The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-01-23
rRAMPs IN NORWAY.
New Laws Regarding the Treatment
Of Men Who Won't Work.


Of Men Who Wont Work.
The Norwegians have passed a spe
cial act which enables the authorities
to deal in wholesome way with able
bodied loafers, beggars, tramps, aliens
and drunkards who shirk their iinan-
cial duty to their dependents. An
ablebodied man who will not work
can now be warned By the police
against his manner of life and told
where he Is to apply for employment.
Thus direct official action is taken
against idling and idlers. He Is to
be prevented coming on the commun-
ity for support, or so acting that his
family becomes a charge on the poor
law-the Interpretation clause to in
clude even mans divorced wife and
his illegitimate children. This Of
course involves the providing of work,
a task beset with difficulties, but
probably easier in that country than
In England, as they have immense
tracts OF available land which could
be brought into cultivation, and this
II Is affirmed would conduce to the
prosperity OF the country.
That the country means business
can be further inferred from a sug-
gested method Of preventing escape
through the possibility of work being
irregular and intermittent A person
may be ordered by the police to go to
hn 1nl 4
on the other hand there may not be
any work. Both these contingencies
are realized, so the idea Is to give
an unsuccessful applicant a card
which will be evidence of obedience
and also state when the next visit
must be paid. This is detail that
may be varied, but it indicates the
size of the meShes of this official
net. Suppose a person refuses TO do
the work assigned, or leaves it with
out reason, or is dismissed through
bad conduct and within year either
he or his dependents come on the
poor law, for relief in consequence
of the return to lazy habits then the
authorities can send him to the work
house for eighteen months, or for
three years If It is a second offelse.
The workhOuse is an institution be-
tween a prison and an English work
house, and the chief points are that
liberty is forfeited, begging is im-
possible and they must face eitAof
work hunger or punishment.
The provision with regard to tramps
is most stringent. A person found
roaming about and endangering the
safety of others is liable to detention
in the same establishment for three
and up to six years. The course Is
clear and effective. The ndivIuala
are first watched by the police and
then warned that they must get fix
ed residence within a given time, ana
if they do not they are taken in
charge. Some option is reserved to
the police as to whether they Tin
send lazy person to the workhouse
or to his legal home, should they
find out where it is; but the decision
rests with the police. In this connec-
tion it is important to know that the
police have certain judicial functions
unknown to such officers in this coun-
try. 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 have a house found for
them the funds for this purpose be
ing provided from money set apart
for the purpose. The place in the
first instance is considered by the po-
lice. But there is reservel the right
Of appeal to Il higher court.