The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-02
From the New York Evening Sun.

WY HEN WEARY Willie travels
M along the dusty road or appears
w in the illustrated weeklies he
does not look like a serious problem. But
when it is stated by prominent railway
officer that Migrants cost the American
railways at least s25,OOO0O0 a year because
of their depredations the matter looks
more serious. A New York Charity Or
ganization society officer has recently re-
ceived from 80 railroads in the United
States the latest word regarding vagrancy
on their lines.
w. H. Canniff, president of the New
York, Chicago and st. Louis railroad,
states that on one occasion during June
103 men were elected from one of the
freight trains of the company In a jour-
ney of 1872 miles J. e. Childs, general
manager of the New York, Ontario and
Western, says that there are probably so
per cent more Migrants passing over the
line than a year ago. Typical depreda-
lions of these Migrants are hold-ups and
breaking into cars and stations. The Nor
folk and Western reports, through its
president that the increase in vagrancy
over a year ago is rs per cent a fact par
ticularly noticeable in the increased rob-
berry of cars I'VE have had" reports the
president, Instances Of brakemen and
conductors being killed or assaulted In at
tempting to eject trespassers, and not all
of these trespassers are Migrants and
without means"
Z 1ad ppn
Northern Pacific, reports that the line is
more troubled with Migrants this year
than ever before. They pilfer cars, set
fires along the right of way, build fires
inside the cars, use the company's shan
ties, terrorize the occupants of section
houses and commit the various usual dep
relations.
The Pennsylvania railroad, reporting
through it's president, shows that 1t Is
thoroughly stirred up by the tramp nuis-
ance and during April, May and June,
1905 made 300 arrests, as against 1914 ar
rests for August, September and October,
| 1907
In some of the eastern states there is a
plague of yeggmen committing petty
thefts, breaking into stores, robbing farm
| houses and in general committing various
kinds of lawlessness. These "yeggs" are
| accustomed to travel on freight trains.
Fortunately for woman who had been
| threatened by a vagrant in Camden. N.
j., recently, her husband was at homo
and gave the beggar sound thrashing.
When such things happen the police often
make roundup which, because spas
modic and because the Migrants are fire.
| uuently let off with a suspended sentence.
has little effect A New Yorker inter-
! ested in the tramp question. who for a
year has gathered from all over the Uni
f; ted States clippings relating to vagrancy,
says that the most striking thing about
the clippings Is the entire absence OF
plans anywhere for treating the question
OF vagrancy systematically. He also
states that far too frequently there come
to his attention reports of most afro
| cious assaults upon women ana chlidren'
| these brutal crimes being possible because
Of the continued indifference displayed by
most communities toward any systematic
plan for reducing vagrancy
Unless tramp trespassers upon railways
are convicted when arra'gned in court the
railroads have little power to reduce rail-
way trespass. The labor colony bill to be
| introduced in to the New York legislature
| next winter seems a most interesting at
| tempt to reduce vagrancy. This bill,
| framed by specialists in charitable work
| in New York state. proposes an appropri-
| alton for a labor colony to which habitual