The herald., 1895-11-13
INVESTIGATING CITY ABUSB
A Grand Jury Committee Ajout
Police Stations
ARE IN FEARFUL COMPTON
Men Are Crowded Togetfr Like
The Building Committee Is TnIng TO secure
Additional Quarters-Cotci VIII
Today Consider thetattsr

An adjourned meeting1 the council Is
to be held sat o'clock ttS afternoon for
the purpose OF adoptip tho reecommen-
dations of the building committee rela-
tive to the rental of Aodltlonal quarters
for the housing of psoners in the city
jail.
The building conalttee confered with
Chief Glass upon n subject on Monday
NIGHT and anothl conference was held
vestsrdav aftrerp1n. 1t was unanimous
Iv agreed that II existing state of affairs
is a shame and disgrace and one which
wnnld NOT he terated In any community
whare CHRISTI civilization exists. The
nrasent iail NJ accom- modate in a pinch
aohut tive persons. It's actual ca
nacitv IL Ally about fifty prisoners.
There hayeeen housed within its walls
during tn ast week as many as $50 per-
sons ndbfOre the winter is over Chief
Glass stat that he will frequently have
as manv1s 200 persons on his bands for
safe keeng.
vis,tedbe prison yesterday morning and
"a a realt the report of that body upon
| the ybssnt condition of affairs at the
misc will, it is said, sbe more than or.
dinay torrid reading. The city coun-
oil led in the matter just in time for its
owbfficial we'll being.
1e chaingang cell in the prison is Tx
ay feet and within this space arel t
mpelled to sleep at night while stand
lIg upon their feet. The drunk cell is
OKLA feet and it last right housed TWEEN
ty one persons.
The building committee will recon
mend that additional quarters be at once
secured.
Tenders in the matter will not be ad-
vertissd for, as prompt action is noces-
sary and tine room will only DO needed
until the middle of next March, when the
new central police station will have been
completed.
Councilman Kingery, who intro
duced the resolution which last Monday
called public atten tion to the existing con-
dition of affairs. became interested in the
matter because of Chief Glass. Kiagery's
m otion was that the subject be turned
over to the board of police commission.
ers for solution, hut to this the majority
claiming that the resolution was
too sweeping and would pivs to the po-
lice board too much power, hence the
that the building committee
act in the premises.
The grand jury is also said to be inves.
tigating the chain gang and will report,
SO it is stated, disappearing of the pres.
emit system of turning prisoners over tc a
captain who is appointed by the council
and who is practically responsible to nc
one for his official actions. The men
under the present system, are sullen anc
rebellIous and do little or no work. They
are Oregon booted and shackle1 at Thu
slightest provocation. and not infre
quentlv when there is no provocation a
all, and this, too, in the face of mu
nicipal resolution some years ago intro
duced By Councilman Theodore Summer
land. which was intended to end th,
Stacking, which resolution has nevel
been repealed.
The building committee of the counc,
was yesterday unable to find suitabl.
quarters for temporary prison purposes
and the thief last night INSTRUCTED hi.
officers to try and find what is wanted
upon their several beats.
The chief has posted instructions t.
his men to collect all new evidence posi-
BILE relative to the location of maquer
eaux, their several abodes, etc., for tn.
purpose OF embodyine the statistics il
his forthcoming annual report to the
city council.