PUTTING IDLERS TO WORK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 261, 23 July 1918, Page 8

PUTTING IDLERS TO WORK

AML'IUCA'S Mi\V LAW. On the ia*c day fur approving Dills pus-icd ,u tins j-wif's legislative juitisiun v»ii.»j Uiu -\eiv mrK "Journal L'i uiwnieice''; Governor Whiimaii tfigncu we measure requiring all aoie-bouieu men Irom 1& to jj years ut nms to uu "naomially and rejuinriy ciigayecl m soiue lawlUl,„Uselll], HUU Il'l'OglllftfU business, piulession, occupation, trade, or employment until lue rerminuuou 01 tku war." Tins is uitciiclcu nut niereiy tu get the available lalwui power ol tile Miuo into noma kind ol uaeiui service, which id emineutly desirable, but to put au end to idling away lime in tin; streets, saluons, hotels, poolrooms, and ociier places of resort, mostly »orse than useless. The polico are already working up a list of me offenders to ba taken m hand by the law and set to work. The law win not give them employment, but it may impose a tine of JOO dollars on any of them, or send them to .prison for tliree montns, or inflict both penalties, if they do not get it for themselves. It does not make any dilference. how much income the idlw or slacker may have for his own support and that of those who are dependent upon him, without dointf anytuing. lie must go to ivork at something, and paying a single line will presumably not set him free to go back to indoience. Laws of this character have been adopted in some other States, including Xew Jersey nml Maryland, and the object, bl the new statute may be in part to prevent NewYork from becoming a safety resort for more loafers than it would otherwise be afflicted with.

The police of the city and sheriffs of the boroughs are getting busy making up lists, of the vagrants and slackers suoject to the new law. We suspect that a good deal of discrimination will have to be exercised, and not much direct compulsion applied, away from "resorts'' more or less objectionable in themselves; but examples may be made and a wholesome influence Melted. The chief effect may be moral.