Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-25
COUNCIL or DEFENSE
DEFINES WAR LOAFERs
Sends Out Ordinance for Uniform
Adoption BY County
Supervisors.
EXEMPTIONS ARE PROVIDED
Every Man Must Work Enough to
Earn Probable Cost of Food He
Consumes and Clothing He Wares.
No Lettering Allowed.

The following ordinance defining
war loafer" and setting out certain
labor requirements such persons must
comply with has been drafted by tho
State Council Of Defense and sent out
to the boA,ds OF supervisors Of the
counties in the state. It is expected
by the council that the counties will
adopt the ordinance a war measure.
After the adoption OF this ordinance 1t
is expected that great toll of the wits
VIII be necessary for a man to survive
az war-loafer. The ordinance Is as
follows:
Be 1t ordained by the Board OF Super
visors OF the County of +.
Virginia
That to preserve neace and good or
der and 20 prevent vice and immortality
ond to promote thrift and Industry dur
Ing the present emergency, and to aid
many occupations to win the war with
Germany and her allies, this ordinance
ia enacted.
That for the purpose of this ordl-
nance the words War Loafer" shall
be construed to mean person, who,
while the United States OF America is
at war with any other nation, govern
ment or power. Is not engaged con-
tinuously in a lawful employment, or
who spends the daylight hours loiter-
ing on roads or public places and who
apparently does not perform manual
labor sufficient that the remuneration
thereof would equal the probable cost
Of the food consumed by such person.
and the clothing worn by such person.
NEW RULE APPLIES FROM
EIGHTEEN TO SIXTY
Whoever, being moro than eighteen
and not moro than sixty years OF age
and physically AT to perform manual
10 nr fu III I'LL 80 .
County OF from and after
the passage OF this ordinance and while
the United States OF America ia on
gagged in war with any nation or power,
is not continuously employed In law
ful occupation, business, trade, calling
or profession and who in tho six
months last past has made no reason
able effort to procure employment, or
who has refused to labor for COM
pensatlon where employment is offered.
or who spends major portion OF the
daylight hours on the roads or the pub
lie places OF the county idling, loiter-
Ing. and gossiping. and who. in tho
last preceding six months has not per-
formed manual labor sufficient that the
remuneration thereof has equalled the
probable cost of the food consumed
by said person, and tho clothing worn
by him. shall be deemed guilty of be-
ing WAR Loafer." and upon convic-
ton thereof shall be fined In any sum
not to exceed 500, to which may be
added imprisonment In the county jail
for a term not exceeding six months.
Provided, that tho. following persons
or classes OF persons shall be excluded
from the provisions OF this act:
(a) Students or persons fitting them
selves in an educational way to en-
gage in trade or Industrial pursuits.
OBJ Persons temporarily unemployed
by reason Of differences with their en-
ployers.
(c) Persons engaged In any season
able business. trade or occupation.
PROVISION MADE FOR
sUsPENDING SENTENCE
Provided, that after the conviction
of a person OF being War Loafer,"
the court may suspend sentence. il upon
the representation of two reputable
PENDANT with employment ut q reason
able remuneration. and upon the de-
PENDANTS representation that he VIII
report weekly to the court as to his
employment; which period OF employ
ment and reporting shall be equal to
the term of imprisonment rendered by
the court. And II said defendant shall
fail TO continue in said employment or
fall to make report to tho court, no
shall be taken in custody and the ort8t-
nal sentence enforced.
Evidence that the defendant appears
to be within the ago limits as fixed In
this ordinance. that he Is seen frequent
community not engaged In any form
of employment, and seems not to be
continuously engaged in any occupa-
ton, trade or profession and that he Ia
seemingly healthy and ut for labor.
shall be deemed prima facle evidence
that the defendant Is war loafer with
in the meaning OF this ordinance.