Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-30
A BLOT UPON THE CAPITAL.
Washington's Foul Police Court Build
ing.

Gen. Boynton In Cincinnati Commerce isl Gazette
The Police Court of the nations capital Ia a
building from which ths outside stucoo plaster
is falling in patches. II has q loathsome low
browod 'front.' It stands on one of the busiest
and most frequented streets Of the capital, a
menace to the health of the inhabitants and Of
the residences and business places near it. 1t
has been condemned by the board Of health as
q nuisance, and az such has been reported by
the grand jury more than year ago. and yet
the crying nuisance stands un-
abated. Such is the building Of
the Police Court Of Washington, in a
thickly populated section Of the city. Under
the court room are coal cellars, public closets
and also what are termed the cells or dun
geons. From the closets there 10 an all per-
vading smell of filth. The whole building Is
perme ated with it. There are two dungeons
about IA feet long, 8 feet wide, 8 fost high-one
for male, the other for female prisoners. Each
faucet empties. From this faucet the inmates
are compelled to get water when they wish to
drink. When these cells are ovsr-crowded
the overflow prisoners are permitted to go into
the coal cellar. Thus the coal pile becomes
saturated with filth. The building is heated
from furnaces. and:what with the stencil from
the closets, the cells and the coal heaps tho Po-
lice Court OF Washington 10 an active agent for
generating loathsome diseases in that vicinity.
1t IL not unusual for more than fifty persons
to be crowded together In these cells
composed Of assaulters, thieves. Migrants,
drunkards, prostitutes, as well as decent men,
boys, women and girls, who through stress of
circumstances are unfortunate. These cells
reek not alone with crime, but with filth. and
there these people are held until tried in the
room above. This 10 not we'll ventilated. 1t
IL dirty. Its walls are filthy, and the whole
place saturated with unwhoiesomeness As
the prisoners are tried they are sent back to
the celia to await the trips OF the van to the
work house. some time later in the day
The sewerage and plumbing OF the building
10 broken. decayed and out of order The
judge, clerks and other officers Of the court
have to submit to performing their duties at
great and constant risk Of health, because
under the law the city itself cannot mako any
change or put up any new building unless au-
thorized by Congress. Notwithstanding the
revenues from that court for the past fiscal
year were more than $50 900 above it's expenses,
Congress has not applied one-third OF those
revenues to the ameiiorstion Of the conditions
stated, nor Q dollar toward protecting those
who through misfortnnes are brought to the
court. Time and again during the past year
and former years has the attention Of Congress
and its committees been called to these evils,
but they do not appear to make the suppression
which their gravity deserves.
These evils are 90 patent, these poor un-
fortunstes who suner 30 much and who in
| misery cry aloud for only common decency in
detention - prisoners are 30 neglected a. to be
public disgrace and shame.
Nothing can be done in these matters on the
eve Of adjournment, but the crowding Of the
Police Court and its cells and cellars today
called emphatic attention to the grave nsces-
stiles Of the situation The matter properly
constitutes blot upon this fair city which Con-
gress governs snd In which the nation prop
srly takes great pride With the winter session,
now only few weeks Of, there should come
sure and ample relief. H.y.B.