Evening star., 1905-09-07
A SERIOUS SITUATION
Now Confronts the District
Authorities.
WORKHOUSE CROWDED
AND THE JAIL REMAINS UNDER
SMALLPOX QUARANTINE.
Police Judges Order Release Of Nine
tyNine Workhouse Prisoners
to Make Room.
WORKHOUSE CROWDED

Smallpox at the District Jail has brought
the local authorities face to face with
serious and unprecedented situation. and no
and possibly longer.
The trouble is the result of the quarantine
established at the Jail, which has made It
impossible either to commit prisoners to
that institution to release others whose
terms have expired. Ordinarily the jail con-
tains about 500 prisoners the year round
Now, by reason of the quarantine, only a
few new commitments to the Jail have been
ordered. and as each prisoner who has
earned his release must be examined for
possible symptoms OF smallpox by the health
Office authorities the number Of inmates Of
the institution has slowly but steadily de-
creased.
All Workhouse Sentences.
AS was stated in The Star at the time. the
judges at the Police Court decided. after the
announcement on August 10 that Payton
Sweet, one Of the prisoners at the jail. was
suffering from smallpox. to impose work
house sentences In all cases possible upon
persons convicted before them of violations
of the law. This rule Is to hold good until
danger from further spread of smallpox at
the jail Is believed to be at an end. At first
be passed with the end of the sixteen days
quarantine established by reason Of the
Sweet case. Since then, however, two more
cases Of the dread disease have developed
within the Jail. and instead of only the south
wing, where Sweet was stricken, being un-
der suspicion, the north wing, too has been
placed under quarantine. while the west
wing has been set apart for the isola ton of
prisoners who develop symptoms Of the
fever which invariably precedes smallpox.
This means that practically the whole jail
Is under quarantine, because the north.
south and west wings comprise all but the
corridors where women prisoners con-
fined.
The appearance of smallpox In the north
wing of the jail on Sunday, when Clark Lee
and Daniel Bradley, two prisoners. were
transferred to the smallpox hospital, made
it necessary to continue the quarantine on
the institution for a further period of six
teen days, so that 1t will be about two
weeks before the authorities will feel sure
that all danger has passed Safety, even
then, will be contingent upon the develop
ment of no more cases among the prison
erS.
Overcrowding Causes Concern.
The phase of the situation causing most
concern to the District authorities Is the
inevitable overcrowding Of the workhouse.
where all persons convicted in the Police
Court and unable to pay fines are now sent.
AS a rule. most of the sentences imposed
In the lower or District branch of the Po
lice Court carry sentences to terms on the
farm as the alternative of fines, but per-
sons convicted in the United States branch
of the court, usually for more serious Of
fenses, have heretofore been sent to Jail.
Since August 10, when Payton Sweet was
pronounced to be Ill of smallpox, there
have been 100 commitments ordered from
the United States branch of the Police
Court. These sentences. moreover, are usu-
ally for longer terms than those imposed
H. ng-tri tot hrap md a If
SO many prisoners to the workhouse con-
tingent has filled that almost always crowd
ed institution to overhowing. The Work
house is designed. so oftcials state, 70 ac-
commodate 24O male prisoners. and pro-
portionately smaller number of female Of
tenders. Since August 16 there have been
47S commitments ordered from both
branches of the Police Court. and last
nights roll-cau at the institution showed
a total Of $50 men wearing the stripes ana
100 women. 1t is the nightly rule at tne
workhouse to place all prisoners securely
in cells but now the cells are inadequate
to accommodate all of the inmates and
large numbers are quartered In the corri-
dors and in other parts Of the establish
ment.
Conference on Situation.
So serious do the authorities regard the
situation that conference was calien py
Commissioner West yesterday. superan-
tendent Zinkhan of the Washington Asylum
explained the conditions under which he Is
laboring at the workhouse, with no rellef
in sight Health Officer Woodward was an
other of the conferees, and 1t was his state
ment that the quarantine at the jail would
not be removed for two weeks that placed
all concerned in a auandary.
1t has been suggested as possible that
several cells in the police stations in out
living parts of the city, which are not usually
in use, might be turned into temporary
jails, but it has not been Indicated whether
or not the authorities will issue such an
order.
ceiyed a letter from Supt Zinkhan contain
ing a list of ninety-nine prisoners whose
terms will expire In from two to nfteen
days, and requesting their immediate re-
lease Mr. Zinkhan said that the work
house was very much overcrowded. At the
close of the mornings session Judges Mills
and ONeill conferred on the subject and
ordered the releases as requested by the
superintendent
Superintendent Zinkhan's Letter.
In his letter Mr.. Zinkhan said:
II have the honor Of calling your atten-
ton to the fact that a number of prisoners
committed to the workhouse since the Dis
trict Jail was put under quarantine, on
account of smallpox, has increased to such
an extent that our capacity is overtaxed.
Our capacity for male prisoners is 242.
while our present male population is 332,
an excess of 90. In the old workhouse
building we have not only been obliged to
double up the prisoners in single cells but
We have also been compelled to place pris-
oners in the open corridors.
''If the court continues to send all pris-
oners to the workhouse for some time to
come we shall not have room for them
without further crowding in the open cor
ridors, which Is both insanitary and un-
safe. AS a measure of relief l would re-
spectfully recommend that the court release
from the workhouse number of prisoners
who have but short time to serve
After brief conference between the
Judges Superintendent ZInkhans sugges-
ton was adopted, and the release of nine
ty-nine prisoners ordered.