The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-19
MORE ROOM FOR PRISONERS.
COUNCIL TO PROVIDE FOR POLICE
BARRACKS IMPROVEMENTS.

An Inspection of the Guard House to
= Be Made by the Public buildings
Committee and a Recommendation
for Necessary Additions to BE
Made-Maj. KarOVv wanted "a New
Prison. But the Council VIII Not
Consider So Large an Expendi-
ture.
The crowded condition of the police
guard house has been brought 10 the at
tention of council and it has decided to
make a sufficient allowance in next years
budget for such improvements at the po-
lice barracks as are found necessary on in
spection.
The police commission wanted a new
guard house out and out. but the council
decided at a recent meeting of the COM
mittee of the whole to allow only such
sum as is found absolutely necessary for
the proper care of prisoners.
The complaint, which has been made
by the commission. is that the present
guard house has been standing over thir-
ty years, and is SO insecure by reason of
the decomposition of the brick and morton,
as not to be a safe place for the keeping of
important criminals. A further complaint
is that it only contains seven small cells
which are altogether inadequate to the
needs of the police. This is due 10 the late
increase of arrests on petty charges, es-
pecially Saturday nights. While it is not
regularly the case, it is not an infrequent
occurrence for the quarters to be filled
Holt,
This condition of things at the bar
racks had reached such a point" said
Maj. Edward Karow chairman of the DO
lice commission, that 1t demanded the at
tention of council from a humane stand
point, if not from that of the safe and
proper keeping of the prisoners. Just
what kind of plans the commission would
adopt in the way of a new guard house
or improvements on the present quarters,
am unable to say. However, 1 am salts
fled such a condition commends itself to
the immediate consideration of the coun-
Gil, which l feel sure will act freely and
with due liberaity toward the care of I'M
fortunates. Without doubt, l think there
will be no opposition to giving a liberal
appropriation for this purpose when the
barracks are examined. The commission
will take pride at any time in showing a
committee of council around, with a view
to giving them an accurate idea of the
department necessities in this regard"
Alderman Smith, chairman of the pub
lie building committee, which will have
charge of whatever work is done at the
barracks, said yesterday that 1t is a GER
tainty that an appropriation will be al
lowed for the Improvement of the guard
house. While the council had some knowl
lions which prevailed, yet an examination,
will be made by a committee of council
and recommendation will be made for
what is absolutely necessary TO get along
with and nothing else. The tax burden
is heavy enough now, he said, and TO
build an entirely new guard house is not
to be thought of. The council discussed
the matter al a recent meeting and decid-
ed to look into the condition and allow
Whatever amount is required to nut the
place in proper shape for the department
Il am mechanic and can tell if the
walls of the present guard house are
crumbling away and the building is inse-
cure" said Alderman Smith. TN event
the committee finds such to be the facts
it is altogether probable that a sufficient
amount Will be allowed to make more ex-
tenslVe improvements. However, If found
in pasasble condition. it is the sense of
council to cut down the amount"
Chief McDermott has entertained homes
of the department getting an appropriation
sufficient to erect new guard house alto
gether. His idea of having the new house
face Habersham street and moving the
sergeant's office, detective force, and DO
lice court room to the new structure, was
shared, it is said by members of the COM
mission. This, however will not be under
taken now, but it is settled that the bar
racks is to have an appropriation suffi-
cient to make the crowded cells a thing
of the past, at least, for quite time to
come.