Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-06-18
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DEALING WITH TRAMPs.

GEAIiN0 WILT haWtfS. sEg-5t8
One of the problems discussed at
the recent meeting of the National
Conference of Charities and Correc-
tions at Minneapolis was the tramp
evil and the opinions of many per-
sons who have had much experience
along this line of work were present
ed for the consideration of the cor
ference. Among them was that of
James J. Hill, president of the Great
Northern system, who wrote letter.
which has some vigorous lines cover
ing the proper method of dealing with
the genuine hobo. MIR. Hill says
Hundreds of idle men infest the
empty cars of the Great Northern dur
ing summer months. Tramps attempt
to secret themselves ON every train at
any risk. "A considerable number of
these are killed or injured each year.
They get on and of the trains while
IN motion and some suffer in life and
limb. Others fall of while asleep.
it Would be difficult to gather reli-
able statistics on this point, because
large percentage Of the tramps re-
ported killed on the railroads are
really murdered Men returning
from the harvest fields with their
wages are killed for their money nv
their more vicious and criminal fel-
lows, the body is flung from the train
while in motion, and the reported
death by railroad casualty is actual
y case of homocide.
With few exceptions the local
seei1z nunities do not assist the rail-.
roads IN checking the tramp nuisance.
In few cases actual encouragement
lis given to those who prey upon rail-
road property. In cases where.
iramps have broken into cars, and
were caught in the act of stealing
the local authorities have declined
to take action. They declare that
lit is, not their business to prosecute
suits for railroad companies, and the
thief escapes. 5.s
& IAN effective remedy must begin
with the cooperation between the
railroad and the authorities Of every
community through which it passes.
There should be as prompt prosecu-
ton of the offender against the rail-
road as against an individual. There
should be no more suspended sem
fences On account of leaving town.
There should be confinement with
hard labor for q fixed term for every
tramp. s3.s s55s.
It is now the almost universal GUS
tom for the officers before whom va
grants are brought in petty cases to
order them to leave town within
twenty -four hours This rule merely
passes the man on to the next village
! Or town, which repeats the command.
When all its neighbors are doing ex-
actly the same thing, the community
receives exactly as much refuse as it
gets rid OF. Most Of those ordered to
move on take the railroad, which is
made the chief sufferer Of this policy.
The only policy which can, wipe
out or sensibly reduce yagrancy is
enforced labor. The stone heap or
work on the public Highways are the
best remedies against rowing Migrants
Works more dreaded than all other
ferrors of the law. If every tramp
were sentenced, under penalty Of diet
on bread and water to work hard be-
fore he was passed along, the end
would be in sight The construction
OF good roads would be assisted by
compelling every tramp to break
stone or wheel dirt or 60 hungry.
This, with a drm enforcement Of the
criminal laws BY the local autnor-
1ties, would probably furnish a SIM
pie and satisfactory solution OF the
vagrancy problem.
rs