The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-23
Special to The Globe.

CHICAGO, Dec. PA long stride to-
ward the solution of the tramp problem
was made by philanthropisrs and REFORM
ers of this city last week in the opening
OF the Municipal lodging house at Z anu
IA Jefferson street. The outcasts OF the
world-those who from necessity or choice
are in idleness, need no longer suffer the
hardships of cold or hunger, walk the
streets at night for want OF a bed, or
be forced to share in that traVeSty OF
charity, hospitality of a police station,
with a cement floor for a bed. Hereafter
the wanderers will be cared for according
to their merits. Applicants for pubic
charity will be turned over to this NUM-
cipal lodging house, where they will be
given baths, food and lodging for three
or four days. BY the expiration of that
time the antecedents of each dependent
will cave been thoroughly investigated
III he is found wanting he will feel the
heavy hand of the law. If he is ueserv-
ing, an employment bureau, which has
been established in connection with the
institution will make an earnest effort to
provide him with work.
Chicago has been styled the Mecca of
Tramps." This new enterprise is expected
to do much to rid the city of that I'M
enviable reputation. 1t has for its dual
purpose broad practical charity and a
wise municipal reform
The plan of a free lodging house con-
Quoted as an adjunct to the city govern
ment has been tried successfully in New
York for several years. 1T was taken
up in this city by the City Homes aSsocia-
ton, an Organization in which number
of ChicagoaAs of public sprint and means
are interested Through their efforts the
city council was induced to appropriate
$4,000 with which to make the expert
ment. The City Homes association has
shown its earnestness In the work by
equipping the lodging house and lending
the service of many of it's active members
in carrying out the project.
The building used was formerly oc-
cupied as factory. 1t is an old four
story structure, a few blocks from the
central police station, and within easy
reach OF the slums, from which most OF
its benef1ciaries are expected to come.
There are two entrances in the front,
one of which is to the office, the other to
a pasSa geway through which the men
pass as they come into the building in the
evening The time at which they will be
allowed to enter will vary from o'clock
In the winter to about 1880 O'Clock in the
summer.
Last night 800 shiverlng, poorly clad
and still more poorly fed unforunates hud-
died about the great heaters or gathered
In groups along the immaculate walls
felicitating themselves upon their escape
from the biting lake winds outside or
CHANGING furtYely at the lavatores and
bedrooms in which they were about to
undergo transformation through the
agency of soap, water, fumigant ana
clean linen There We're types from the
gutter and the barrel house elbowing with
the shabby-genteel; protruding brows and
sinister eyes exchanging glances with
the timid, hunted-looking children OF mis-
fortune. All were on equal terms here
companions in misery, but full of thank
1ulness, some welcoming some enduring
the course of cleanliness fixed as the
price of shelter.
AT signal the men filed into the din
ing room, where each was given tin
pint cup of coffee and a large thick slice
of fresh bread, Weighing about five
ounces. They then seated themselves
at two long tables, removing their hats
as they did so.
In exceptional cases, such as cripples
and very old, the dodgers were allowed to
enter in advance of the common horde.
and make themselves comfortable on a
bench at the side of the room until the
hour for serving the meal
Across the rear of the office is a long
desk having wire screen with two open
MSS IodCh ul lHIS ueSK IS a paSSa SeWay
through which the men from the dining
room were next made to file, two at a
time At this desk, one in front of each
screen opening, were two investigators.
Each of these men had a record book
with the following headings: Name, age,
nativity, length Of time in United States,
length of time in city, occupation last
employee, reference, disposition, remarks.
Ia these books the two investigators
registered the replies to the questions
suggested by the foregoing headings.
The applicant was then requested to turn
over any article he might have in his
possession, being told that in the process
of the fulnigation of his clothing any
articles such as spectacles, knives.
gloves, etc, would be ruined The arti-
cles that he handed in were placed in
an envelope properly numbered. Two
brass tags of a like number with strings
attached were then handed to him, and
he passed through the side door to an
other desk where he was met by phys-
clan. Those who were found to be i'll
were sent to the Cook county hospital.
which is not far away The examination
is Tor the purpose of excluding all vic
inns OF contagious diseases
Ihe men next went into ante rooms.
where, removing their clothing, they
bundled it up and handed 1t with his
brass checks to one of the attaches. The
attache tied one check to the bundle.
Inc other he handed TO the ledger to