Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-04
MIGRANTS NEED ROOM
Drastic Law Expected to Tax
Present Workh0uSe.
NEW PRISON NOT READY
Additional Quarters May Have to Be
Provided by District.
HARD LOT FOR OFFENDERS
Culprits Who Were Able to Pay Fine
May Now Find Difficulty in -
Furnishing Bond. VI
HARD LOT FOR OFFENDERS

furnishing oouu'
Anticipating a strict enforcement OF the
vegrancy law recently passed by Con
gress, some of the District officisls. who
have given the question attention feel
that it will be we'll to hasten the work
of providing additional workhouse accom-
modations for offenders.
Bids are soon to be opened for sites
for a new prison, TO be located in Mary
land or Virginia. 1t is believed there
will be some provisions made in the
near future for the accommodation of
the prospective additional prisoners.
Unless something is done the structure
in southeast Washington will be over
crowded before the hot weather sets in.
officials will then have to meet the emer-
gency the best way they can
II is provided in the bill making appro.
priatio for sites for the Jail and work.
house that prisoners are to be employed.
Members OF the police department ia
miliar with the class Of offenders amens-
BILE to the new law say that there will
probably be some men put 10 work in the
near future who have not labored FOR
some years, and some who PROBABLY never
have performed any manual labor.
New Law Is Drastic.
The new law is much more drastic than
the act of 1898. There is a difference in
the penalty. which will probably mean
an increase in the number OF Migrants
unable TO buy their liberty.
Under the act Of 1898 it was possibl.
for the culprit 10 pay a fine. Under the
new law a real estate bond il required.
1t is much easier for an offender OF
this kind TO pay a fine. court Oficials
ind. than to furnish bond. Bonding COM
panies are cautious in providing security
in cases wher an offender is too apt To
fall again into the police net during the
time for which the bond is given.
The fee is too small for the risk.
Under the old law penalty OF not
more than $40 fine was imposed. Under
the recent law the court is empowered
to require bond not to exceed $500. o.
to impose a workhouse sentence for
period not to exceed one year. II is stip-
ulated that bond given by convicted va
grants shall be conditioned upon their
good behavior for period of one year.
an arrest during that period to cause .
forfeiture of the recognizance.
Definition Of Vagrant.
Under the provisions of the new law
the offense of vagrancy is clearly de-
fined, and is much broader than any
ather vagrancy law ever In force in this
District, the definition reading:
idle persons who, not having visible
employment; persons wandering abroad
and visiting tipping shops or houses of
i'll fame, or lodging in groceries, out
houses, market places, sheds. barns. or in
the open air. and not giving good &C
count of themselves: persons wandering
| abroad and begging, or who 60 about
from door TO door or place themselves in
| the streets highways, passages. or other
public places TO beg or receive aims.
.All persons leading an idle, immoral. or
pr0ffgate life who have no property 10
support them and who are able Of body
to work and do not work. including all
a BILE bodied persons without other visible
| means OF support who shall live in idle
ness upon the wages or earnings OF their
mother, wife or minor child or children.
Every person known to be pick
pocket, thief. burglar or confidence oper-
ator. either by his own confession or by
his having been convicted in the District
of Columbia or elsewhere OF either or
such offenses. and having no visible or
lawful means of support. when found
lettering around in any building, park.
highway, street. avenue. alley or reserva-
ton. steamboat landing. railroad depot.
station. banking institution, brokers' of-
fee. place OF amusement. room, store.
shop. public place. or car or omnibus or
other vehicle, or at any public gathering
or assembly.
Persons upon whom shall be found any
Instrument. tool or other implement used
for the commission OF burglary or the
commission of any other crime against
property. or for picking locks or pockets
who shall fail to give good account OF
the possession of the same, and all per-
sons who by the common law are va
grants whether embraced in any of the
foregoing classifications or not"
Vagrancy Cases Increase.
a great many cases OF vagrancy have
been called the attention OF the Po-
lice Court since the new law became ef
fective. There has been a corresponding
increase in the number OF such persons
sent to the workhouse.
Police Court officials say Ii seemed an
easy matter for large number of Of
Tenders convicted of vagrancy 10 pay
fines. but it is not easy for them to CIV.
bond. Where many such persons are
able TO get money 10 pay fines has often
been discussed by persons about the
court Many have paid fines when they
had been scarcely able to buy food.
There has been increased activity in
police circles since the new law became
operative. In some sections Of the city
the police have paid particular attention
TO persons who had previously been in
court for theft.
In one such case tried recently Judge
Kimbal ruled that conviction for THEFT
recorded years ago would not be taken
as testimony against q man where II
was shown the man had been trying 10
live properly.
a police Official. discussing the law.
said to a Star reporter that he thought
the provision holding as Migrants persons
who live in idleness upon the wages or
earnings of mother. wife or minor chill
dren should be strictly enforced.
There are many persons in his city
the official declared, who put on good
front while away from home. but Win"
live upon the earnings of their aged
mother or sisters. Such persons. think
should be compelled TO work or be locked
up.
Legal Questions Raised.
Attorney Thomas l.. Jones. representing
Jerry Fleming, recently convicted OF
charge Of vagrancy. has raised several
legal questions in connection with the
trial and conviction OF his client. The
case is likely to so to the Court OF Ap-
peals.
Sentence has not Vet been imposed BY
Judge kimball, the court being desirous
of giving counsel ample time to prepare
the necessary papers. i'm order 70 have
the record in shape TO get the case to TIL
higher court. Ii was contended by the
police that Fleming was person OF I'M
moral life. the testimony against him
cont aiming an allegation Of only one at.
What has Congress to do with persons
leading an immoral life unless that per