The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-15
Hearing on Matter by
Finance Committee.
PROF. GARDENERS VIEWS.
Present System Of Caring For
Tramps Unsatisfactory.
REMARKS BY OTHER GENTLEMEN

There wns quite large attendance In
the Municipal Court chamber at 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon. when public hear
ing was given by the finance committee OF
the City Council upon the petition of the
Society for Organizing Charity for suita-
bic and permanent provisions for tramps
who visiu this city. For some time there
has been an opinion in a great mnny
minds that the system Of providing for
tramrs at the lodging houses on South
Main street ami then marching them
through the streets TO the city woodyard
In charge Of policeman, was not one
that commented Itself to tho approval of
the majority. aud tho petition upon
which the hearing was given has for its
aim some better system.
When'the new polics station was erected
and equipped on Fountain street, tho
tramps' room was fitted with beds, which
were both roomy aud comfortable, and
the understanding WAS that before these
beds were used suitable baths aud steri-
lizing plant should bs added ID the
tramps' quarters, but the City Council
failed to appropriate the necessary funds
ard nothing was dons.
Now the society for Organizing Charity
II desirous OF removing oil this tramp
equipment from the Central Police station
To the buildings which are located on
the Eidy street property purchased by the
city some time ago. The committee on
city property of the City Council while in
favor OF the establishment of the trainps'
quarters on EDDY street.. in its last report
stated that IL was the opinion OF the com.
mittee that the entire poor department
should 10 transferred tn the Eddy street
property, and plans for such building as
would be necessary were prepared some
time ago.
This plan included the location Of the
wood yard, quar- ters for tramps q store
and the offices of the department on the
Eddy street property. Ii was thought that
the erection of a suitable building would
he good investment If the city purchased
the provisions and distributed them in
s.ead Of giving orders as Is done today.
At yesterdays S hearing the first SPEAKER
was Prof. Gardner of brown University,
who stated that the petition In reality
covered all that there was 10 bs said upon
the question st issue. he believed that
there was general dissatisfaction with the
way the city usss the trsmps in sending
them to lodging houses over which there
is no public oversight. tbs believed the
".
whereas IL proper quarters, equipped with
baths aud sterilizipg APPARATUS. We're
provided, tho tramp class would not pat
ronize Proyidepcs quite so freely, ss upon
the part OF many of them there existed q
rooted objection 70 baths and cleanliness
In general, and furthermore many would
object u the extra work demanded of
them for these advantages. On the other
hand it would be grcat benefit To men
who are made tramps By actual necessity.
Rev. Floyd Tomkin2 rector of Grace
Church. endorsed the remarks of Prof.
GardDer, and he believed in carrying out
the suggestions made ss rapidly as possi-
Lie. He also advocated tho establishment
OF laundry whore women could be en-
ployed..
Alfred Stone spoke of the reduction of
the mum Der Of tramp lodgers in Boston
since the establishments Of compulsory
baths and sterilizing plants, and hs ear
nestiy edvocated carryi ing out the pro-
posed plans in this city. Ihe cost Of fitJing
up the Eddy street building, he tholght
wouli not exceed $1,000.
Alderman Gray wanted to know why
the entire poor department could not be
moved TO Eddy street, but received no In
formation. Ovsrseer of the Poor Cum
inings. in answer to a q lestion, informed
Alderman Lowe that 1872 women had been
accommod atsd with lodgings during the
past year on Fountain street md that it
had cost S700 tn pay for lodgings fo- mon
during ths present season. Alderman
Lowe did not think the women of Provi-
den 30 who are conpellsd TO seek relief
should be compelled To work In the way
suggested by the laundry plan.
Councilman Perkins said tlH COMMITTEES
on city property favored the proposed plan,
and ne be lieved that when anything WAS
done the entire poor department ought to
DO moved.
1be committee took the plans of the
new buildings under consideration, and
Chairman Angel announced that the
matter would be looked into in all Its
bearinga