Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-02
WILL SEND INSPECTOR
TO INVESTIGATE MoUNDSVILLE
PRISON SITUATION.
No Inquiry Has Yet Been Made as to
Reports Of Prevalence Of
tuberculosis.

Major Frank Strong, the general agent
of the Department Of Justice, said TO-DAY
that he has not yet sent an inspector 10
Moundsville, w. Va, to investigate the re-
ports OF the prevalence OF tuberculosis ana
Of insantary conditions in that prison.
which is used for the prisoners OF the
District Of Columbia. 1--WE will probably
send an inspector there, as already stated
In The Star" said Major Strong, 'but we
will not give the time of his departure
or his name to any one. We would be
foolish to do that. There are between
300 and 400 prisoners of the District at
Moundsville, and the only complaint that
has ever reached us is that the institu-
ton is overcrowded. This was discovered
by one of our own representatives. We
would probably have offered some sugges-
tions to the West Virginia authorities on
this state of affairs, and betterment In
this direction is expected. The author1-
ties will probably build an addition later
on. None of our inspectors, however, mas
ever found any other fault with the prison.
Federal prisoners sent there are under
stood to be we'll treated, and in this War
den Harris of the District Jail agrees with
me. He sends deputies there often to take
prisoners, and says that no complaints
relatives friends
Warden Harris was at the Department of
Justice today talking with Major Strong,
but his visit was not in connection with
the Moundsville institution. He goes to
the department nearly every day In con-
nection with the settlement Of the accounts
of the District Jail. He stated that SO far
as he is aware there is no ground for COM
plant as to affairs at Moundsville He does
consumption there, except from what he
has seen in the papers. Although he does
not get official reports as to the condition
Of the prison and the welfare Of the pris-
oners, he hears from there indirectly at
intervals through deputies who take DIS
trict prisoners there. He agreed with
Major Strong that while the prison is not
modern 1t Is what Is called an easygoing
one, and prisoners are humanely. treated
and well handled.
Major Strong said that the combining of
two prisoners in a cell is by no means un-
common. This often occurs in other pr1s-
onS.
Major Strong said that there VIII be no
District prisoners to send away for prob
ably a month, and that an investigation
will be made by that time Of conditions at
Moundsville If there is any truth In the
charges Of unsatisfactory conditions, no
more prisoners will go there, and arrange
ments will be made with some other prison.
To a suggestion that the new Atlanta
prison might be utilized, Major Strong said
that this institution, which Is one of the
finest in the country, is reserved .for fed
eral prisoners Of the south. There is plenty
Of room In the prison now, but it will soon
fill up. Another objection to Atlanta Is
that prisoners there are maintained wholly
at the expense Of the general government,
without any special amount set aside for
each prisoner. The fact that half the ex-
pense Of District prisoners is paid by the
District necessitates keeping accounts that
would not be feasible at Atlanta At
Moundsville q certain amount Is charged
daily for the keeping Of each prisoner. 1t
is easy to divide this amount up and pay
it. At Atlanta no account Is kept OF the
expense Of a prisoner each day.