BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-03-12
SANJUAN, MARCH y
VAGRANCY.

Under the heading Of "Other And Mis-.
oellaneous Offensss" Section 51S OF the
Penal Code which goes into effect on July
LIST, defines the crime of vsgrancy, describes
the class of persons who come within the
provisions Of the section, and prescribes the
penalties for the crime. Tke Section reads
a. follows: "Every person without visible
means of living who has the physical ability
to work. and who does not seek employ.
ment, nor labor when employment is offer
ei him; or,
2-Every healthy beggar who solicits
alma Is Q business; or,
3-Eyery person who roams about from
place to place without any lawful business; or,
4-Every person Known to be pickpocket,
thief, burglar, or confidence operator, either
by his own confession, or by his having been
convicted OF either of said offenses, and
having no visible or lawful means of support,
when found lettering around any steamboat
landing, railroad depot, banking institution,
place OF public amusement, store, shop, or
crowded thoroughfare, Car or omnibus, or at
any pubic gathering or assembly; or,
5-Every idle or dissolute person, or as
sooiate Of known thieves, who wanders
about the streets st late or unusual hours of
the night; or,
6-Every person who lodges in any barn,
shed, shop or outhouse, vessel, or place other
than such as is kept for lodging purposes,
without the permission of the owner or
party entitled to the possession thereof; or,
7-Every lewd or dissolute person who
lives in and about houses of ill.fame; or,
8-Every common prostitute and common
drunksrd; is vagrant, and is punishable
BY imprisonment in Jail not exceeding six
months.
This section of the new code very COM
prehensive in its provisions includes almost
every person male or female, who can be
considered to be an undesirable resident in
any community which is self respecting and
self supporting. This matter has long
needed regulation, and the manner in which
the code provides for its regulation should
put any early stop TO its continuance.
The problem of disposing of the sick and
crippled poor has long been thorn in the
side of the authorities, both insular and
municipal, and this great evil of the unfor-
tunate poor walking the streets has been
Of healthy, able bodied men and women,
able to work, but unsilliDg to do so while
there was no law ct mpelling it, and while
the public could be induced to separate from
its pennies.
A thorough investigation of the begging
evil ~ we have it in Porto Rice to day will
surely develop the fact that fnlly fifty per
cent, and possibly more Of the aims seeking
population consists Of men and women who
are not emily able to work, but who can
procure it for the mere sskiDg. OF course
there are cases where men willing to work
cannot obtain it, and these citizens must
not be thought OF in discussing this matter
That man who can work, but will not is a
MANAGE to any community has never bean
QaeJti0ned, and 10 nos accepted as positive
fact BY ell governmental students. AS far
back as the Dutch founders OF New Amster.
dam this menace was recognised, aud its
regulation and restriction by law was ac-
eepted % . decestary measure for the self
preservation OF decent, thriving citizens.
II is an ordinary sight in Porto Rico to
zee strong men living of the infirmities Of
feur and Ave year old children. In fact
these unf0rtunstes in many cases are made
10 bear the burden OF supporting an entire
family. So much has this been manifested
that it can readily be believed that the birth
Of crippled or blind child is often hailed
with delight, as an emancipation from fur
thsr earthly labors by any of the near rela
tives Of the unfortunate. This the new law
will seek to prevent. The strong able
bodied vagrant will be taken away from, and
pat beyond the power Of influencing young
cripples. The cripples will be taken care
Of, as they surely must be, and the strong
insn will either have to work, or 20 TO jail
No doubt many will accept the jail alterna
tive, for this means three meals dsy with
ont effort. To make the law Q valuable
fagrsnts are scorked particularly hard.
Tksrs can be absolutely no question as to-
the results which will be attained BY this
method of treatment. Oae dose of six
months ct real hard labor, and the LATEST
man amongst then will make up bis mind
70 either 90 to work or leave the island.
The strict enforcement Of this Law will
also help to put an end to one of the m 81
troublesome nuisances which now exist IN
San Juan. The habit Of standing about on
street. corners, shouting lite msmelukes, snd
disturbing the pesce and qulet Of the com
munity. Under the vagrsncy law aDy man
who makes practice Of standing about on
st-est corners both night and day, who Is
known % b. Q wAndsrer and unwilling to
work can be arrested and put in jail for six
months. This Law if properly enforced will
pnt "a end to sDy number Of common nui-
ssnces which now exist, and whioh interfere
with he proper regulation Of The peace |
Of the community.
Talk lsw il 3 warning to every able |
bodied man a1d women, who can procure /
work, AL 0bo be- 10 oihel means pi sup~I