Evening star., 1941-09-29
Vugruncy
Continued From First Page)

effectively with the general crime
problem, defined as a vagrant any
able bodied person who lives in
idleneSS upon the wages, earnings
or property of any person having no
legal obligation to support him"
This definition" Mr. Roosevelt
said. lis SO broadly and loosely drawn
that in many cases it would make a
vagrant. of an adult daughter or son
of a Well-to-do family who was
guilty of no unlawful conduct.
The other clause found objection
able by the President would include
in the definition of vagrant amy
person leading an idle life - and
not giving good account of him
self" unless he was able to prove
lawful means of support.
PhraseOlogy Criticized.
Declaring this phraseology does
not conform with accepted stand
ards of legislative practice as a
definition Ct a criminal offense." the
President said Il em not willing
to agree that a person without law
ful means of support temporarily
or otherwise, should be subject to
risk of arrest and punishment under
provisions as indefinite and uncer-
tain in their meaning and applica-
ton as employed in this clause"
Before passing the new vagrancy
law the Senate had been informed
by Committee Chairman McCar-
ran that the principal defect of the
present law Is that it is necessary to
prove the person arrested has no
visible or lawful means of support
The courts have held that a per-
son. with funds, without regard to
the source from which derived, can
not be convicted, under existing
law. The vetoed bill had defined
vagrancy as having no lawful means
of support realized from a lawful
occupation or source. 1t also would
have made persons who loiter
around gaming establishments sub
ject TO the vagrancy law.
officials seeking a new vagrancy
law pointed out that the term not
having a visible means OF support
was appended to every section of the
old law. A prostitute or numbers
runner who produced a bank book
in court could get around the law.
Outgrowth of Inquiry.
Preparation of the new law was
direct 0utgrowth of testimony
given the House subcommittee in
vestigating the efficiency and prob
lens of the Police Department.
The text of the Presidents veto
message to the House follows.
y return herewith. without my
approval. bill H. r. 5448) to de-
fine and punish vagrancy in the
District of Columbia and for other
purposes
The purpose Of the legislation Is
highly commendable. 1t seeks to
strengthen the vagrancy laws pre-
vaillng in the National Capital
am informed that legislation on this
subject is necessary in order to en-
able the local authorities properly
to cope with crime in the District
of Columbia. The bill contains
many provisions that constitute an
improvement over existing law. Un-
fortunately, however, there are two
provisions in the bill that appear
Objectionable.
Section l of the bill contains
a number of clauses defining a
'vagrant.' Clause 6 of this section
would include within that category
any able bodied person who lives
in idleness upon the wages, earn
ings. or property of any person
having no legal obligation to sup
port him. This definition is sc
broadly and loosely drawn that in
many cases it would make vagrant
of an adult daughter or son of a
well-to-do family, who, though am
ply provided for and not guilty of
any improper or unlawful conduct
has no occupation and is dependent
upon parental support.
Under clause of said section