Evening star., 1900-05-02
THE PENAL INSTITUTIONS
NEW SITE ADVOCATED BY EAST
WASHINGTON CITIZENS.
Resolutions Adopted by Association
Last Night-Street Railway Fa-
cilitfes Discussed.

1neTe was a WGll-dtleHueu meeting OF lHe
East Washington Citizens Association last
night and several matters of Importance to
the eastern section of the city were dis
cussed. AT the conclusion of Its session last
night the association adjourned until the
first Tuesday in September. This is in ac-
cOrdance with the established rule of the
organization not to hold meetings during
the summer. Should any matters of i'm
portance arise during the recess they will
be attended to by the executive committee.
The meeting was given up for the most
part last night to the consideration of ways
and means FOR removing the Jail and work
house from that section, and the speeches
which were made during the consideration
of this subject demonstrated how earnest
the residents were in the matter.
The first subject of interest to be reached
under the call of committees was contained
in the verbal report of Mr.. NJ l. Weller
from the committee on street railroads.
Chairman Weller described how materially
the railroad facilities In East Washington
had improved during the past few years.
and spoke of the failure of the Anacostia
and Potomac River railroad to operate its
cars in accordance with the charter. He
explained how this matter was brought to
the attention of President Truesdell of the
road and of the assurances he had received
from that official that the Improvement of
the road would shortly be taken up in ac-
Washington Traction Company.
The Penal Institutions.
discussion Of the Objectionable penal
institutions located in East Washington
was brought up through resolutions offer
ed by ex-President Babson. In his remarks
supporting the resolutions he spoke of the
poor of the city domcied in the almshouse,
and said there was no good reason why
these unfortunates should be housed away
out on the river banks, together with the
criminals and sums of the city. 1t was his
belief the removal of the almshouse should
take precedence over the others.
Other speeches were made during the
evening by several of the members. all con-
tending earnestly for the removal of these
Institutions During one of the speechcs II
was pointed out that large appropriations
were available for the Improvement OF
these institutions, and it was urged that
the expenditures shall be made for tenn
porary structures, and not in maintain
irg the permanency of the buildings hS
the erection of new ones. After the SUP
ject had been thoroughly discussed the res
oIutions offered by Mr.. Babson were unani-
mously adopted. They were to the effect
that there is now unexpended OF District
of Columbia funds the sum of $n.hn APP
pliCable to the erection of an iron and brick
addition to the structure of the Washing
ton Asylum. making. with the Soo~t1 addi-
tiCnal given in the District OF Colutnbia
appropriation bill now pending, the sum ol
sl00. Gao now applicable for this purpose
The present site is not only unflt Tor
further occupancy by reason of its present
proximity to the smallpox hospital and to
the potter's field. in which many as
7l5 bodies were buried in the last fiscal
year-these burials being within a very linz
tied area and so many as five bodies IN one
grave.
site for the workhouse, the jail and aims
house uses is needless injury to all the
property interests Of the eastern section of
the city.
our association hereby respectfully but
earnestly appeals to the committee of Con-
GreSs on the District of Columbia and to
the Commissioners Of the District of Column
bia that pending the necessary removal to
more eligible sites of all these Institutions.
no additional permanent structures of brick
be erected for them as proposed. but that
instead only buildings of frame. ample for
present needs, but temporary il their char
acter, be erected"
The chairman was authorized to appoint
apprOpriate committees to whom shall be
intrusted the task in behalf of this associa-
ton of pressing this matter including the
removal of all the institutions. upon the at
ttntion of Congress and of the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia.
Committee Named.
In accordance with the resolution President
Smith named the following committee to
look after the matter: Thomas G. Smith. NJ.
l. Weller ]. w. Bahson, n. G. Ordway, A.
C Whitney, ]. Finney Engle and b. b.
Earnshaw. This committee will meet the
committee on charities and corrections of
the board OF trade this afternoon for the
purpose of receiving its Endorsement Of the
plan, and later will appear before the Com
missioners
Before the meeting adjourned the ntten-
ton of the association was called to the
fact that the rotunda of the Capitol was
not opened until 9 o'clock am. 1t used TO
be the rule to throw open the doors much
earlier and pedestrians took advantage of
TIE short cut through the Capitol to so
west. 1t also stated that the building
closed earlier these days. and caused the
residents of East Washington much incon-
vcnience The executive committee viii en-
deavor 10 have the matter remedicd.
The offer of the Columbia Historical So
ciety to preserve the records Of the asso-
cialion was referred to the executive COM
mittee.
Votes of thanks were offered during the
evening to Senator Chandler President
Smith. Secretary Spcrry and Treasurer
Clark for their earnest endeavors in behalf
OF the association during the past.