Year: 1878

The tramp question" has by no means,
as yet, received the attention which its
importance demands. We have not been
accustomed in this country to vagrant
class large enough and vicious enough to
awaken serious apprehension or to re-
quire special legislation and it has seem
ed incredible that in a land like ours a
multitude of able bodied men should de.
liberately choose life of lazy dependence
on charity, in preference to earning their
bread by honest work But such is the
fact. The tramp is verify abroad, and in
ever-increasing numbers is penetrating
into every nook and corner of the land,
begging, stealing and as opportunity
offers, perpetrating the most cruel and
revolving crimes. If all the offences
against person and property committed
by these thriftless wanderers could be
set in array against them, the indictment
would be formidable one, and would
certainly show the necessity of more Wig,
oTous measures for the protection Of so
ciety from so lawless and so useless a
class


But how shall we deal with our tramp?
If he is caught in the commission of a
crime the ordinary processes of law may
be used to secure his punishment. But
it is not only the actual commission OF
crime that needs to be dealt with in his
case The class Of which he is a mem
ber is a burden upon society-an unnec
essary, yet a rapidly-growing burden
Special legislation is then required to
meet his case. He must be dealt with
as tramp, and punished for that specific
offence.


Two difficulties are encountered in
dealing with the question from this point
of view One Of these is the American
theory of personal liberty. If man i:
foolish enough to go trudging about the
country, enduring weariness, cold and
hunger, simply because he is too lazy to
work, we are apt to say-"This is a free
country: let him tramp, if he likes it
| Who has a right to hinder him?' In
saying this we forget, first, that trampine
is thorough school Of vice, which may
and should be suppressed by law; and
second that the professional tramp is {
burden upon society, and may therefore
| be supported in the way least burden
some to the community.


The second difficulty grows out of the
heavy expense of providing for so many
mouths, if the tramps are to be estoppeC
from their appeal to private charity, anc
made a public charge. If this be done
not only must they be fed, but places fo
their saie-keeping must be provided, aut
considerable force of officials be EN-
ployed to guard them. This economic
consideration has deferred many com
munities from undertaking the task
even when the aggressions of the traml
have become well nigh uncomfortable. |


is a question, however, whether, even
he cannot be made to earn his bread, j
is not cheaper as well as safer to suppor
him in idleness than to allow him t.
wander at large.


An act was passed at the last session O
the Legislature of New Hampshire, whicl
goes to the root of the matter with jus
severity. 1t declares that amy persol
going about from place to place, begin
and asking or subsisting upon charity
shall be taken and deemed to be a tramp
and shall be punished by Imprisonment
at hard labor in the State Prison no
more than fifteen months" Other SCI
tions provide for the suitable punishment
of tramps found tresspassing, carryin
firearms, injuring persons or property
etc. One conviction has already take


place under this wholesome law.


, This, then, is the true way to deal wit


the tramp. Recognize his existence as
subject for special legislation. Stop hi
tramping. Set him at hard labor. Con
pei him to earn the bread he eats. Ne
f Hampshire has set good example i
dealing with tramps, and her law ma
| we'll be taken for model by other State