Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-18
NEED OF CITY WORK HOUSE
Demand for Such Place Pointed Out by
Police Judge Crawford,
PRESENT FACILITIES WHOLLY INADEQUATE
ends of Justice, He Thinks, Cannot
Ne Properly subserved Until
work Pouse g.
Built.

Police Judge Crawford has some decided
opinions regarding the pressing needs Of
workhouse in this city. He Is firm in his
conviction that the establishment Of such
an institution Is one OF the paramount local
issues. The Judge has been making an in
vestigation OF the operation of warehouses;
and similar institutions in other cities. The
apparent pleasure with which many vag-
rants and hoboes have been receiving
thirty-day sentences recently in the police
court set the Judge thinking and the more
he has thought II over the more he has
become convinced there never was a time
in the citys history when the needs for a
workhouse were greater than at the pres
ent time. Judge Crawford Saturday morn
ing said:
THE interest being taken in a work
house for petty criminals is most crafty
ing to me and must be TO oil who have at
heart the safety and good order OF our
city. The time is exceedingly propltious
for this discussion. Not only will public
sentiment approve any wise plan for fur
nishing work for city convicts, but that
same sentiment will, I believe, approve a
liberal bond issue for the erection OF a
modern and adequate house OF correction.
reformatory OF workhouse.
city Jail inadequate.
"That our present city Jail is absolutely
inadequate for any purpose except place
OF detention pending trial is admitted upon
all hands. No work OF reformation or cor
recton is possible there. Quite the re-
verse. the present city jail is a place Of
contamination To confine youth there
who retains any spark of virtue is an Of
Tense against him and against the commu-
nifty of which he is TO be part when re-
leased. say this In no spirit OF criticism
OF our police deps rtment. 1t is the result
OF using for a city Jail building intended
for an entirely different purpose and in no
respect fitted for its present use The fact
Is recognized and regretted more keenly
by police. authorities than in any other
quarter.
1.-THE law imposes punishment upon a
convict for two purposes only, the reforma-
ton of the prisoner and the protection Of
society from him until he IS reformed.
Punishment that does not tend towards
the accomplishment Of both is inadequate,
expensive. futile and wasteful
First step Toward Solution.
"The first step and a long one toward
the solution of Omaha's difficulties with
the criminal classes is an adequate build
ing and grounds properly equipped to
will tend to make useful citizens Of them.
Disease, Nth, drink and drugs, idleness and
bad company are the potent factors in the
making of criminal. Given a place where
disease can be combatted and filth removed
where drink and drugs are out OF reach,
and where idleness gives place to sys-
tematic labor. and you have a place where
the community is protected from the
criminal and more important still you
have given the prisoner a chance to re-
form.
How much the first cost OF such a build
ing will be do not know But do know
that Omaha is In the midst OF the most
substantial and lasting progress. that the
year upon which we have just entered
win mark the greatest stride towards the
building of a metropolis that this COM
munity has ever known. know before the
maturity of bonds issued this year for a
workhouse that the institution will be
outgrown and inadequate to the needs of
the city, whether we expend $4,000 or
$4,000"