The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-01
THE oEoRorA VACANCY LAW.

ThE 0EV69AA " yA01A0Gx AA W.
 The bill. now known as the Calvin vagrancy Law" was introduced in the Georgia Legislature at its recent session, by Hon. Martin V. Calvin, of Augusta. and passed by an overwhelming majority. The law is attracting public attention throughout the South. In Georgia, 1t is being vigorously enforced, and is having the effect of depopulating villages. towns, and cities of idlers of every class. It will have the same effect in the rural dis tricts if properly enforced. This law possesses interest to the people Of Ala bama. We, therefore, present our read ers today with an authorized copy of the act.
 To amend Section 453 Volume Ill of the
 Code of 1895. which section , ,,ass of
 persons shall be regarded as
 vagrants, by designating another class
 of persons as vagrants, by strikins III
 Its entirety paragraph second or saiu
 section, lines IA to 26 both inciusive'
 beginning with the words, any per
 son may arrest" and ending with the
 words. flor one year. and substituting
 in lieu thereof a paragraph providing
 speedier method of pointing out ana arresting persons alleged to be vagrants and prescribing a more all cases contemplated by this, and for other purposes Section 1. Be 1t enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia, and It IS hereoy enacted by the authority of the same, that from and after the passage S oi raas tn,s of 1895 be and the same Is hereby amend ed by designating another class or per- sons as vagrants, by striking in its en- tirety, paragraph second of said secuon, line IA to 2s. both inclusive, beginning with the following words, "any person may arrest" and ending with the words, | "for one year." and substituting In lieu thereof A paragraph providing speedler method of pointing out ana arresuns parsons alleged to be vagrants, ana pre-, scribing a more specific procedure ana nc, punishment in all cases contempiateo py this act so that said section, thus amend ed, shall read as follows: Vagrants are: ,,,- - C) Persons wandering or strolling about in idleness who are able to work and have no property to support them. (0 Persons leading an idle, immoral or profiigate life, who have no property to support them. and who are able to work and do not work.
 (9 All persons able to work, having no property to support them, and who fair, honest and reputable Livelihood. The term "visible and known means of fair. honest and reputable livelihood" as used in this section, shall be construed to mean reasonably continuous employment at some lawful occupation for reasonable comnensa,ion or a fixed and regular in come from property or other investment which income is sufficient for the sup port and maintenance of such vagrant;
 (D. Persons having a fixed abode who have no visible property to support them, and who live by stealing or by trading or bartering stolen property.
 (N Professional gamblers living in idle (0 All able bodied persons who are found begging for a living or who quit their houses and leave their }wives ana children without the means of subsis- tence ~ | D That all persons who are able to | work and who do not work but hire out their minor children and live upon their wages shall be deemed and considered vagrants.
 (S) Allpersons over IS and under N years of age able to work and who do not work and have no property to support l them and have not some known ana Vlsi- ble means of a fair honest and reputaoie | livelihood and whose parents are unable | to support them anu "lo diO hOh iti ' | tendance upon some educational insti- tute.
 | It shall be and Is hereby made the duty | of the sheriff and the constables in every l county, the police and town marshals or ] other like officials in every town and city i in this State to give information under | oath to any officer now empowered by law to issue criminal warrants. of all vagrants within their knowledge or whom l they have good reason to suspect as be- | ing vagrants, in their respective counties, towns and cities, thereupon the said of- 1 ficer shall issue a warrant for the ap-
 prehension of the person alleged to be a vagrant, and upon being brought before 1 him the said officer and probable cause | be shown, shall bind such person over to any court of the county having jurisdic- I ton in misdemeanor cases. If upon a
 trial by jury sworn to inquire whether
 such person be a vagrant or not, the fact of vagrancy be established, the said
 vagrant shall be bound in sufficient secu-
 rity, in the discretion of the court, for
 his future industry and good conduct for | one year. Said bond shall be payable to
 the court Upon such vagrants refusal | or failure to give such security, the said
 vagrant shall be punished as for a mis- l demeanor. Provided. that it shall be a
 sufficient defense to the charge of vagran-
 cy under any of the provisions of this
 act that the defendant has made bona
 fide efforts to obtain employment at
 reasonable prices for his labor, and has | failed to obtain the same.
 | Sec. ?. Be 1t further enacted by the
 parts of laws in conflict with t. $ act
 be. and the same are hereby rep: j, d.
 Approved August IT, 1903.
 l.