Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-16
WAN TED BY PRESIDENT
Asks for Copy Of Mr.. Downey's
Recommendations.
WORK In POLICE COURT
MR.. ROOSEVELT SENDS FOR
PAPER CONCERNING REFORMS.
Founder of Good Samaritan Home
Always Armed, but With Crucifix
Instead of Revolver.
WORK In POLICE COURT

President Roosevelt recently requested
the District Commissioners to furnish him
with copy of the recommendations recent
ly submitted to them by Mr.. William f.
Downey of 1922 l. street northwest, who is
the founder and manager of the Good Sa-
maritan Home for human outcasts, which
is located on L street near Mr.. Downeys
home. The President had previously indi-
Gated his interest in the good work being
accomplished by this modern good Samari-
tan. as he is termed by those unfortunates
who have come under his beneficence. by
referring to him In his address on a recent
public occasion.
Mr.. Downey's recommendations to the
Commissioners, in which the President has
shown his interest, refer principally, he
says, to the trials in the Washington po-
lice courts, and are in the nature Of pleas
for the unfortunates who are given long
terms of Imprisonment in convict garb, at
hard labor, for drunkenness or for asking
for bread when they are suffering the
pangs of hunger. while hardened criminals
thieves and desperadoes receive much
lighter sentences for theft and assault, and
are confined in the warm jail, without la
Dor or the garb of felons.
Mr. Downey was found by Star reporter
busily engaged with his private business
and the welfare Of the inmates of his res
cue home. With his characteristic modes
ty and retlcence he said he was only an
humble worker in the matter of extending
aid to his fellow man. and that if there
was any credit attached to his simple
efforts" in behalf of downtrodden humani-
ty it did not belong to him, but to a higher
power.
Harmless as Lambs"
The reporter learned that on a recent oc-
casion Mr.. Downey was asked by a lady
if he was not afraid to go about unarmed
among the inmates of the Samaritan
Home some of whom had served terms in
prison.
Bless you, no." was Mr.. Downey's
kindly response Those poor fellows are
treated as men. The kind word of SYM
pathy brings back to them all that is
good, and they recall the simple prayers
they repeated at their mothers knee and
the days of their innocent boyhood."
But" said Mr.. Downey to the reporter,
II do go armed, but l did not tell the
lady so. 1 keep my weapon in this, al
though / rarely expose ii"
Reaching under his coat the good man
brought into view a yellow leather case,
such as Italian desperadoes use for their
stilettos or dirk knives. Selling the
hilt Of what at a glance appeared to be
a polished weapon, he pulled forth
crucifix.
That" he added lis the most potent, the
most powerful of all weapons
Mr.. Downey's Recommendations.
The recommendations Of Mr.. Downey,
which doubtless by this time in the
hands of President Roosevelt, and upon
which he may take important action, con-
tain much of interest to those who are
interested in the work he is engaged in
that of restoring to good citizenship the
so-called direlicts of life
Mr.. DoWneyS paper Is in part as follows:
Having been actively engaged in charity
and reform work for upward of twenty
five years, it has given me thorough In
sight into this all-important subject, which
pertains to the veal or woe of our fellow
citizens. 1t Is very commendable and good
to make and enforce sanitary laws, i'm
prove and beautify our city streets, ave-
nues, parks, harbors, the erection of fine
public buildings, ETC., etc.
Il, however, regard of far more impor-
tance the adoption of good laws regulating
the personal welfare of our fellow citizens.
While the former deals with material
things, the latter appertains to the tenn
poral and spiritual welfare of man. We
are told that the saving of one i'm
mortal soul is of more value in the sight OF
God than all the material things on earth.
After long experience in reform work,
among unhappy human beings confined IN
the jail or workhouse, am led to the firm
belief that some OF our laws Should De re-
pealed modified.
For many years the sad cry has gone up
from those who have had the, unhappy eX-
perience of Police Court methods: One
law Tor the TlcH anu ioi liic pun.
Alleged Relic Of Barba1ism.
81 do not hesitate to proclaim that some
of our laws Cor the manner of their execu-
tom are relic of barbarism, and a blot
upon Christianity and civilization. There
is no position of public trust that requires
so much tender feeling, tempered with JUS
tice, than the judges of the Police Courts.
l would suggest, instead of prosecuting
poor humanity, we should have the spirit
of the Good Samaritan, rather to uplift
than humilate and crush. There is SO
much detail, variety and vagueness in Po-
lice Court cases that it would occupy many
pages to recapitulate.
Trying to be as brief as possible, / will
bring before your honorable body a few
examples of the discrimination made be-
tween the rich and the poor.
"As an Illustration: Two men are
rested and charged with like offense. the
verdict being fine or imprisonment What
is the result? The man with the money
pays his fine and goes free. while the poor
man, lacking the means to pay fine, must
take the alternative, which may be long
term in prison. Meantime his poor family,
who are dependent upon him, are left to
suffer.
Harsh Treatment Condemned.
Gentlemen, I ask you to imagine the
feelings of that man when he is taken
from the support and protection Of his
family. Such harsh treatment is not con-
ducive to his reformation, and is almost