New-York tribune., 1911-11-17
LQNON BEGGARS
csnpsign Against Migrants
Morals from Germany.
London, October 2S.

~eforfner Tor clearing the streets OF Deg
ears and vagrants. Apparently it has
tound one in the oldtime bearer of the
rsa f,ag in Trafalgar Square and the
nresent efficient head of the Local Gov
.rnn,ent Board. Mr.. John Burns is not
,sking an active part in the debates on
assurance against sickness, disability and
,,erployment but he is adopting prac-
teal measures for hunting down lazy
rogues and worthless vagabonds and
torc,ng them 10 work for a living in
s,ead of imposing upon the generosity
~ thoughtless passersby. He has de-
cided that the English treatment of this
class of voluntary and calculating pau
rsrs is too indulgent. and that indis-
Eliminate charity is increasing and per-
,etuating the evils of beggary and va
srancy. He has begun with a central
registry Of beggars, "casuals.' and
honneless wanderers. and has enlisted the
services of Poor Law inspectors. the Sal
cation Army and charitable agencies in
senarating unfortunates in need of food
and shelter from habituai offenders, who
igor. He will probably end by forming
. metropolitan Poor Law Board and ad-
ninistering the casual wards of the
warehouses; on common lines. Increased
no,jce powers for dealing With the home
less and full authority fer the compul-
sorv detention of vagrants are requisite.
Berlin offers a remarkable contrast to
rondon In being entirely free from beg
cars and vagrants. The law against
them Is explicit and 1t is enforced sys-
.ematicaliy. Anyone losing lodging
and neglecting TO obtain another one
within a specified time is exposed to ar
rest and Imprisonment. and beggars are
cuicklv consigned to labor colonies or
vorkhouses and forced to work. The
German woykhouse, instead of being
comfortable refuge for dependent pau
pers. is a place Of punishment for GRIM
inal offences. Migrants know what TO
expect IL they are caught begging In the
streets or sleeping out Of doors, and they
ss,don refuse work when it is offered to
them. The circumstances are different
In London, where thousands Of outcasts
are mumbling for bread or nights
lodging. roaming in crowded streets and
sleeping in public squares or along the
erbankment in abject misery and deg
radiation. There is an English statute
providing for the arrest and commit
ment Of persons wandering abroad and
lodging in any barn or outhouse, or In
any deserted or unoccupied building or
IN the open air or under a tent, or In
any cart or wagon" and not having any
visible means Of support. not being able
to give a good account Of themselves.
There is law enough already for prevent
ing the appalling exhibitions OF degra-
dation and misery TO be witnessed daily
and nightly in the English metropolis;
but neither police nor magistrates. nor
Poor Law guardians consider themselves
justified in enforcing 1t.
The German system would be heart
less II there were not systematic ar
for dealing with unfortu-
mates suddenly deprived of work, lodg-
ing and food Either the municipality
or charitable associations provide shell
ters or refugees for the homeless and des-
titute. In Berlin poverty stricken fam
lies who have lost their homes and are
without money are enabled to lodge to-
gether in decent apartments and are fed
by the Poor Law authorities for re-
stricted period. There are separate
night shelters for men and women, with
SOUP and bread when they come and go,
and there are refugees where free lodg-
ings and meals can be supplied to un-
fortunate workers and their children for
several weeks. All these comforts are
withdrawn as soon as the privileges are
abused. When the dodgers refuse work
or decline to take advantage Of the labor
registries or shamelessly resort to beg
ging, they are committed to prison or
workhouse as criminal offenders. There
Is no lack OF charity in Berlin, where ds
many as eight hundred thousand un-
fortunates are taken from the streets
and housed and fed at public and pri-
vate shelters in the course Of year.
The truth is recognized that the most
carefully devised laws cannot provide
against exceptional cases Of distress
among self-respecting working people;
and there are relief agencies for assist
ing them and obtaining employment for
them. At the same time the obligation
to work is everywhere enforced. The
German system neither manufactures
paupers nor multiplies beggars
What Mr.. Burns and practical reform
ers in London hope to accomplish by
united effort is the application of Ger
man principles to British conditions. BY
concentrating the poor law administra-
ton and linking together the voluntary
benevolent agencies they expect to pro-
vide food and shelter for the homeless
poor and TO take them out of the streets.
When that las been done there will be
no excuse for begging, and ragged va
grants mumbling for pennies and six
pences will he known as cheats and i'm
posters. While the deserving poor will
receive shelter and assistance and be put
In the way Of finding employment, the
frreclaimable tramps will be sent 70
casual wards or 10 warehouses; and prop
erly disciplined. Loafers. beggars and
incorrigible vagrants will be exposed to
arrest and conviction, as in Germany,
and there will be general recognition of
The wholesome truth that men and
women are under obligation TO work for
living and that they degrade them
selves when they are idle and dependent
and become mendicants In the streets.