The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-24
CITY JAIL
IS ROASTED.
And Jail Commission Also
Receives Much Attention.
LIVELY COUNCIL MEETING
Joint Committees Discharged and Con-
tractors Will Be Paid-Jail Pro-
nounced Too Filthy for
Dog to Live In.

with mild denuncation OF the JAN
Commission, during which the new prison
was characterized as too filthy Tor a dos'
and the reference Of the report OF the
commissioners to the Grounds and i3uliu-
ings Committee, the storm which has
been brewing over tho new city jail
problem came to head last night at
special meeting OF the Common Councli.
The Finance and Grounds and Buildings
Committees were discharged from further
consideration Of tho question OF extras,
and SO far as the contracting builders
the Stewart Iron Works, Of Cincinnati
are concerned, tho matter Is over ana
done, and they will be paid In fun lor
tho extras, probably next week.
Tho meeting was called at the request
of four members Of the body for the pur-
pose OF discharging the joint conference
body. and the report of the Jail Commits
! sion. together with communication
| from Judge Witt, of the Hastings Court,
| was admitted under suspension OF the
| rules.
When the body was called to order the
| report Of the two committees was read,
| whereupon they were relieved from
| further duty, the Council being ac-
quainted with the ruling OF City Attor-
ney Pollard on the question: Thus far
| the session had been extremely quiet, and
| no sign was out to manifest the ap-
preaching climax, which eliminated In
| a stirring speech by Councilman Hicks,
made in defense of the Grounds and
Buildings Committee of which he Is a
member
The report Of the Jail Commission was
| read stating that the new jail Is inade-
quate, incomplete and poorly constructed.
| The paper set forth list of needs, COW
ering two sheets OF typewriter pages.
From their point Of view the prison. not
yet entirely finished, is on the verge OF
| falling to pieces and is insecure. Evil
IDENTIFY they did not overlook n detail of
the building, so far as workmanship was
concerned, but no reference was made to
| the alleged filthy condition now preva-
lent there.
| Speaking for the chairman of the
! Grounds and Buildings Committee, Mr.
| Grimes. who was absent. Mr. Bottom
took the report of the commissioners in
detail He answered practically every
reported defect.
ITO my mind" said Mr.. Bottom. this
Is tempest In n tea pot. and the pot
Will break IT Is remarkable report
this allWise and ever vlgilant commission
dhis said sarcastically) has submitted to
the honorable judge of the Hastings
Court Many of the defects referred to
have already been remedied while 9TH
ers were being fixed even while tho COM
mission was In the Jail"
| Mr.. Bottom denied that tho steam pipes
were breaking from the walls. while he
claimed the cell locks worked perfectly
when the buildings was accepted. The
hot water furnace was being fixed while
| the commission was in the jail. and the
shower baths had been fixed by COM
potent plumber Referring to the state
ment that the gas fixtures were dropping
to pieces, he sa id that one chandelier had
been ruined and broken through the care
lessness Of employees OF tho prison. while
the committee had already decided to
erect q fence about the jail to keep
meddlers from breaking In the jail.
But" continued the speaker, "the
most remarkable part of that report is
that not a word Is said OF the filthy con-
dltion at the jail--it Is absolutely abom-
Unable. And the commissioners saw 1t.
for they visited the prison before we did
and on the same day, They could not
have failed to observe It. Tho report Is
truly remarkable for It's unfairhess,"
J Concluding. Mr.. Bottom said with pro-
per care the place could be made safe
and healthy. while he. as member OF
the Grounds and Buildings Committee
had the approval Of clear conscience
that the body had acted fairly and with
wisdom.
Mr.. Peters moved the report be sub
mtted to n Joint committed OF eight
but tho motion was lost, the Chair ruling
that the matter was one for the Grounds
and Buildings Committee to act upon
Mr., Hicks arose to announce that there
was an undercurrent connected WIN tht
r trouble over the Jail working against tht
( Grounds and buildings Committee, GER
tain department of the government being
responsible. He said the prison was unh
. for a dog. being so filthy.