New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-20
JAIL NOT GREATEST NEED.
Liffleton Pleads That Schools, Hos
initials and Se5cerS Come First.

..--,-,,, Controller crout and his engineers
who have suggested spending $4,000 in reconstruct
Ing the cells IN the mems prison Of the Raymond
Street Jail Borough President Ltteton gave out
statement yesterday afternoon In which He &C.
7.-,s that so 600 VIII put the prison IN good con-
6ition and he shows how much more Imperative IS
the need OF spending money FOR new schools ana
other ir,proveneuts Mr.. LIttleton says that there
has been some apprehension because the WON
ems and the mems prisons have been coAIuss--
The woraen's prison. he admits. is a mere Smell
ana SIS Use should be discontinued for large
,-,-,rs- ~ prisoners bat that now there are only
few prisoners there and the conditions are fairy
sanitary. ..- =.
Regarding the mems prison. Mr.. Ltueton &C.
clare. be rad q careful Investigation mace oy
practical engineer o. c Breckenridge, Commission
er OF Public Works. a practical builder (Bullaings
Commissioner Collins and practical plumber "A
7 O,Keefe. Superintendent OF Sewers). They report
that the structural condition o. the ceLs ana 1he
jau IN general is good, that the Yentila'ion ana
lighting are good and that there Is no need Of
tearing out the interior OF the jail and replacing
the cells or tbs plumbing the officials reported
that $4,000 would put IL in good shape and nahe
the SAT- a perfectly sanitary and heallhIlI pace
These repairs will be made. Mr.. Litueton says az
soon rs the Board q Aldermen and Board OF EST
mate shall act on the issue OF 'S2ooo 10 3-5.@O
,,,-4b ~ bonas for such repairs" It was dlscov-
cred that the unsanitary condition at present was
due IN a degree to the fact THAI the toilet accom-
rnodators are not kept clean. There are no PAID
cleaners the work being done by the prisoners.
Referring to some Of the needs Of Brooklyn ana
making a dig at Controller Grout every now and
then. Dir. Littleton said:
The claim that the city should spend $4,000 n
the reconstruction Of the cells is not based on an.
would be a needless exjravagance. IN addition 70
this s. ought not 70 escape me P1o-5,c, Is '',U,
iISB Inc mere Question Of making the mems jaii
Of -a mo
gotten thai n January q TINS year 800 ci-I Zen
schools: and there are some who contend that
the recreation centres and evening sc--oQ.s SIolld
tain them II must not be forgotten that there
are seven hundred miles Of sewers In Broohlyn,
a large percentage or which have iast y per cehS
Of their carrying CaraCty because they are cloCged
the whole city, and for this work have asked
o. Site-rne1. for 800 556 when the hue and cry
IS raised that some one Is eslecung his duty y
we brooA-y 49, e-i, I51rned into carg
most unhea lthful. UuSanitaTy and unsafe manner.
and the administrat.on stands ple5ged with is
IA tho conduct 81 The traffic 81 the city II should
and the city government in Brooklyn are scattered
IN roOkeries and hooks, unsafe, unsartaTy and IN
a year rent because q the overwhelming need ot a
public building where pubic business can Ue az
are hospitals in the city OF New-York that have
when we consider the question OF eKpending half
million Of dollars for the unnecessary reconstEuc-
work
The CRY that has been raised concerning the Ray
rond street Jail is merely cry TO make the pris-
Orers more comfortable not more ncaltly, and this
undoubtedly would be a reform Of prison life, not
only ia this city. but the whole world But before
the city begins making its penal Institutions more
comfortable and adding 20 the contentment OF
those confined IN its prisons. 81 were well that It
should expend the money derived from taxa
ton IN educating the children whom the future
responsibility for government rests, IN making san
itarv rs city life. IN correcting the evils OF its
transportation. in protecting from IRE its untold
values ia housing in some respecta bic way those
who are IN SIS service and who must be visited
daily by the great public