Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-25
VlLLIANY OF WEARY WILLlES
D~epredatiOns Committed ny Army qf
Tramps that Infest the
whole Country.

Wien WEARY WINE lIhNtl3 hlhnk AhT
dusty road. or appears IN the illustrated
weeklies he does not lock like a serious
problem. But when It Is stated by a
prominent railway official that Migrants
cost the American railways at least $25.-
10000 a year. because of their depreda-
tions. the matter looks more serious. Or
iando +. Lewis, secretary Of the National
Committee on Vagrancy. has recently re-
celved from a half hundred railroads In the
United States the latest word regarding va
grancy on their lines. This information
viii he tabulated and published shortly, as
an important contribution to our Knowl-
edge OF vagrarcy. We are today able to
quote a few of the more important state
ments.
w. II. Canniff, president Of the New
York, Chicago & st. Louis railroad, states
that on one occasion during June l3 men
were elected from one Of the freight trains
or The company in a Journey of 1872 miles.
J. f. Childs general manager of the New
York, Ontario & Western says that theIS
are probably 80 per cent more Migrants
passing over the line than a year ago.
Typical depredations OF these Migrants are
hold-ups and breaking into cars and sta
lions. The Norfolk &c Western reports,
through its president. that the increase in
vagrancy over a year ago IL % per cent, a
fact particularly noticeable in the increased
robbery Of cars. 1--WE have had" reports
the president, instances of brakemen and
conductors being killed OF assaulted in at
tempting to eject trespGssers, and not all
OF these trespassers are Migrants and with
out means"
George b. slsde, general manager Of the
Northern Pacific, reports that the line is
more troubled with Migrants this year thau
-a.- 49,. uTl..- wlrFar naWa ~ 49,
along the right-of-wsy, build fires inside Of
cars, use the company's materials for the
construction Of shanties. terrorize the oc-
cupants OF section houses and commit the
various usual depredatioDs.
The Pennsylvania railroad, reporting
through its president, shows that it Is
thoroughly stirred up by the tramp nut
sance, and during April, May and June.
1908, made S.iDO arrests. as against 1,G4
arrests for August. September and Octo-
Der, 1907.
There quotations might be extended many
times. The daily papers. however. give
other striking statements. In some OF the
eastern states there is a plague OF yeKg-
mep, committing petty thefts.i breaking
into stores, robbing farm houses and. in
general. committing various kinds Of law
lessness. These "yoggs' are accustomed to
heNti Vh iANihhN anu EOIAulAhAClJ AuI y
woman who had been threatened by a va
grant at Camden. N. j., recently. her hus-
band was at home and gave the besgar a
sound thrashlng. When such things hap
pen the police often make a roundup"
which, because spasnodlc and because the
Migrants are frequently let off with a sus-
pended sentence, has little effect.
A New Yorker interested in the tramp
question, who for a year has gathered
from all over the United States clippings
relating to vagrancy, says that the most
striking thing about the clippins is the en-
tire absence of plans anywhere for treat
ing the question of vagrancy systematic
ally. He also states that far too frequently
there come to his attention reports OF most
atrocious assaults UPON women and chill
dren, these brutal crimes being possible
because of the continued Indifference dis.
played by most communities toward any
systematic plan for reducing vagrancy. He
says further:
What can we do? Several things are
simple and effective. We can refuse food
at the door. We can make work a re-
quirement for a subsequent meal. We can
urge that Migrants receive reasonably long
sentences when arraigned before magis-
%trates, IL they are evidently habitual va
9'Ae' ~ A@i 90 pOS1lDlt cooperation
ought to be maintained between railroad
police and city police. Unless tramp tres
passers upon railways are convicted when
arraigned in court the railroads have little
power 10 reduce railway trespass. City
police should not tolerate evident Migrants
upon the streets of the city. We should
endeavor to obtain when possible more
adequate vagrancy legislation. II railway
trespass is at present not covered by our
laws, IT should be. So long as towns or
cities must stand the expenses of Migrants
committed to jail or to the workhouse. lust
so long will towns or cities be Ioath to
commit. The maintenance of COMMITTEES
Migrants should be a state charge. Most
Important OF all among measures that can
be at once adopted is the necessity of ac-
companying a sentence for vagrancy with
hard labor. Wherever hard labor is re-
duired, too, Migrants become suddenly less
in number.
In connection with work the labor col
ony bill is to be introduced into he New
York legislature next winter seems a most
interesting attempt to reduce vagrancy.
The bill, framed by specialists in charitable
work in New York state, proposes an ap-
preparation for a labor colony to which
%habitual Migrants shall be committed. their
terms to be indefinite. Good care. good
1000 a reasonable amount of real work.
reformatory influences, a parole system
and a chance TO learn a trade are among
its principal features. The bill is modelled
In many respects upon compulsory labor
colonies which have already proved their
success in Europe. or course, one labor
colony Will not solve the vagrancy ques-
ton but it will make a good beginning
and viii be watched with great interest as
an Important experiment "-Pittsburg Dis
patch.