Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-26
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Commissioners Likely to Approve Bill Now
Before Congress
Provides That Men and Women Pris-
Oners Shall BE Separated-Trials
of Young People.

There is little, If any, doubt of a favor
able report by the District Commissioners
upon Senate bill 1864, to regulate the trans
portation of prisoners, to provide a separate
court for children, and for other purposes.
This bill, introduced several days ago by
Senator Mcmillan, chairman of the Senate
District committee. provides that from and
after its approval women and men con-
victed in the Police or Criminal Courts of
the District, and sentenced to imprisonment
in the workhouse or jail, or held fer trial,
examination as witnesses in either the
workhouse or Jail, shall be conveyed to and
from the courts and to and from po-
lice stations In separate conveyances,
in such manner that the sexes shall
be at all times kept separate and apart.
The bill further provides that the trials Of
children shall be held and determined by
the courts at suitable times, separate and
apart from the trial of other cases. The
Commissioners will, If the measure becomes
law. be authorized and directed to provide
suitable place of detention, convenient to
the courts, for the reception and detention
of ell children under sixteen years of age.
arrested by tie police. or held as witnesses,
or held pending investigation. examination,
or otherwise and all SUCH children held or
detained prior to. adjudication of cases in
winch they may be involved shall be held
at the place SO provided. For carrying out
the provisions of the bill, it is proposed to
appropriate the sum of 5000.
Conditions Prevailing Here.
The bill has been referred to the Com
missioners. and Commissioner Wight, who
has Immediate supervision of police mat
tiers. is conducting an investigation of the
conditions prevailing here. He is in favor
of the enactment Of some such law, but 1t
is understood that he will recommend to
his associates that the proposed law be
amended as to provide for house of
detention, wherein can be placed not only
children but also women, especially women
not of the habitual criminal or dissolute
class. Mr.. Wight hopes that his associates
will agree with him in this matter and that
they will be provided by Congress at this
session with sufficient funds with which to
carry this plan into execution. While he
believes that the judges and officials of the
courts and the two prisons have been and
are doing the very best they can in the case
of youthful and female prisoners as he is
confident 1t is also true Of the police de-
partment, yet he appreciates the fact that
the prevailing conditions are not only not
what they SHOULD not be, but that they are
unworthy OF the capital Of the nation.
Fund Insufficient.
Mr.. Wight believes that the bill intro
duced by Senator Mcmillan should be
amended SO as to provide that all prisoners,
men and boys, as we'll as women and girls.
should be classed as to age, sex, degree of
crimnality, and confined so as to prevent
their humiliation, degradation or ruin. He
doubts, however. whether the sum of $1,000
which the bill proposes to provide for car
rying into execution its provisions would
be sufficient, and it is understood that he
will recommend that at least $4,000 be pro-
vided