNISH
MENT OF VAGRANCY.

MENT OF VAGRANCY.
Be II Ordained by the Council Of the City
OF Richmond:
Any person, not being a minor under IL
years OF age or blind person. who shall
beg or solicit aims. whether OF money,
food. lodging. or clothing. or an habitual
drunkard and unable to take care Of him
SELF shall be deemed a vagrant. and for
such begging, vagrancy, or drunkenness
shall be liable to be fined not less than
so nor more than 500. to be imposed by
the Police Justice. 1t shall be discretion
airy with the Police Justice whether the
party or parties shall be fined or impri-
soned, or both. Whenever any such fine
shall be imposed the said Police Justice
may. If the same be not Immediately paid.
commit such person to Jail for term not
exceeding ninety days.
When ordering such imprisonment the
| Justice may declare and adJudge that the
same shall be with or without labor.
Whenever any such sentence shall spe-
| city with labor the Committee on the I'm
provement of Shockoe Creek shall have
| the power TO receive each morning, except
| Sundays, during the months of May. June.
July. August. and September, from the
| City Jailer through its duly authorized
officer or agent the person so sentenced,
and 10 require such person TO work during
each OF such days not to exceed ten hours
in cleaning out the bed of Shockoe creek.
| The Committee on Police shall have the
power, during the other months than those
above specified, TO receive each morning
| through It's duly authorized officer or
agent. such person from the City Jailer,
and 10 require such person to work dill
| gently during each of such days not 70
i aypeed ton hourc IN brpakfnO rock n stOna
| with hammer.
The said committees are hereby re-
| spectively authorized TO employ during the
proper months a sufficient number Of
| guards not TO exceed three. to take charge
| OF and keep from escaping any such per-
| sons received as above authorized. Such
| guards are 10 be employed by the day as
needed. at a compensation not to exceed
| S45 per month: such guards may be taken
| from such OF the city's forces as ray be
unemployed. The said guards shall see
| that such persons persons work diigent-
~ at the work required Of them. and IL
any such person shall fail so TO work he
shall not allowed any food. except bread
and water, until the next morning.
The Committee on the Police may, II It
shall see fit fence off in a proper manner
such part OF the city stable lot situated
next 10 the city jail as the City Engineer
may designate, and erect suitable shed
thereon, within which it may cause to be
put so much stone or granite as it may
deem necessary TO keep said Migrants I'M
der :heir control at work. and may re-
qure such persons 10 work therein such
part Of the said lot for the purposes above
stated 10 be regarded as a part OF the city
jail.
The said committees may respectively
make all proper rules and regulations for
he working and guarding of such prison
ers for returning them 10 the jail for
their meals, and their safe-keeping during
the nights.
The City Auditor is hereby instructed 70
put to the credit Of the Committee on Po-
lice the sum Of 1913. to be used by said
committee 50 far as may be necessary
for the carrying out Of the powers given
and the duties imposed by this ordinance.
This ordinance shall be in force from its
passage.