Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-21
TRAMPs IN NORWAY.
Few Laws Regarding the Treatment
of Men Who Wont Work.

From the Poor Law Onicers' Journal.
The Norwegians have passed a special
act which enables the authorities to deal
In a wholesale way with able-bodied loaf
ers. beggars, tramps, aliens and drunk
ards who shirk their financial duty to
their dependents. An able-bodied man
who will not work can now be warned by
the police against his manner of life and
-old where he is to apply for employment.
Thus direct official action is taken against
.dling and idlers. He Is to be prevented
coming on the community for support or
80 acting that his family becomes a
charge on the poor law-the Interpretation
clause to include even mans divorced
wife and his fllegitimate children. This,
If course, involves the providing of work,
i task beset with difficulties. At proba-
,ly easier in that country than in Eng
ind, as they have immense tracts of
AVAILABLE land which could be brought
nto cultivation, and this, it Is affirmed,
would conduce to the" prosperity of the
.ountry.
That the country means business can be
further inferred from suggested meth
I'd of preventing escape through the pos
,ibi.ity of work being irregular and inter-
intent. A person may be ordered by the
,olice to go to the labor bureau. but not
20 SO. and on the other hand there may
.ot be any work. Both these contingent
les are realized, so the idea Is to give
IN unsuccessful applicant a card. which
will be evidence of obedience and also
tate when the next visit must be paid.
This is a detail that may be varied, but it
indicates the size of the meshes of this
Iiflcial net Suppose a person refuses to
% the work assigned. or leaves it with
cut reason. or is dismissed through bad
conduct and within year either he or
is dependents come on the poor law for
.iief in consequence of the return to lazy
-abts. then the authorities can send him
o the workhouse for eighteen months or
or three years If II Is a second Offense.
the workhouse is an institution between
prison and an English workhouse, and
ne chief points are that liberty Is for
cited. begging is impossible and they
aust face either work, hunger or punish
nent.
The provision with regard to tramps Is
most stringent. A person found roaming
ABOUT and endangering the safety of
theirs is liable to detention in the same
Establishment for three and up to S.
,ears. The course is clear and effective.
rhe individuals are first watched by the
police and then warned that they must
get fixed residence within a given time.
nd If they do not they are taken in
charge. Soma option is reserved to the
pol:ce as to whether they will send a
azy person to the workhouse or to his
.egal home, should they find out where ii
IS: but the decision rests with police.
In this connection il is important to
<now that the police nave certain judicial
functions unknown to such officers In
this country. 1t Is quite possible, and
even probable, that some will be found
who are unable to settle because too poor
and in these circumstances they are to
nave a house found for them, the funds
for this being provided from money SET
apart for the purpose. The place in the
irst instance is considered by the police;
out there is reserved the right of appeal
a higher court