Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-15
PROTECTING THE YOUNG
Appeal to Congress, Through Senator
Mcmillan, for Betterment of Conditions
Attention Called to the Associations
Forced Upon Boys and Girls
Arrested for Crime.

Mrs. E. B. Russell several days ago IN
Fited the attention of Senator Mcmillan,
Chairman of the Senate District committee
to the conditions surrounding youthful
prisoners in the District The senator re-
ferred the matter to the Commissioners,
who will. it is understood, assure him that
they would gladly favor anything that
could be done in connection with the bet
terment of the conditions mentioned.
In her letter to Senator Mcmillan Mrs
Russell explains that for ten or more years
she occupied the position of matron at the
District jail. and there saw girls as young
as eight years Of age brought in on SEN
fences of fifteen or thirty days for stealing
IN one case the articles stolen being flowers
from yard. From their arrest to their
discharge, she stated, these children were
not separated from their old and hardened
Fellow prisoners, being sent to- and from
court in the van with both men and wo-
men, and so crowded in some instances that
the women We're compelled to sit upon the
laps OF the men. On these journeys said
Mrs Russel, the children and young girls
were compelled to listen to the most pro-
Zane and vile language, and even when at
| court separation was not possible.
II is the same, she continued, "in the
ceils IN the station houses, and still worse
at the Police Court where the young and
OLD OF both sexes are crowded in together
awaiting trial, and the cells are not sep
aratea: Inc drinking, smoking and chew
ing OF tobacco, the vile and profane language
make 1t that boy or girl would better be
peheaded than to pass through the station
houses, the Police Court. or the upper court,
Tor the same conditions obtain there. and
tnen to the workhouse or the Jail. There Is in
some OF the station houses some arrange
ments made to separate the young offenders
from the old. but they are in the same
~, ana fear the improvements will
De only temporary, because they were not
constructed for such emergencies as we
nave been forcing upon them, and yet that
Is not good word, for they dhe police au-
do the best they could under the existing
circumstances"
The Commissioners' View.
Replying to Senator Mcmillan, 1t Is under
stood the Commissioners will assure him
that the conditions referred to by Mr.. Rus
sell are regarded by them as of very Sc
rious Importance and as matter which they
would be glad to see remedied. The only
control the Commissioners have over the
matter, they will explain. is as to the treat
ment Of prisoners in the police station
houses. and there, so far possible, pro-
vision is made for the separation of young
prisoners from the old by placing them i'll
witness rooms and under the care of such
matrons as are provided for few of the
nc uses Inc accommodations and prOkl-
sions for such separation and treatment
generally Of youthful prisoners are, the
Commissioners will point out, utterly mad
eQuate.
1t is well known, the Commissioners will
further state, that the accommoda tons at
the Police Court, not only far as
young prisoners are concerned, but in al
most every respect are inadequate, and
perhaps, as not too much to add, repulsve
and disgusting. The Commissioners will
suggest that the result to be accomplished
by improved conditions, such suggested
by Mrs. Russell, is most desirable, and the
only hindrance, it appears to them, is in
the magnitude of the work.
Mrs. Russell has promised to have intro
duCed in Congress a measure providing for
the betterment of the conditions surround
ing youthful prisoners here, and it Is I'M
derstood that she has been assured of the
support of not only the Commissioners, but
that of all other municipal authorities con-
nected with such matters. In this connec-
ton ii is not improbable that the attention
of Senator Mcmillan will be invited by
those interested to the loading of the prison
presence of a thrOng Of idle people and
loungerS, who not infrequently teer at the
unfortunates they are crowded in the
vans. 1t has 1t is said, been observed more
than once that mere boys are brought out
before this throng chained to old and hard
ened criminals. and thrust, as Mrs. Russell
states, into the vans with the most de-
PRAYED and hardened of both sexes.