Evening star., 1909-03-12
FARM COLONIES FOR TRAMpS
NEW YoRK'S PLAN TO WIPE
OUT vAGABoNDAGE.
Bill Provides for Utilizing, With
Notifications Suitable to American
Conditions, Tramp Colony idea.

From the Review Of Reviews.
1t is conservatively estimated that there
is an army of at least one-half million
tramps in the United States. This figure
is calculated by taking as basis the
number OF tramps killed on the railroads
every year and multiplying It by the
proportion of trainmen killed in the year
compared to the total number of train
men employed. But it is entirely prob
able that the number at present reaches
nearer a million than one-half million.
A large proportion are youths ranging
from sixteen to twenty-one years of age.
Beginning with yearning for adventure,
about one-half quit the nomadic life and
return home or settle down. while the
remaining half become inveterate tramps
and gradually tend from vagrancy into
a career of crime or semi-crime. very
large percentage of tramps however are
adults and comprise every species. from
men who will not work or have become
chrOnically untitled for work to those
who are innocent victims OF downright
adversely
The charitable societies and the rail-
roads believe that they have at last come
upon plan which is quite certain TO
prove efficacious. This plan is trans
planting. with certain notifications suit
able to American conditions of the tramp
colony idea already In force In Holland
Belgium and Switzerland. Since the in
stltuting of these colonies vagrancy has
been unknown in those countries and al
though they have certain features which
cannot we'll be adopted in this country
the general plan of these European ex-
periments will be followed.
The First Step.
The first step toward the establishment
of tramp colonies In America has been
taken in New York. Such public spirited
men as Edmond Kelly. r. Fulton Cutting,
Robert w de Forest, Samuel j. Barrows
and others have joined with all of the
charitable societies and the railroad lines
in drawing up a bill which has been in
troduced in the legislature. That this bill
Will become law. If not al this session OF
the legislature, eventually is regarded as
certain. The measure appropriates three
quarters of a million dollars to establish
three tramp colonies, one near New
York city. the second In the neighborhood
OF Albany and the third in the vicinity
Of Buffalo. Part of this fund ii is pro-
posed, will be used in buying sufficient
areas of waste land for the colonies, and
the remainder for the erection of neces-
sary buildings. The governor Is to ap-
point five men who shall constitute a
board of trustees of labor colonies. and
who are to serve without pay This pro-
vision is intended to obviate purely pOliti-
cal appointments and to secure compe-
tent officials. These colonies, the bill sets
forth, are to be devoted to the detention,
reformation and instruction of persons
convicted OF VaSranCy, ha bitual drunken
ness and violation of section 426 of the
penal code. This section. it may be noted
is the particular one covering offenSes
against railroads. such as trespassng.
theft and other crimes. All three colonies
are TO be places of compulsory detention.
Magistrates are 10 have the full power of
fixing the duration of sentence. although
no sentence is to exceed two years. Any
inmate will be able to get parole upon
giving proofs of good behavior and IL the
trustees are convinced that he will not
violate the law. But if any tramp at
tempts to escape from the co.ony in which
he is confined he is to be subject to a
term in state prison for period of from
one TO three years.
Colonies to Be Agricultural.
The colonies TO be more agricultural
than Industrial The aim will he to sub
ordinate the industrial features TO the
agricultural Competition with free labor
will he strictly avoided. Waste land will
be reclaimed and cultivated as truck
gardens. 1t is believed that the large
cities are able to absorb so much produce
that these gardens will not interfere with
the trade of small farmers. Probably the
entire product of the colonies may he sup
piled to state institutions. Every inmate
is to be paid for his labor. and the
cumulative amount given TO him when he
is released. This compensation. ii is pro-
yded shall be based upon the pecuniary
value of the work performed and "also on
the Willingness. industry and good con-
duct of the inmate In place of other
penalties and punishments the superin-
tendent of each colony is empowered to
maintain a system OF fines to he imposed
at his discretion. Any tramp who violates
the terms OF his conditional release is to
forfeit all that lie has earned.
One of the most important provisions is
that allowing the trustees to appoint as
adviser any person who has acted in the
same capacity in any similar institution
outside of the United States. In Europe
number of tramp colonies are in success
full operation, and 1t is the intention to
engage an expert from one of them to
initiate similar system here. Mr.. Ed
mond Kelly. who for years has been
studying these European colonies and has
personally visited all of them. says that
'if American legislatures were to take
the matter in hand yagaboudage and all
it's attending evils would disappear like