Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-16

duced to four extremes, viz: Beg, steal,
starve or suicide. The probability is that
90 per cent Of this class will beg rather than
resort to either of the other extremes.
Saturday Night Arrests.
Now. gentlemen. if these poor unfortu-
mates are found begging they are arrested
| by the police officers. Should this arrest
occur on Saturday after s o'clock am. they
must remain in police station cell until
the ensuing Monday, and when brought be-
fore the Police Court Judge the charge
against them is vagrancy or begging for
something to eat. Take mental view Of
such poor men, worn out from tramping-
footsore and weary-try1ng to find employ
ment under most adverse circumstances.
1.-THE poor man is arrested as vagrant
and sentenced to the work house-clad In
the garb of a felon and forced to work in
the chain gang for perlor of thirty. sixty
What are his prospects when he Is dis
charged? Not penny in his pocket nor a
friend to apply to. Shall he turn to the
east, west, north or south? Where shall he
find his next meal and shelter? Gentlemen,
picture yourselves In his place.
Never in the days Of slavery were the
negroes treated as cruelty. Should such
treatment be continued any longer in
civilized community? Instead of prisons
for such poor people, there should be
places established with a view of giving
practical aid and encoura cement, that
they may become self-supporting and
law-abiding citizens.
Need Of Helping Hand.
after an experience often years deal.
ing with this class of men in the Good
Samaritan Home. which founded. I find
that these men need helping hand and
encouragement rather than persecution
and Imprisonment. Viewing this matte
from an economical standpoint I find
such men can be maintained and provided
for at the Home of the Good Samaritan
at IS per cent less than what it costs the
government to provide for them In pr1s-
ons. This comparison is left to your judg-
ment which is the better plan? This sub
ject must appeal to you, and should
deeply interest every good citizen.
I'm regard to Police Court trials of the
aforementioned class, I would certainly
approve of magistrates being appointed
to preside at the trial Of prisoners for
trivial offenses, at the various police sta
lions, and jury trials for grave offenses
much valuable time to officers. humilia-
ton to the prisoner and his family and
money to the government.
Pardoning Power for Commissioners.
II advocate that the pardoning power
should be given to the District Commits
sioners as they are the legal guardians
of our citizens. The Judge who condemns
sometimes superficial evidence
not the man to seek pardon from.
IT have acquired this knowledge from
frequent personal efforts on behalf of
poor men whom / thought to befriend on
account of their unhappy wives and chill
dren. / have even accompanied poor
wives and mothers to interview the pre-
siding judge who had sentenced their
loved ones, and in each ease was in
formed that the matter was out of their
hands. sEz
Except through the President of the
United States, no redress could be had
In such cases the President would refer us
to the Attorney General who. in turn
would recommend that mercy, be shown to
the prisoner. The last stage was to go
back to the judge, who sentenced the pris-
would end, and 'Shylock-like,' the pound
of flesh was demanded.
Il regret to say that in all these years
of reform work / have never been success
full in obtaining the release of even one
prisoner, unless by giving bonds or paying
the fine. Why should our government Off
Gals be so harsh in measures of punish
ment? Surely our government does not
need funds so badly as to resort to such
cruel measures upon this unfortunate class.
Matter of Responsibility.
Let us consider who Is to blame for
this state of affairs. Our government le-
galizes the liquor traffic and issues licenses
for the manufacture and sale of intoxi-
cants that make men and women drunk
it pays policemen to arrest them-it pays
officers to prosecute them--it pays judges
to sentence them to fine OF Imprisonment
it expends large sums of money to main
tain prisons and officials to punish them.
Instead Of prisons for those who are
being ensaved by the liquor habit, the gov
eminent should Immediately establish an
inebriate asylum, where such people (of
attention. l sincerely hope that the day
is not far distant when we shall have
such institutions, as I regard it of the
greatest Importance. When we consider
this subject, in the light of common sense
we must admit that prisons and reforma-
tories are but school of vice and crime.
10 conclude, ask, why should our gov
ernment officials condemn so many Of our
cltlZenS Tor trivial offenses, and saddle the
expense of their support upon the taxpay-
ing citizens Of the District?
Short Term Advocated.
TN many cases I claim that from twen-
ty-four to forty-eight hours would serve
the ends Of justice better, as a few hours
of detention would have a more beneficial
effect than a long term, which only
hardens them, and has tendency to make
them confirmed criminals through enforced
contact with the more vicious element I
do not hesitate to state that honestly be-
HeVe tnat seVenty-nVe per cent OF those in
prison should be set free, as 1t would
benefit both the state and the community
at large.
1T is good and worthy of us to visit
prisons, that we may seek reformation
among these unfortunates-butI certainly
think that prevention is better than cure.
I'm introducing this matter before you,
gentlemen, I may say that have no per-
sonal complaints to make, but it is pre-
sented rather on the grounds Of the inter-
ests of all classes of our citizens