Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-12-12
NORWAY.
Christiana.


foot an experiment in legislation, de.
signed to solve the tramp problem.
While II is probable that Norway i
less troubled by able-bodied trampS.
beggars and other varieties of incom.
petents and dependents than most
countries, since even the poorest OF her
many poor folk have the fine pride that
makes for self-help, still the problem
is there as it is everywhere. The new
law is aimed at the able-bodied man
who won't work-an abomination not
TO be tolerated among an industrious
AID thrifty people Such man is talk.
en- in hand by the police, who warn
him of the danger of loag imprison.
ment that threatens him, and who mott
fly him where to apply for employ
ment This direct official action is de.
signed to prevent him and his family
from becoming a charge Of the com
munity Ii involves providing him
with work, but there is always plenty
OF work to he done in Norway--toO
much, one would think for the scanty
population, thinned out by emigration
\ card is given to the enforced ap
plicant for work, and if for any rea-
son work is not Immediately availa
bic, the date of his enforced return TO
the labor bureau is Endorsed on it. It
he refuses to apply for work, or to do
the tasks assigned, or leaves them
without reason, or is discharged for in.
competency, he may be sent to the
workhouse for eighteen months, or, If
II is a second offense, for three years.
In this institution he faces work, hun
is liable to similar Imprisonment for
from three to six years. He is forced
to establish n fixed residence, the POI
lice aiding him when necessary, and
some option is left to the authorities
as to whether they will return him to
his legal home or send him to the work.
house. A fund is provided from which
homes for the very poor may be Sc
| cured. There Is thus no passing of
| tramp from one community to another
as is the practice here. The work
house or a fixed home and regular en-
| ployment are the only alternatives for
these nomads Of civilization. The law
any rate. the Norwegian experiment
will be watched with interest wherever
| the tramp is a problem pressing for
| solution.
The question Of liquor prohibition
has lately come into prominence in
Norway. Secretary Of Agriculture,
Aarestad, who Is temperance lead
er. having declared that immediate
prohibition Is the aim Of the anti-liquor
element. The strongest opponents of
this policy are the merchants of
| Christiania, who point to the alleged
failure Of prohibition In many Amer
| lean states, and also to the lawbreak-
| ing here. which they claim is the re-
suit of limiting the "samlag system"
| whereby communities monopolize the
| sale Of LIQUOR. Many towns are voting
| upon the question Of disseminating the
"samlag system" the result thus far
| being ten in favor of discontinuance
| and six against such action. In the
| towns where the samlag has been
voted down no liquor whatever Is sold.
| The "samlag system" in Norway Is
similar to the "Gothenburg system" in
Sweden BY law passed in 1871 the
| local boards in the towns were allowed
| to make over their control of the retail
| liquor trade to philanthropic bodies
called samlags which instead of seek.
| ing to increase the sale of liquor, made
| II their aim to supervise and restrict
the drinking OF spirits. the profits be-
| ing devoted to object Of public utility.
Banker Ernest Thiel, of Stockholm
has subscribed $4,000 crowns to the
| yigeIand fountain. He has been
placed on the gridiron by the Swedish
papers for sending money across the
border.
The dedication of the Melhaven
| monument, which should have taken
place Dec. Z, has been postponed until
| next spring.