Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-12-05
One OF the Gravest Confronting
the Authorities and People.
AN INEFFECTIVE ORDER
Trarnps D:scu. see. from ExperieHc, nv III
X. Il. Reddiug, superintendent OF Union
Mission. He Names Three Clasnes
and Describes Them.

One OF the g'ravest problems confront
ing the city and the people here gen
orally is the disposition Of the nurner-
GUS hoboes who strike town afoot OF
over the Chesapeake and Ohio, beating
their way on freights.
Their numbers are constantly increaS-
ing and when they get here they can
not go further A tramp rarely turns
back. He keeps on going-if he can.
The result here is an accumulation Of
worthless humanity. .
Some way. the city has been una bic
to, protect itself against the nuisance.
The council adopted an admirable ordi-
nance the nuisance. cmfwy cmfN Wig
nance months and months ago provid-
ing for chain gang. conceived chiefly
FOR the benefit Of this class, b.rs the
institution for some reason or other mas
never been effective All sorts Of eX-
cuses have been given. and the Chain
gang has been Il farce.
1t is probable that the council will
take the matter up again 'u-night,
Twelve months. and perhaps. IN lnves-
tigN;iun will show why it is tlat the
emphatic order OF THE governing body
Of the city has been grossly disrcglrdel
1T is claimed on ONE hand that the
council itself is entirely responsible II
n,l1 providing assistance TO the Street
Commissioner, who cannot take GU. the
gang himself and watch it all nay, and
at the same time attend to his other
duties.
"A START was made with an assistant
When the order was first issuel bu;,
for Some reason, the gang always APP
peare'i smaller than it should have been
and 1T was found 1hlt it cost more 20
keep an assistant that it would have
cost 10 employ men TO do the work
the gang did.
Probably this was because ltere was
4 misunderstanding as to who should
ia r,h "hn Ia
templates that all misdemeanor prison.
ers. able to work but not able to pay
their fines shall go into such ! gang.
This, of course. would include DRINKS
dtsorderlies, petty larceny rogues and
the like.
The Daily Press has just received IN
interesting letter from Mr. r. l.. Red
Ding. superintendent OF Union Mission,
rRedding's experience has been large.
and his remarks should be valuable to
the uninitiated. Here is the letter:
Newport News. Va, Dee. 4, 1899.
Editor Daily Press:
I beg the privilege of submitting Il
report of our mission work FOR he
month of November TO the public
through your paper. and at the sane
time make some statements and g're
some suggestions regarding one Of the
meet, namely the tramp ques! ion.
These are calculated to be about
three hundred thousand. Wandering
men are classed as trannps IN the United
States. These can safely be divided
into xhree classes.
The first IS that class VINO have made
up their minds not to work ana who
start out in companies of from three
To five and beg their food from aDcr
TO door and money tor lodgings on the
streets. They usually camp out in
some Well we'll protected place, such rs
woods or under the cleft Of a bank.
get food, one to get money for rum
and tobacco, and so forth. The usually
have a we'll studied story to tell anu
are so often questioned about them
selves that they always have a ready
answer ana are hard to corner
In warm weather they prefer out
doors, but in cold weather they hunt
for the station house, or for some mis-
sion.
ann having a great many such apply
for lodging at our place just now.
If l accommodate one of this class.
which never do. If have reason to
believe he is professional, the next
night will have from three 70 five ap.
last Saturday one came into my office
with a note from one of the ministers
of the city. he wanted a place 70 sleep.
/ told him to !e'urn at night and I
wouii see about it, According to the
general rule. when he came, there were
four instead Of one; SO I declined 10
admit them, for If did admit this class
there is scarcely house in town thai
would be large enough to accommodate
all who come.
The second class are those wno work
when they can get it, but are Of a row
ing disposition and never stay long in
one place. and usually spend their
money as fast as they can earn it.
They always walk from place TO place.
or bea,. their way over the road on
freight trains.
Among these are some of the fines.
mechanics OF the day. and many are
finely educated! These are the men
who, when they strike town broke offer
TO cut wood or do anything they can
II, pay for what You give them at your
doors They often are influenced TO set
tie down, and leave the road and are
grateful for help offered to them. The
difference between the charity offered
to these two classes is that on the first
gratitude but goes back to his den and
companions and chuckles over the way
he has lied to you and cramps under
his feet your offered words Of sym .,a,hy
while the other feels grateful Cor what
you give him and often thinks Of your
words OF advice and sympathy.
The third class are those wno have
had misfortune and have lost their grip.
SO to speak. Among them also are a
los of boys and young men who start
out in the world to make their fortune
They do not find employment us soon
as they hope to: their money -; all
gone; they have too much gri: to 90
back home without making some sue
cess, therefore, they often ask for help.
I find a great many of this sort in our
city and 1T is this class I always try to
help Through our mission.
They are usually backward about
asking and sometimes ger, their stories
help those who are such 9vH Tiestiea