Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/659

 THE RELIEF AND CARE OF DEPENDENTS 645

The usual method of punishment provided for is to commit the convicted tramp to jail, where he is confined on a deter- minate sentence. With a few exceptions, every state west of the Mississippi having a statute upon the subject employs this method. In New Mexico the law provides that tramps shall be employed at hard labor from one to ninety days upon the streets or elsewhere, but they are, presumably, lodged at the county jail. 1 In Wyoming they may be employed upon public works or con- fined in jail. a In Missouri the " idle " and " dissolute " (vagrants) are to be hired out for six months to the highest bidder "with cash in hand." 3 This method of committing the tramp to jail prevails among the southern states, also. While still the usual provision among the northern states, it is frequently supplanted by other legislation. In Massachusetts tramps are committed either to the state workhouse or to the house of correction ; 4 in Rhode Island to the workhouse or to the house of correction; 5 in Connecticut to the state's prison ; 6 in Maryland to the house of correction; 7 in Illinois to the jail or to the house of correc- tion. 8 In New York the law providing for the commitment of tramps to jail or to the almshouse was amended in 1891 so that they may be sent to the nearest local penitentiary and there employed at hard labor at state expense, such expense not to exceed thirty cents per day.

In Louisiana and Vermont tramps and vagrants are to be com- mitted to the almshouse. 9 In some other states, as in Michigan and New Jersey, they may be committed to the almshouse. In the former state they are to be committed either to the alms-

When bound out, the money advanced for his labor, after deducting costs, goes either to his family, or to himself, upon his release (4761, 4763, 5 Lit., 166). This does not apply to cities and towns which are empowered to legislate upon such matters (4767).

1 Act of February 8, 1889. '8846.

3647- 4 39. ch. 207.

year.-.
 * 30,ch. 281. Sturdy beggars are sent to prison for from six months to three

1 546. It has been said that the adoption of this law in Connecticut for a time stopped vagrancy, but that, as time went on and no arrests were made (none have beta sent to prison), it became as prevalent as it had been before.

7 275- 270, ch. 38. 3877; 3968.