The Washington times., 1902-09-17
Annual Estimates Submit
ted to the District
Commissioners.
NEW BUILDING AGAIN URGED
Court Also Lays Stress Upon Lack of
Cell Accommodation and Inhumanity
of Present Conditions-Few Salary
Increases Asked-The Budget.


received from the judges of the Police
Court their estimate Tor the expenses
of the department for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1904. The several items
are as follows:
For two judges, at $4,000 each: clerk.
two deputy clerks, at $1,000 each: one
deputy clerk, to be known as financial
clerk, S1,S00; deputy marshal, 5000,
three bailiffs, at 5000 each; janitor,
$40; engineer. $500; assistant janitors,
$3.50; one bailiff. $3.50. In all, s23.440.
For repairs to Police Court building,
$500.
For repairs to Police Court furniture
and replacing same. $500.
For meals of jurors and bailiffs in at
tendance upon them when ordered by
the court, $780,
For rent of property adjoining. the
Police Court buildings, for the Police
Court and for other purposes. 5000.
For compensation OF jury. sS,0oO
In all. ss7.1ao
Some Few Increases.
In explanation of the above estimates
the justices submit the following state
ment:
''The only changes from the esti-
mates for the present year are an in
crease in the salary of the financial
clerk to Sl.S00, which amount. we be-
feve. ought to be paid to this officer
who is responsible for the collection
and handling of sli the fines. forfeit
ures, and penalties of both branches of
the Police Court and for it's safe de-
post with the proper officer of the
Government. The amount that will be
thus handled during the next fiscal year
will be about $3.50
I'VE have also estimated for an in
crease in the pay of the bailiff, now re-
ceiying 5000. 10 $3.50. This increase
should be made because the work to
be done by him requires man of in
telligence, one able to handle large
crowds, and with the present price of
living it is impossible for such a man
to support himself upon the salary now
paid.
I'VE have also included in our esti-
mate $1,000 for rebuilding the Police
Court cells. Congress heretofore, in
TWO different appropriation bills, pro-
vided for the rebuilding of the cells,
but the amount given was found insuffi-
Gent, the work was not done, and the
appropriations lapsed.
insufficient Cell Accommodations.
In our judgment, the present cells
are totally unfit for use, and 1t is in
IN
Frequently 100 prisoners are confined
in the three cells. Those strong enough
TO force their way TO the doors can OBJ
tain some kind of air. while the weaker
ones are confined in the rear, and con-
sequently suffer. While il is true that
the cells are upon rented ground, and
that the amount would be expended
upon property owned by citizen. yet
humanity requires something should be
done 10 remedy the situation"
Reference is made to the sanitary ar
rangements OF the building, and the
judges say:
'The fact is. the building is in such
an unhealthy state. as a whole. that the
only complete remedy is the erection
of ar entire new Police Court building
but until that can be done, provision
should be made to cover the present
needs.
Appeal for Legislation.
: sSe therefore urge the honorable
commissioners to present the matter of
new building. through the Committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds, and
at least go so far at the next session
of Congress rs to secure legislation
looking to the condemnation of suffi-
cient ground TO the east and north of
the present site to provide sufficient
room needed.
I'VE have also estimated as hereto
fore. salary of $4,000 each for the
Police Court judges. which is the
amount the honorable Commissioners
have asked for several years last past.
in tie appropriation for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1902. We estimated
for assistant janitors, SO as TO be able
10 appoint TWO assistant janitors to do
the work of the Police Court. and the |
appropriation was made in the plural |
for assistant janitors. For the present |
fiscal year. by some mistake, the esti- !
mate was in the singular, assistant |
janitor.' We ask that this be changed |
to the plural form, assistant janitors. 4"