Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-02-20
CLEARING newark
OF 'PANHANDLERS'
Work of Mendioancy Squad and
Aid Given by Societies Dis
cussed in Conference.

| Methods OF disposal of men arrested
by the mendicaney squad and other
details of the work were discussed at
/ a conference held in the office of
Judge Harry V Osborne at the county
Court House yesterday afternoon.
Representatives of the police and
poor and aims departments were pres
ent, as well as private citizens and
representatives, of various societies.
/ Expressions of approval of the sue
cess attending the effort to rid the
city Of beggars We're general, Judge
Osborne stating that many seemed
I interested and the intention of the
conference was. to give an appor
tunity for expression. He invited an
4 opinion from the police commission
ers themselves. which was given BY
John Baeder, president of the COM
/ mission. who declared that body to
| be well satisfied with results and in
| favor of a continuance of the work.
Especial approval of the fact that this
work is in the hands of the police
department was expressed by Richard
c. Jenkinson, who urged public eX-
preston of appreciation and desire
for the permanency of the work.
The question of disposal of some
of the men arrested, especially Grip
pies, was brought up by Police Judge
Charles F. Herr The almshouse was
suggested by Judge Osborne, and its
crowded condition was mentioned.
The point that these men did not
wish to remain there when COM
mitted and that they wanted to avoid
institutional care was made by An
thony c. Kroehl, chairman of the
poor and aims committee. That they
find panhandling too profitable to
give UP, was his conclusion.
That a majority of beggars arrested
are perfectly abie-bodied was stated
by A. w. MacDougall who said that
out of about eighty arrests sixty five
were found physically sound and
only five cripples had been appre-
hended He gave several instances
of investigation made by the bureau,
including that of a legless"nnan who
was arrested and is now IN jail This
case was investigated by the bureau.
1t was found that his home is in New
Brunswick, where his family have
tried to care for him. but will give no
further aid because of his bad
record.
I.athrop Anderson proposed that in
difficult cases Judge Herr ask the aid
of the bureau in Investigations and
that the bureau or poor and aims de-
partment aid in arranging for the
case of such persons.
A proposition was made that legis-
lation be sought to prevent societies
from soliciting funds from the public
unless certified by the tSate Depart
ment of Charities and Correction.
That such legislation would be pre-
mature without wider public
opinion on the matter was suggested
by Rabbi Solomon Foster.
Mr.. Baader and Joseph Nj. Cox,
secretary of the Police Commission,
approved a suggestion that card
record of the men handled by the
mendicancy committee be kept
Means for informing every house
holder of the work being done to sup
press fraudulent begging were dis
cussed, and it was agreed that the
public should be asked to air IN this,
in addition to asking the press to
notice the movement.
Among others present and taking
part in the discussion were DIR. Laban
Dennis, president of the Bureau OF
Associated Charities; Lathrop Ander-
son. of the bureaus committee on
mendicancy, and William H. Baldwin,
overseer of the poor.
At the proposal of Judge Herr an
other conference will be held later.