Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21
THE TRAMP PROBLEM
BY FED H. CoPP, DISTRICT PROBATION
OFFICER.

BY FED II. COPP, DISTRICT PROBATION
OFFICER.
Few questions are more urgent today
than the tramp question" The cost to
the public to maintain our 10000 tramps is
20 cents a day-the minimum-$1,5 SOC, 600
year In round numbers. Incarcerated in
penal institutions as they are in many in
stances, they would cost about 100000.
Has 1t ever occurred to the public that
these men. placed and kept in industrial
homes and paid 90 cents a day, would
earn, working 800 days, $1,000, 600 in a year.
This disposition would be saving to the
public of $4,50O,OOO enough difference to
change the entire charity question of our
country
The tramp question" came to my at
tention about eighteen years ago, and since
then have studied it in all of its phases In
various parts of the country. AT last I
think l have discovered a means by which
tramps may be removed as class from
our sociological system.
The tramp, all over the United States,
appears to be the same in his general
characteristics, but in various sections there
are a number of noticeable variations in
his condition. For instance, the migratory
tramp is found in Virginia-the man who
says ne is III HaTu circumstances, VINO
claims to be out Of work and looking for
Job. Him you might call the "indus-
trial tramp" In the far south are two
classes, those who claim to need a warmer
climate on account of their health, and
those who are seeking a bettermen Of their
lot in any way. In the north they all seem
to be seeking a betterment of their con-
dition. The greatest diversity in given
reasons for tramping has been found on the
Pacific coast. There one meets the man
who asks for bread or other assistance,
saying he has travelled west for his health,
and who feigns all of the symptoms of
consumption well enough to befool many a
wise person. There is also the man who is
hunting better life, such as Is found in
the north; also the man who is fascinated
by the stories Of the fine climate and easy
life Of the coast. Finally there is the
tourist" tramp who abounds on the Pa
cific coast and simply is 'out for sight
seeing
Having noticed the apparent superficial
the fraternity members themselves and
may reasonably be taken with a grain of
salt, the question as to what the real
mind of the sociological student.
Tramps may be divided into four classes,
according to the bona fide reasons for their
conditions as follows:
l. The really unfortunate man, who can
be helped by charitable and other insti-
buttons. but are ignorant of the existence
of such institutions. This class, however,
forms only about per cent.
II. The rowing, restless tramps who COM
prise fully 90 per cent. and might be called
the Arabs of America Their reason Is
simply that they cannot remain still.
III The ambitious class, which is COM
prised of men and boys who want to see the
country, yet have no money and are not
willing to wait until they can save it.
These often have a false idea OF the world
and imagine that it is easier task to
live than 1t Is. They comprise about Is
per cent in our scheme.
Nv. The unskilled labor of the country,
out Of employment and seeking 1t, perhaps
union men going from town to town, or
maybe laborers upon whom a union has
branded the word ''scab," and who find IT
next to impossible to get work. According
to my Investigations about "a per cent OF
our tramps belong to this class. These men
abound especially In the middle west, and