Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-08


TIE MANNER or APPOINTMENT or WARDEN
EEFKRENcU To TIE REFORM SCHOOL AND
OTHER SUBJECTS OF EsPEcIAL LOCAL H.
TnNEsr.
1h' report OF the Attorney General made 10
Congress tods, deals with a large number Of
points In connection With the work Of the De-
Fsrtment OF Justice. The report says that the
business OF the department ID continually and
largely increasing. This increase. perhaps is
mo-t noticeable In the business before the Court
OF Claims The reference 20 that court for in
ve-tigstton and findings. Of claims for the TAX
ing and injury TO property Of persons assuming
TO have been loyal during the war. such claims
being already between 5000 and 10. 600 in num-
Der and In amount aggregating nearly $500
oooOoo' and still more recently the duty i'm
posed upon that court Of trying claims for
indian depredstions, such claims already filed
being over 5000 in number and aggregating
over sSs,ooo. 600. are very suggestive Of the
growing work Of the department.
During the year case claiming over s33-
900. against the District of Columbia. was de-
cided In favor Of claimants for 81 sss SIS There
are now pending twenty-five cases against the
District Of Columbia.
FRENCH sPoLIArIoS CLAIMS.
Since the date of my last report there have
been made IN French spoliation cases decisions
in favor Of the claimants aggregating $3.50
and the total amount allowed up to this date
IN 1l6 cases, is s3.24l. 223. The total number
81 petitions which have been filed ia 1909.
claiming an aggregate OF about $40 900 900 and
the cases yet undisposed of are in number
s,eos. and claim something like ss7 900, 900.
REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS
Further on in his report Attorney General
Miller says:
The bill making appropriations for the ex-
penses OF the government o; The District of
columbia Tor the year ending June 80. 1873,
contains the following:
For the erection and completion. according
To plans and specifications to be prepared by
the Inspector of buildings and approved by the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia, Of
suitable building OF buildings. to be used as
reform school for girls SIS. 600. to be expended
under the direction of said Commissioners.
said building shall be erected on land belong
ing to the United States, to be selected by the
Attorney General. the Secretary of War and the
Enginee< Commissioner of the District OF Co
lumbis: Provided. That IT, in their Judgment. a
suitable site cannot be obtained ON lands now
owned by the United States. not exceeding
5000 Of the sum herein appropriated may he
ured for the purchase of not exceeding twenty
acres OF ground, 20 be selected by them. on
which to erect said reform school for girls:
Provided. further. That said building shall not
he erected on Lard belonging TO the reform
school Of the District Of Columbia.
In pursuance of this legislation the Secretary
OF War, the Engineer Commissioner of the
District of Columbia and the Attorney General
have selected "a the site for such reform school
the tract Of land owned BY the government
comprising about twenty acres. at the junction
Of the Conduit and Loughborough roads; said
site 10 about three and one-half or four miles
vest Of the city. is high easy of drainage. with
fine. broad view across the Potomac. and is
believed In all respects To be admirably adapted
for the purpose contemplated.
There 10 fled with this report a statement OF
the trustees Of such school showing that the
plans for the erection o. the buildings now
being prepared. and that it is hoped that such
buildings NAV be ready for occupation in the
early spring Of uext wear.
BOYS REFORM SCHOOL
The report Of the board of trustees Of the re-
form school (for boys shows urgent need for
additional accommodations. That sixteen boys
in the work house. twenty-three in the Jail
and over 100 discharged the past year with
nominal fines on account Of there being 10
room IN the reform school emphasizes this a
pressing demand.
IL must be borne in mind that .his institution
h the only one Of its kind under the control OF
the government and to il juvenile offenders are
seut from remote districts Owing to its
crowded condition have been compelled Of
late 90 make arrangements with state reform
schools. NJ greater expense. for juvenile Of
Tenders.
IL IL important that the boys be employed in
some useful occupation and Congress should
make an appropriation that would enable the
board Of trustees TO furnish simple machinery
and teach them some useful trade.
The male juvenile cOuvicts of tho United
States are mainly confined IN the reform school
for boys in the District Of Columbia and the
house Of reformation at Cheltenham. Md.
THE DISTRICT JAIL
In nv last report | urged the importance of
. change in the management OF this jail. The
appointment and discharge of the warden.
guards. DC. are under the control of the Su-
preme Court Of the District Of Columbia. while
the expenses including the fixing of salaries,
paving Of officials and employees and the fur
ni-hing Of supplies, rest with the Attorney
General | repeat that the entire respon-
pibility for this institution ought to be either in
the court In the Attorney General. the au-
thoritv responsible for tie expenses ought to
have control of appointments and removals,
and vice versa. the authority hsving charge Of
appointments and removals ought 10 be
sponsible for expenses The necessity for such
change il emphasized BY the present condition
Of things at the Jail. The discipline is bad good
supplies in abundance are not infrequently
turned into bad food. and generally the manage
ment l. not creditable either to the Supreme
Court Of the District Of Columbia or to the De-
psrtment of Justice.
LETTER FROM THE JUDGES.
In tins connection quote letter written TO
tho Attorney General by the judges of the
Supreme Court Of the District of Columbia
vhfch speaks for itself:
WssHIS6rOS. ID. C.. April L. 1892
To the Attorney General: Your communica-
ton % March Is to the chief justice Of the
Supreme Court Of the District ~ Columbia has
been brought to our attention, together with
copies % two bills relating 20 the management
Of the nited States Jail III this District. 1he
judges Of this court have Tor several wears been
OF the opinion that part in the management
81 the pail shogld BE- assigned 20 the court
With -ix judges assigned 90 dItv in the differ
snt branches OF the court. with ovcrcrowded
calendars. u Is exceedingly difficult 20 yet "A
meeting Of all for the consideration OF the
many questions that arI-e IN reference 20 such
management. The court. from the very fact
that u is constituted 60 act iuiicislly. Il not
H. n condition To- act efficiently In executive
matters q thu character. The judges cannot
settle questions To- discipline. conduct OF off,
GER guards and employees satisfactorily with
out either personal vi-itstIcns and inspection
or causing evidence 10 be duly taken. They
do not have time for the former nor have thev
power under the Law to take testimony Much
doubt and annoyance often occurs By reason OF
the divided jurisdiction between this court and