The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-02
CONSIDER 1T INADEQUATE.
Police Court Room In New Building
Claimed to lie Too Small.

Claimed to lie Too Small.
From present indications. one Of the
principal purposes for which the new 20
lice Court building is being erected by. the
city will not be accomplished In the strue-
ture now being built. It is. ,complaiHed
that the room to be set aside for the
court is totally inadequate, and cannot
possibly be used for court purposes.
There is some notion of throwing the
entire upper floor of the new building into
a court room in order to make sufficient
provision. but 1t is stated this cannot be
done at this late day. as the first story is
already about completed. and to change
the plans would necessitate changing the
contract, which could not be done without
extra cost. In the appropriation made by
the city there is barely sufficient funds
to get through with. and an additional
expense is considered out of the question
by the committee on city lots, which is
directly in charge of the work.
Recorder Hartrdge, who is probably In
the best position to judge what is neces-
sary for the court room, mas. visited the
new building and states that the room to
be set aside there is altogether out of the
question, and he will request the Police
Commission to allow him TO continue hold
ing court in the room he is now using for
that purpose. The Recorder did not speak
In a criticisng way, but said he could rot
see how court was to be held in such a
small space in view of the fact that cn
Monday morning most, If not all, the space
will be taken up by policemen attending
trials. Then there are the witnesses end
relatives of the accused, who have a right
to be present, but who under the proposed
arrangement, would have TO stand In the
street. on hot days, which are not far
apart in Savannah during the months OF
June, July and August, a small space
packed with people is not very desirable
when one has to remain there several
hours.
THE only solution l see for the mat
ter" said the Recorder lis 10 throw the
entire top floor into a court room, and
then there will not be surplus space, This
would necessitate carrying prisoners up
the stairway and would therefore he in
convenient, but the arrangement would
at least suffice whereas the present one
will not. OF course, l hold court where
the proper authority directs and will move
TO the new building If directed TO do so.
Still, | shall request to remain In preseht
quarters unless alterations are made IN
the new building"
, Alderman owens of the committee on
city lots, and who has acted as chair
man in looking after matters connected
with the new building, was seen by a rep
resentative of the Morning News and SAID
the Police Commission had been consulted
in regard to the size Of the new court
room and the present size had been adopt
ed by mutual agreement. He said he
went to the old court room in company
with Mr. H. w. Witcover, the architect.
Commissioners, Karow and Vetsburg and
Assistant Chief of Police Reilly where
measurements were taken and a size
agreed on for the new court room. All
agreed that the room now being construct
ed was entirely sufficient. While the COM
mittee on city lots is in control of the
work and directing It, the Police Commits
sion was consulted and advised with on
all matters. This was done because the
committee wished to move in harmony
with the commissioners and to have their
IDEAS as to the best plans of construc-
ton. Several meetings were held by the
committee, TO which the commission was
invited, and which It attended. Alderman
Owens said ii was true some suggestions
we're made by the commission which the
committee did not adopt, but none Of them
concerned the size of the court room.
GAS the matter now stands | see no
remedy" said the alderman. "The con-
tract has been let and the first story
has been erected. The plans could be
changed of course, so as to convert the
upper floor into a court room, but that
would call for an additional expense.
which the city Is unable to bear at this
time. We originally intended simply en-
larging the cell room and make addl-
tional provision for the accommodation of
prisoners, but the Police Commission said
more room was needed for dormitory pur-
poses in the main building and a sufficient
appropriation was added by Council to
that already made for enlargement for
the old guard house to put up the new
building"
In the event IL should be decided to
throw the upper floor into court room
IL is not thought much expense would be
entaiIed. as that portion of the building
is simply to be partitioned off for dodgers
and detectives quarters Whether this
will be done, the new room used, or the
Recorder remain where he is. will prob
ably be questions which will be deter
mined by the action of the committee on
city lots and the Police Commission.