The morning call., 1893-02-14

Jail on Broadway? Why, the city might as
well blow 1t up. 1t IS a rotten, crumbllng
old affair, not fit TO keep dog in. The
wonder to me Is that the men now locked
up there consent to stay when they can dig
out with spoons.
"As to the old House of Correction" con-
tinued the Mayor. 81 will repeat with
emphasis that the city should not be COM
PEELED by its Judges on the bench TO sup
port and shelter professional criminals,
such as all second-term men are, yet the
Judges are constantly sending 10 the house
for short terms men with prior convictions
against them. Under the present practice
many boys are confined either with or near
depraved old criminals All that will aud
must be changed.
cit is proposed to take part Of the prison
at the new City Hall for the use of the
Sheriff, and when persons are waiting for
trial they will be kept there. At the main
County Jail there will be none but those
under sentence. In this way expense.
waste of time and danger OF escapes will be
avoided.
perhaps the old City Hall may be pulled
down and we may build on that property a
central police barracks, receiving hospital
and morgue. This has been discussed by
the Supervisors, but not formally consid-
ered.'
Supervisor Denman. who is already max
ing record as an economist, said he was
much in favor of the proposed changes. 81
don't believe in halfway institutions.
who have gore to the House Of Correction
should have been sent TO the industrial or
training schools, where they could learn
something useful. Again. the old offenders
there-men who have received two or three
terms-ought to be in the State prison. We
propose TO make the building frst-class
County Jail in every respect AT present
we require the old Broadway Jail for tenn
pOrary purpOses-tO hold those who are to
be tried in q few days.
MY idea is TO tear down the old City
hall and put up decent city Jail and police
barracks there. The city can't do this now.
The $4,000 deficiency prevents that
Next year / will do my best to Try and have
this work done. Those now confined Ia the
House Of Correction must serve out their
time there. but | understand that most
of the sentences of the inmates expire
on or before next January. Yes, the Board
Of Supervisors Will be relieved of the care
Of the old house and the Sheriff will take
control when the act becomes a law"
Chief of Police Crowley also severely
criticized the action of the Judges In con-
vertiug the House of Correction into a
penitentiary. There is only one felony.
assault with a deadly weapon and libel"
by Imprisonment in county jails, yet
Judges send those convicted Of more serious
crimes to such institutions. Again. there is
an advantage in turning the House Of Cor
rectiOn into a County Jail. which should
not be located in the heart of the city. The
old City Hall conld be turned into splendid
headquarters for the Police and Fire depart
meDts, and perhaps a renewing hospital
and more. The Police Department requires
better facilities, such as barracks and more
patrol wagons. AS TO the expense of con-
Quoting the new County Jail, it will be
much less. The Sheriff has already plenty
of deputies to conduct the place properly
and the services of the old crowd of officials
at the House of Correction can readily be
dispensed with"