The morning times., 1896-01-28

Oh tNOse awaiting lrittl anu lOI cthtI pun
poses, has just been returned TO the Dis
trct Commissioners by Col. John Tracey,
superintendent OF charities, accompanied
by lengthy report.
Col. Tracey is not favorably impressed
with the projected outlay for the purpose
embodied in the bin. aud says there does
not appear to be necessity for the ex-
tensivc and costly change.
He says:
This bin calls for a very large ex-
penditurc for the establishment and subse-
uucntly for the maintenance OF an institu-
ton to be supported cut OF revenues set
apart for the district, but to be expended
without District control and management.
Although the establishment is to be used
exclusively for inmates from the District,
the rules and regulations are TO he formu-
lated and enforced solely by United States
department authority, ard two heads of
Federal departments, the Secretary of the
Interior aud the Attorney General, are to
select and purchase the sites and supervise
the construction of the Institution.
The establishment is To be used for
females convicted of any crime or mis-
demeanor by District courts, of all grades
of Offenders.
HOUSE OF DETENTION, ALSO.
1t is also 10 be utilized as house Of
detention for women and girls charged with
crimes and misdemeanors in the District
1t is To he employed as a reformatory as well
as a prison, and would either oversbadow
or entirely supplant the established re-
fornlatories ana houses OF correction for
females, which bee nins titutedata large
expense, and, as a rule, are strictly super
viscd and economically managed
The female wurhnouse OF the District
for the detention awaiting trial and the
confinement after conviction Of prisoners
arraigncd before the minor courts, has,
according to recent returns to the District
authorities, an average OF sixty inmates,
who are maintained at Il per capita cost OF
only Il little more than SlCO per year.
This branch OF the Washington Asylum,
which has not recently been crowded, or
indeed occupied to more than half its
capacity, has separate wards for white and
coiored inmates, and has the advantage OF
the complete medical and surgical service
of the hospital of the Washington Asylum.
The reform school for girls OF the Dis
trict has an average of thirty-five colored
inmates, its present capacity, maintained
An application is pending before Congress
for an enlargement of this establishment
to a capacity of 125 inmates. ut Il cost of
$4,000 for construction. This increase
has been approved by the District au-
thorities, chiefly because, there being need
for such extension. the cost of maintenance
of each inmate would thereby Toe reduced
by nearly onc-half. as the present staff, with
the addition of a few minor employees. would
suffice for the management of :; large re-
forinatory.
ON GROUNDS OF ECONOMY.
II is respectfully submitted that an in
crease of the facilities of such an existing
institution would be preferable, on grounds
of economy and efficient administration,
through machinery already established by
law for such end, to the Inauguration of a
new refortnatory.
Rcformatory and correctional work for
girls is $50 conducted. according TO law. by
the board of children's guardians. which
receives by court commitment only. females,
as well rs males, colored, as well as white,
under the age of sixteen years; retains
control of them as wards during minority,
and places them in refornat orieS, asyIums
or private houses anywhere. pa wing for their
maintenance when not indentIred. and for
continued supervision during indenture.
Dependents Of the rcformatory class are
also cared for by the Association for Works
OF Mercy ana theiIousc oftheGoOd Shepherd.
The Association for Works of Mercy, with
an average Of twenty-five inmates. has
broad powers Of custody and control under
act OF October II, 1883, a section of which
provides as follows for court commitment
OF female offenders:
That when any girl under the age OF
eighteen years shall be duly convicted OF any
offense punishable by fine or Imprisonment
for n term less than two years before any
court in the District OF Columbia, if it shall
appear TO the satisfaction Of the court that
such girl is n suitable subject for the Gus
tody OF said association, the court may,
instead of imposing such fine or inpris-
onmcnt and with the assent of said asso-
citation, cause such girl TO be committed
to the custody and control of said associa-
ton, there to remain until she shall attain
the age of eighteen years or be otherwise
discharged in due course Of law"
The House OF the Good Shepherd, with
an average OF nncty-oue inmates. comes
under the act OF February 13, 1885, pro-
viding for court commitment, with con-
sent of the institution concerned, OF yagrant,
destitute or abandoned children. or the
inmates of the Ia st-named inst tuition
about fifty are actual moral or legal de-
linqucnts. the remainder being wayward
girls in the preservation class" separately
cared for.
ENLARGE PRESENT REFORMATORY.
The enlargement of the Reform School
.ir,s nf hist IF al nv
Congress, will increase the accommodation
to a capacity OF more than 800.
The law of August 6. 1880, establishing
the office of superintendent of charities
for the District OF Columbia. was enacted
for the purpose of systema;izing and unity
ing charitable and correctional MANAGE
ncnt and thereby insuring more direct and
rigidaccountabilityf fora ndniorc economical
ical expenditure of District funds. Hence,
it is in Tie line of duty of this office to
respectfully protest against measure
tending 10 scatter responsibility for local
and rctari or reverse unifica-
ton and simplification of administration
of charitable and correctional affairs of
the District, in which much progress has al
ready been made.
1t seems that the bill proposed would
existing methods as to fe-
males detained in connection with charges
for non-felonious offenses or nisdcmcanors
and ali convicted under tie recent codi-
fication of local offenses embodied in the
act of July 20, 1892, for the preservation
of the public peace and the protection of
public property in the District.
INSTITUTIONS ALREADY HERE.
The Institutions already established have
cost for construction and improvement