The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-05-04
TRAMPS THE BANE
OF CITIES IN SOUTH
Campaign Is Begun TO Prevent
Passing On" HObO0S.
MAYORS SEEK TO END EVIL.

by Municipalities Provided the Pooi
Have Relatives, a Job or Other Def
mite Means of Support.
How the south is planning 10 pre-
vent the passing on" or tramps from
one city TO another. as has been done
now for many years. is told In an arti.
Gle sent out by the Survey press sery,
fee. II is explained that because OF
this passing on" policy conditions In
a number OF cities and towns were be
coming uncomfortable. and at the same
time no relief was being given for the
evil.
A long step forward In the handling
OF charitable transportation OF tramps
and other nonresident poor In seven
southeastern states was taken at
convention IN Jacksonville Fla. called
by Mayor ]. f. #. Bowden OF that city.
More than 100 mayors and another
hundred delegates. representing nearly
$50 cities In Florida. Alabama. Geor-
gia. Mississippi. Louisiana. North Car
the passing ON" evil and adopted a
model ordinance 10 solve the problem.
Each delegate was pledged 10 do all In
his power 10 secure the passing OF the
ordinance IN his home city. The com
pIete proceedings Of the convention.
with n copy of the ordinance, will be
sent TO more than 800 cities.
Passing II On.
The passing on" evil has for many
years been problem of particular sig
nificance In the south. The mild eli
mate has been partially responsible for
the presence of many wandering
tramps and tramp families" and their
Increase has been encouraged by slip
shOd methods OF issuing free transpor-
tation. A few charitable organizations
with modern methods have worked I'M
der the transportation rules as drawn
up by the national conference OF
charities and correction In 1908. The
city OF Atlanta. Ca. signed these rules
by ordinance In 1906.
But most OF the municipalities and
TO get rid OF their visiting poor by
buying them tickets to the next town
or the nearest large city-the old ia
mlllar method of passing on" And
80 the dismal round continued, grow
ing ever worse. Towns and cities be
came burdened with an increasing
OF wandering dependents, who
suffered increasing hardship and pau.
perism from the system. In some com
due 20 their geographical po-
sitlon, the conditions became uuendur-
able Jacksonville. SO situated as to be !
the gateway of Florida. was one of |
these. Nearly year ago Barry G. |
Smith, then secretary OF the associated |
In thut city, determined that |
some local action must be taken, and /
perhaps the cooperation Of the entire
south be obtained
As an initial step an ordinance was
drawn up aud laid before the mayor
and city council. No action was taken.
but Mayor BOwdeu showed an earnest
interest
Tramps Trooped In.
Tramp family after tramp family
iri:ted into the city. and the Associat-
"a Charities kept the mayor constantly
n touch with these concrete instances.
Photographs were taken Of some OF
he worst types, reports were secured
rom other cities aud definite proofs OF
he sending of such dependents TO
by other cities were Sc
'ured. Mayor BOwden became con.
'inced that what was true OF Jackson.
lille must be true of other cities and
hat the remedy lay IN the cooperative
Iction OF the entire south obviously
ach city on this plan received about
IS many poor as It sent elsewhere, aud
here was great waste of money in
hipping folks aimlcssly back aud
orth. The call for the convention fol
owed The ordinance follows
"a bin 10 be entitled an ordinance,
or the regulation - the transporta
Ion OF the INDECENT poor BE Il or
ained by the mayor aud city council
4 the city OF that the mayor IL
iereby directed and authorized 10 sign
or and I'm the name of the city of -
he rules concerning free transporta
lon and charity rates. which have
'een published by the committee on
haritable transportation appointed by {
he national conference OF charities :
nd correction. which said rules are as 5
ollows:"
Then follows the transportation rules, |
which provide. chiefly. Cn that free or
harity rate transportation be issued
My on satisfactory proof that the APP
'hcant has at the point OF destination {
a. legal residence or tbl employment /
IT other definite means of support. or
g friends or relatives who will agree 5
o provide for him; (2) that such trans I
,ortation shall be clear through to
Joint Of destination, thus prohibiting
passing on" entirely, and C3) that each | I
igner shall cooperate with each other
o prevent the aimless sending of de-
,endents about the country.
MEXICAN Mules In Eurone