Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-27
WANT JAIL REMOVED.
East Washington Citizens
Plead With Commission.
OBJECTIONS ARE RECITED
Obstacle to Improvement and Realty
Appreciation.
REQUEST TO BE CONSIDERED
Justice Stafford Announces That he
and Associates Will Give Matter
Attention and Recommend.
OBJECTIONS ARE RECITED
REQUEST TO BE CONSIDERED

| While the general SUBJECT OF TecdStihS
| the penal system of the District is before
the jail commission the citizens of East
| Washington would like to work it SO as
| to get rid altogether of the Jail from their
locality.
! To promote this end a large delegation
yesterday called on the Jail commission.
consisting of Justice w. P. Stafford, John
! Joy Edison and r. V. La Dow of the De-
partment of Justice. and presented argu-
ments for the removal of the several penal
| institutions that have been so long nix
| lures on the Eastern branch
The delegation consisted of the executive
| committee of the East Washington Cltl-
zens' Association. including Thomas w.
Smith. Samuel Corridor. NJ. l. Weller,
| W. Mosby Williams and Capt. Potter, and
many other members.
They were given hearing of about two
| hours and stated their case in full. The
association wants the government to pur-
chase :'O0-acre tract, where all OF the
| penal buildings can be located ana
| screened from the public.
Bad Object Lesson.
| DIR. Clark. principal of the Eastern High
| School, made the point that the sight OF
men in stripes from the workhouse is
anything bnt wholesome for school chill
| dren. If the scheme now preached for
| moving the high school farther east is
| carried. he said, the jail and workhouse
| certainly ought to be also moved east, at
| least equal distance.
| President Smith of the association pre-
| scented a paper covering the general field
| In sketchng the desires of the associa-
ton regarding the Jail and the workhouse
| it read:
| "All the institutions named should be
placed on new locations. Situated as they
| are, they have long been an impeachment
| to the natural development of the eastern
section of the city.
THE phenomenal growth in recent
years of the National capital in every
direction was not fully anticipated when
the quick easy and inexpensive means of
passenger traffic now in vogue then an
ticipated.
The small cost of removing these in
situations to new sites will not be a heavy
penalty for this lack of foresight.
Because of uncertainty in the matter
of railroad legislation and the elimination
of grade crossings 1t has been inadvisable.
if not impossible, until now, to determine
upon a site better adapted for these nee
essary penal institutions-so that the site
thus chosen shall for all future years
meet the following requirements:
'.Heathfulness.
Amplitude of space--3OO acres or more.
for transportation of freight required in
industries and of supplies.
"Remoteness that only the minimum
injury incident to nearness of these in
situations may result to property.
Site Of Ample Size.
This site should be of the ample size
suggested. and the buildings erected
thereon so designed that all prisoners
under commitment by all the courts in the
District can be kept there. and where
suitabl industries can be carried on by
some prisoners in walled Enclosures, while
to others tasks can be given on the
grounds. the fields and the gardens of the
Institutions. Every prisoner capable of
work to be compelled to work.
For prisoners held for trial and for
witnesses held in important cases those
connected with the courts have for many
years urged upon Congress that addl-
tional accommodations near the court
house be supplied. The reasons for this
are many
THE foregoing briefly embodies the de-
sire of every member of this association.
1t presents problems which will require
in their solution much time and patience
and some money. But these problems
should be solved nOw-not further delayed.
This association, in this paper, refrains
from giving a detailed presentation of
| reasons impelling them to plead for your
which it has pressed upon Congress and
the community for many years. The re-
lief thus given to our section of the city
will bring additional benefits. to the COM
munity, and also to every one who by his
| fault or his misfortune shall in all the
years TO come be there confined.
Upon the humanities of the question
| this paper does. not dwell-this for the
reason that every member of our associa-
| ton feels assured that this important
phase of the question will receive from
you the full and philanthropic consdera-
| ton which it deserves.
! Justice Stafford explained for the Jail
commission that it has no power to act,
but only to recommend and that the re-
port was likely to cover quite a wide
range and would include the subject of
moving the buildings. He thanked the
citizens association for presenting their
views, and said the matter would be
treated in the final report and the views
OF the association considered.