Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-01
One Evil Of ncharity.'

ne tact that thousands of boys
unemployed workmen, tranps and va
grants are stealing rides on the rail-
roads, is one with which all are ia
miliar, but that a second army of
Wanderers, almost as large. is travel
ing from Maine 10 California and back
again with its transportation paid out
of charity funds is fact which is
probably not so well known says
Alice Willard Solenberger. IN The sur
YeY. The writer says that the most
striking differences between the two
armies are: first, that the paid for
group includes hundreds of women
ard children. while among those who
beat their way, women are rare; and.
second, that although among men who
are travelling on charity tickets some
are capable of self support. tia great
majority are old, crippled. and defec-
tive. or for some other reason chroni-
cally dependent, while i'm the other
group the majority are young and able
bodied. and when dependent are as
often so from choice as from neces3ity.
Certain states which have not vet
protected themselves by legislation
have been heavy sufferers from the
Gnregulated migration of dependents
from one section of the country to an
ether.
Some cities, on account of the nom
resident dependents thrust upon them
for care have been afflicted with enor-
nous expense. Unless there is a state
law which empowers il to Ieturn de-
pendents a the expense of the rail
roads which brought them, city can
not rid itself of this burden
And thus one section after anofher
is criVen to care fol these wanderers
even as several Maine communities
are now watching for and promptly
hootihg out of town, the bands of
sypsies who are tlavelling across the
State and preying largely upon the in
h3bitahts They We're driven out of
Gardiner, Hallowell and Augusta. Wa
terVille, Skowhegan and other towns
up the kennebec. They are accused
OF all sorts of petty crimes. yer no |
county cares to take the expense OIL
them up and feeding them for
any length of time for the crimes they
are known TO have committed. Where
these people will land. at the present |
rate OF progress and the way they are
pointed, it is hard to imagine. but il |
now looks as if they would be shnnted
OYER the line into Canada.
Inc Survey writer tells of man
VINO was for almost a year in the
hands of one charity organization and
then another, in making the trip from
Los Angeles to Chicago, vet the aues-
tion arises as large as ever as nov to
regulate the granting of transporta-
tion to paupers who wish ia. eo ia |
communities upon which they haye no
cram. No state legislature has VET |
heen able to satisfactorily solve the
problem, because no two states would |
pass identical laws, and unless lawsl
hie uihfoff states are bound to be |
imposed upon. Some day, no dopbt
we Shall have federal law that wiHl
regulate the interstate migration OIL
paupers and dependents. The bes. thar
mas been produced in state legisla lures
~ TO this time has been 10 pass laws
sAcihding nonresident depe ndents II
seems necessary, also, for citizens Ia
'eiose to aid the evil, and withhold
toward the purchase of
abroad tickets for any applicant un.
II they are assured, from the poln. OF
destination, that the person who asks
OF transportation will be cared for al
he end of his Journey.