The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-07
TIE FEEDING OF PRISONERS.
Major Sylvester Seeks Information
as to Their maintenance

to Their maintenance
At the request Of Major Sylvester, Su-
perintendent Of Police. the Commissioners
OF the District. have asked the Auditor to
pass upon the question whether the ap-
preparation for the maintenance Of the
House OF Detention can be used in feed
ing prisoners after they have been tried
in the Police Court and returned TO that
institution by order Of the court Major
SyIvester's communication to the Com
missioners upon the subject reads as fol
lows
Under an act Of Congress, approved
June 6. 1890. the sum of 5000 was appro-
priated for the maintenance Of what IS
known as the House Of Detention The
purposes Of this institution as described
by the act. are as follows:
To enable the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia 10 provide transpor-
taJiOn and a suitable place for the TeCep-
tion, transportation. and detention of the
children under sixteen years Of age and
lin the discretion of the Commissioners
OF girls and women ever sixteen years of
age arrested by the police on charge Of
offence against any law in force in the
District Of Columbia or held as witnesses.
or held pending investigation, examina-
ton. or otherwise
n lltL PEI SDLS are arrested and place..
III this institution they are held until the
superintendent thereof shall be notified
that the court IS ready to try their cases
In many instances, after q hearing has
been had, the judge returns the defend
ants to the House Of Detention. to be
cared for until ne shall determine where
they should be committed OF other action
taken.
In my opinion the appropriation for the
maintenance OF the House OF Detention
cannot be used for defendants in United
States and District of Columbia cases aft
Ct Information has been filed in the Po-
lice Court, for after that has been done
they cease to be subjects OF support uu-
der the provisions of the appropriation re
feTred TO OF that for the Metropolitan Po-
lice Department
= can realize the Importance Of not
combining such prisoners in Jail or else
where while the judge may be making
mp his mind as TO what course to pur-
sue, the prisoners being females OF chill
dreu under sixteen years Of age. but
do not believe il was ever intended that
they should be received at the House OF
Detention after their cases had been ia
ken into the Police Court In the absence
however. Of any other place for the tenn
pOrary detention OF such subjects, IL is
essential that the principles which
prompted the establishment of the House
Of Detention be maintained 50 far as may
be necessary to protect them from Obnox-
iDus contact.
Il would suggest that the expense in
CURED IN furnishing meals to prisoners
detained there after their cases have been
heard in the Police Court be paid by the
Board Of ChiIdreu's Guardians as the es-
Inmates for the feeding OF those arrested
and cared for at the House Of Detention
do not permit Il prolonged or indefinite
stay under the circumstances described
above
i respectfully suggest, in order that no
complications may arise in connection
with expenditures for this Institution. that
the point in question be determined by
Hon. J. T. Petty, Auditor Of the District
of Columbia