The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-26

TIC l1W requires De taken 10 TtStI
the degree TO which the public burdens
would be lightened were these 10000 aiding
In upbuflding the State. The appropriations
for public charities could be beyond doubt
greatly reduced were this army thing Of
the past. The tramp Is persistent beggar.
In cold weather the commission OF slight
misdemeanors can secure for him shelter
and food and warmth for the winter. leav-,
ing him free 10 open new Campaign IN
the spring. He is a growing care when
once received. How he shall be employed
IS a question which confronts the charities
OF every city. He will not work-he can
always resort to crime How earnestly
have the charity organizations Of the Ma
ton labored with the problem, and how
fruitless have been the results in keeping
down the army of tramps, whose inherent
vfciousness continually calls for the exer-
else of police and judicial authority. Tramp
dom to-day is larger than il ever was-there
are at least no signs of its diminishing
What, then, is the remedy? What is the
very root of the evil? How shall we striker
The only remedy lies in banishing the
tramp from the railway. The American
tramp is sui generis- England. continental
Europe, all nations have their idlers who
resort to drifting, but their number is
comparatively few. To trespass on railway
premises, except at road crossing. is pun
ishable with fine and also with imprison-
ment in many places. Tramping Is not the
synonym of riding. The railroad is closed
TO the vagabOnd: the criminal is forced TO
seek escape on only the regular passenger
trains; the army of trampdom is unknown.
ROOT OF THE EVIL.
The very root of the American tramp
evil is the absence of any effective regu-
lations tending to keep the tramp off the
railway. The way of the tramp is made
easy-the law of trespass is scarcely heed
ed; ordinances concerning lettering about
railway premises receive but a lax enforce
~
lice. The dry roadbed, stretching from one
city to another. presents attractions far
more seductive than the mud or dust of the
highway, which is lacking in the presen-
tation of opportunities for stealing rides.
There are extensive sections of the United
States which would never see tramp
should the railway be closed to him and
his kind. Josiah Flynt relates an instance,
not uncommon, of meeting tramp in San
Francisco who had two weeks before ac-
cOSted him on Broadway, I'm New ork,
and who had crossed the continent prac-
tically without any labor or expenditure of
money. Ii is the ease and facility with
which such trips as this are accomplished
that recruits the army of trampdom with
the restlessness of the Nation. and which
Offers TO the criminal an avenue of escape
from detection. A noted authority has
stated that the criminal who seeks refuge
III trampdom usually escapes the clutches
OF the law-his separate identity is merged
into that of trampdom. Were the railway
securely barred to the tramp his life would
lose its attractiveness and the public would
note the rapid decline of the profession.
How. then, shall the remedy be admins
tered? By providing by law for the more
efficient policing of the railways; by en-
acting new penalties where the punishment
now lacks effectiveness; by enforcing the
statutes and ordinances against lettering
and trespassing on railroad property, and
by enacting additional Legislation similar
n 10 hat hot, g
fectively enforced in England and Europe
In most of the Northern States additional
legislation IS not so much needed as is the
apprehension and punishment of those who
are constantly violating the existing laws.
INEFFECTIVE AND EFFECTIVE.
In dealing with the tramp evil nothing
has been so noticeable as the tendency of
police authorities to push the tramp ele-
ment out upon the highway-the railway
and on to the neighboring city, to keep
them on the move. Give them the mean
necessities of the present, but threaten
them into an as hurried as possible de-
parture for the next city In many cases
their minor offenses are not punished pro-
vided they leave town-for the next town.
And the continuation of this policy for
years, a full quarter of a century. devel.
oped the doctrine that the tramp was a
necessary nuisance, whose offensiveness
could at best be but moderated If a cru
Sade Tor the abatement of the evil was
started its effect was but temporary: the
more urgent demands for police attention
soon tempered its harshness And even II
long continued, hundreds of other places
were as attractive as ever 1t was impos-
s1ble TO expect a crusade which would have
any lasting effect. The police cannot CON
certedly act the country over, nor even in
wnole State. in an attempt to suppress
"a he lnre
OF railway between cities having effective
police forces render even such a possibility
of small effect The police of the average
American city are usually fully occupied
without detailing men to guard against tn
commission of petty offenses on lines OF
railway there centering.
IL Is by the establishment of q railroad
ponce charged with the detection of al
offenses against the laws and ordinances
OF the State and cities, and erfgaged IN
constant travel over the various lines q,
raiIway, enforcing the law at both ter
MINI, arrestlng tramps rot lawfully on any
tram or on the property of the RAILWAYS
and, with the cooperation of the repula,
police and judicial authorities, securing
'he punishment of all offenders that the
evil would be suppressed The tramp Lei
him but realize that he cannot ride. bu,
must walk; that the moment he boards 3
freight train he will be arrested by notice
invested with authority to hold him ,ni
secure his punishment. and who are pre-
pared to resist any show of force: tina,
he can no longer mako the railway his
means Of escape, his free highway. Iet
him bur realize. as he then will, that .nt
halcyon days of tramping are passed. anf
the army OF trampdOm will mist away int
notEingness.
THE QUESTION OF COST.
While ii may be admitted that the es
Establishment Of such an effective polio.
force would solve the question, 1t will b,
commended that .he maintenance of sucf
force Will be heavy burden upon tn,
State. But in proportion to the sums di
rectly expended during recent years in ex
tending aid tc the tramps, and the here
tofore mentioned losses suffered indirectl,
by society, the cost of such a force would
be small. And the expenditure, after tn,
first year or two. could be considerabl,
lessened beyond doubt.
Moreover, in considering the cost OF ban
ishing the tramps and enforcing the rem
edy, II might be we'll TO place a consider
abe part OF the burden upon the railways
Tor the suppression of trampdom would
TO them, be OF special benefit. The rail
road interests of America annually los,
through tramps more than the cost o
maintaining such force for at least sew
eral years. In the negligent, malicious
and the willful destruction of proDert,
the railroads and their shippers suffel
great loss Tramp fires in railroad yard
haye been known 10 lmperil hundreds q
be estimated Many railway buicin,
has been burned by irresponsible tramps
Robbery CT stations is common. Even tn
lives OF employees have been taken b,
tramps who have met every attempt 4
peacefully exoel them from the trains b.
resort TO force. The loyal trainman. VIII,
seeks ID obey orders given him to keel
his train clear has been murdered, AM
II.