The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-15
HOW TO DEAL With
TRAM PROBLE L: EN-.
is Solution Thought to Lie in a
Municipal Lodging House.
THE EXPERIENCE IN CHICAGO
System Has Worked Well There and
Efforts are Being Made to Extend
it TO the Smaller Cities Through
out the Country.

CHICAGO, ILL, June IA solution
for the tramp problem has been FOUND,
and in this contamination the small city
is to play an important part. 1t has been
decided by the leaders in charitable and
corrective work In the United states that
the welfare of the nation depends upon
the application of this remedy to cities
whose population is over $4,000 inhabi-
tants. The manner in which this is to
be done is by installing municipal lodg-
ing house in each city of this size, along
the lines laid out in the institutions of
this nature now in operation in New York
and Chicago.
In order that this proposal may not
alarm the financial consciences of the
arblters of municipal affairs in these
cities. it may be well to point out here
that such a proposal would be a marked
saving in revenue rather than an eX-
pense. To put the matter In figures, an
institution with about Is to 100 beds,
which would be ample for any city under
10000, would cost for initial equipment
about $1,000 while its annual expense
would be under $1,000. In other words,
for primal cost of 5000 every city in
the United States of between $4,000 and
100000 inhabitants could dispose. finally
and irrevocably. the tramp problem
would be little greater Indeed. it is q
question ii any city would require more
than 100 OF. $50 beds. When New York
first opened her municipal lodging house
she had 500 applicants the first day, 500
the second, 200 the third. and since that
time the daily average has been about
100 to 12J: The reason for this diminu-
ton is that the professionals have learned
to stay away. and that the men who need
help are helped.
HOW IT IS DONE.
In order that it may be definitely I'M
derstood how fully organized is this
movement and how thoroughly 1t is to
be carried out, some details Of the formu-
lation of the policy showing the power
behind it may prepare the way.
During the National Conference Of
Charities and Corrections. in session at
Detroit last week, a sub-conference was
held, which was attended by the presi-
dents Of toe State Bureau of Associated
Charities. by the heads. of the Munich
pal Lodging House. and by the leading
men and women il this work from all
over the United States. This sub-con-
ference was given over to the question
of vagrancy and its cure. great deal
of vagrancy was reported, but the cure
also was shown.
In the course Of the conference Mr.
Raymond Robins, superintendent Of the
Chicago Municipal Lodging House, told
in exact detail what had been done by
that institution. He showed that within
five months over $500 men had passed
through the institution. and that of these
over 40 per cent had found permanent
and remunera tive work; that every man
who was not fit for Industrial service had
been pat into the hands of right authori-
ties on matters of charity, and that none
of these men had remained a menace to
public safety in the same degree that
they were before. He showed that the
criminal list had vastly lishtened that
there were fewer beggars on tho street.
and. in short, that five months opera
ton of the Municipal Lodging House had
purified Chicago from one of Its worst
features.
Tt is to he observed that such NUM-
cipal lodging house is not to be regarded
primarily as 4 charitable institution On
the contrary, 1t is rather to be classed
as corrective The tramp situation is 2
menace to public safety rather tran a
pathetic feature of modern life and in
consequence. it must be corrected By
stern measures rather than coddled and
made the object of sympathy.
THE WORK IN CHICAGO.
In order that it may be thoroughly I'M
derstood what is the proposition which is
to be put before the citizens of the small
town. 1T may be necessary to understand
the work which has been done in Chicago.
The Chicago Municipal Lodging House
was first opened to the public a few day.;
before Christmas-Day last year. BY the
end OF April over $500 men had passed
through the institution.
Every man who comes to the city. II he
has no money. is welcome in the Lodging
House File is required to answer
searching series of questions. In TIE
course of which he is forced to sive the
names of the last three places in which
he worked. even though there might be
an interval of years He is then com
PEELED to take a bath. and after his bath
is examined by the city physician or one
of his assistants All these data are set
forth in a card specially printed for the
purpose
After his bath and his medical exam
nation the man is given his supper and
a clean bed a bed as Immediately clean
and white as hospital colt IN the
morning every man is called carry.
i. is his first night. he is required to go
on the street gang for three hours ana
is given the rest of the day in which 70
look for work. If he does not get work
he is entitled to return to the Lodging
House that evening. and is given 1ooC
and lodging again.
His work on the street gang mas peeA
noted. however. and the foreman OF the
gang makes a report on every man who
has been sent from the institution II
the, tramp has not worked well ne is SEM
back again to the gang. but II ne mas
worked we'll he is given employment Wltn
one of the many firms in the city which
have agreed to take men from the NUM-
cipal Lodging House. No man is put on
the street sang, however. II he can get
other work. -taG
THE WEAK ARE CARED TOR.
Those who cannot work throush weak
ness. are kept at the House a few da5s
making heGs and so forth. II the doctor
finds that their constitutions are SO nao-
" ruined that they are no loh5er l't Tor
any kind of work. the men are elther
sent back into the county where they
Belong, to get poor-house relief. or else
they are taken care OF by one O. the
The effect of this is to drive away from
the institution every professional tramp
every man who is not really looking for
work. and every man who Is TOO sIeat
a drunkard to keep a job On the elmer
hand the scores Of honest men VINO are