Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/636

 6l8 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

In these cases the rent, or portion thereof, is paid, not to the applicant, but to the landlord. Some are able to support them- selves except for the added expense for heating which the cold of winter necessitates. These receive regular assistance. Of course, only examples can be mentioned here. Those whose assistance consists of moneys receive a minimum of 75 pfennigs per week, and a maximum of 4.20 marks (ca. 20 cents to $i) in Dresden.

Tramps. Some cities, of which Dresden again may serve as an example, care only for their own citizens, requiring a certifi- cate of citizenship (Einwohnerscheiii), such as is held by everyone in the city who has a permanent place of abode. Besides these, however, there are beggars, loafers, occasional workers, men temporarily unable to find work, etc.; in short, the types ordi- narily known collectively as "tramps." They are not cared for by the charity bureaus, but are received in the municipal lodging- houses. Some come voluntarily, others are sent by the police. They receive bath, supper black bread and thick soup, usually lodging for the night, and breakfast the same as the supper. Their clothes are disinfected during the night. All persons pre- senting themselves, except those in a drunken condition, are taken in. The intention of the authorities to allow persons to avail themselves of the city's hospitality only a limited number of times is hard to realize, especially in the great cities. In Berlin, for example, the great numbers of tramps prevent the recognizing of each individual ; and the large number of institu- tions, public and private, to which he has access permit of a very easy life. Persons repeatedly committed for begging, or for being averse to labor, are sent, for terms up to two years, to the workhouse. In the largest cities lodging is offered to women as well as to men, and even to whole families. Sometimes families arrive in the city and have no abode ; others have to leave their homes because of inability to pay their rent, or for other reasons death, sickness, fire, loss of employment, excessively large family, etc. These are taken in, for the time being, by the lodging-house. Thus, it is to be seen, the municipal lodging- house serves a most excellent purpose and answers to a pressing