The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-30
THE TRAMP QUESTION.

Tramps are like the poor in more senses
than one, but especially in the Scriptural
sense that we have them always with us
AS partial result of hard times they are,
of course, more numerous at some periods
than at others, but they are always suf-
ficiently numerous to constitute a distinct
social factor and to keep alive the question
how to deal with them. A recent state
ment on the subject estimates he total
number of tramps in the United States at
present. meaning thereby Migrants who
make their way from place to place and
get their living without work. at 10000.
1t is further estimated that this army of
travelling loafers costs $3,65O,0O0 a year for
food, $40 900 a year for clothing, s5OOO,OOO
a year for transportation. that they dam
age property to the amount of sl3O00,000
year and cost 81 500, 900 in police surveillance,
court proceedings, etc. Here is a total
Debit account of 25.15O.0oO without a cent on
the credit side. A standing army of 100000
in prosperous times of peace may not be
a menace to the Republic nor the precursor
OF imperialism, but it is a very large army
of drones, and experience proves that it is
rapidly recruited to a maximum during
every period of hard times. How to deal
with il or how to minimize its numbers and
its cost is a question of serious and grow
ing Importance for every State and city.
One thing is certain, and that is that the
worst possible way of dealing with the
question is not to deal with it at all, thus
encouraging tramps by feeding letting
them alone. 1t is only a question of time
when every city and State will have to
adopt some better plan than this. A few
States have already done so. 1t is worthy
OF remark that Little Delaware which
has chung TO the whipping post through
all criticism. the first State TO legis-
late against tramps A law passed in 1872
requires them TO be arrested on sight and
put To work on the streets or other pub
lie works or hired out TO private persons
For work done they receive wages. a New
York law makes the penalty of professional
tramping one years confinement at hard
labor in a county Jail or penitentiary
Pennsylvania Furnishes the practice of
tramping and begging with confinement at
labor in the county jail workhouse for
not less than six months nor more thar
eighteen Wisconsin makes the penalty six
months hard labor In the county Jail. AMI
If the tramp refuse TO work confinement in
the State prison for a term not exceeding
two years. North Carolina imposes six
months Imprisonment in the county Jail.
The oldest enactment the subject is
that of the town of Oakland. Me-, which
at the spring election of 1899. voted 10 pur-
chase and use a peculiar chair devised for
the punishment OF tramps The chair was
so constructed that when a person was
seated in 1t there was no space whatever
for change of position or rest. Opposite tile
chin OF the occupant was shelf for food.
which could be reached through hole In
the door. When the first man punished was
released and sent 10 jail he broke out and
smashed the chair before leaving town
A second chair was made and put In its
place. 1t is doubtful II this ingenious con-.
trivance win abolish tramps In Maine any
more than the prohibltory law has abo,-