The Washington times., 1908-08-18

neglect Of the traction necessities of
the District, and the gas monopoly
abuses, the crying need for a Jail was
passed by with little or no notice.
Proof Of His Contention.
Assistant Attorney Russell points TO
the annual report OF the Attorney Cen
eral for 1906. as proof OF his contention
that the department has been fully
aware OF conditions at the Jail, and
has been kept from improving them by
the small appropriations allowed it by
Congress. The Attorney General said at
that time:
7 wish TO reiterate what was said IN
last years report and In the report
preceding II. and TO reiterate with en-
phasis.
THAT it uhe iaiD is old. without mod
ern improvements and of insufficient
capacity for the present needs. and that
something should be done at once to-
ward remedying the present defects in
construction, increasing it's capacity.
and providing "a suitable dining hail,
so that the present system OF feeding
the prisoners can be done away with.
Its capacity should be increased. 1t
should be provided with modern plumb
ing and other sanitary advantages. 1t
is not & proper place for the confinement
OF prisoners. especially for such COR
hnement at the National Capital /
think the matter should be given i'm
mediate attention"
Attorney General PowerIess.
Mr.. Russell declared that beyond urg-
ing upon Congress in his annual report
TO that body the great necessity Of the
abolition of the conditions at the Jail,
the necessity of immediate action, the
Attorney General was poWerless to rem
edy the conditions, although the Jail
was under the supervision Of the De-
partmeut of Justice.
As an instance of the inability of the
department 10 get what 1t wants, he
pointed 20 the vain attempt that has
been made year after year to secure an
appropriation for a building 70 house the
department, instead Of scattering it
among dwelling houses and old 1-t
galleries.
Congress does not see those thin
In the same light that we do" said Nj
Russell 1t is obvious to every citizen
OF Washington that the jail is unit for
the Capital City. or any other. Yet
we are pOwerless TO do anything about
It. The Times is performing a worthy
service in its efforts 10 impress upon
the people the necessity for the improve
ment of the present Jail.
Same Old Story.
'It is the same old story, however.
il is harder TO see the object right bc-
fore your face than the one a little
farther away. Little local improve |
ments and appropriations look much |
larger TO the average member OF Con- /
gress than the UNFOLDING OF our ma
tional prestige by making a model |
Capital city Such an institution within |
its confines mars the whole effect.
ut is a mistake, too, 10 think that |
people throughout the country do not
care what is done for washington /
That is where many Congressman make |
a mistake The American people In /
every State take particular interest IN
anything that concerns the adornnent /
or Improvement of the Capita. Of their |
nation
Labor is Aroused.
Aroused by the general feeling that |
the conditions at the jail are intoIerabIe. !
the Washington Central Labor Union, |
at meeting held last evening, voiced /
its indignation that such conditions /
should be allowed to exist in the com /
munlty ana appointed a committee of 4
I'VE 10 make an investigation, with /
President John II. Torch as its chair |
man.
Secretary Sam De Nedrey 1eade the
motion for the appointment ~ fbs
committee, saying that the unioa should |
interest itself in a matter Of such vital |
Importance. In addition to President |
Torch, the other members of the COM
mlttee are Emmett /. Adams, Charles |
T. Smith, Sam De Nedrey, and James /
l. F'eeney.
I'VE should know who is responsible
for this condition OF affairs" said Del
egate Adams.
Prisoners Changed.
Warden Mckee yesterday removed
-wenty-eight women prisoners from the
east wing, which has been badly over
crowded. 10 the top floor of the west
wing formerly used as a chapel but
now fitted with cells. Before this change,
was made there were only IOrtV-efghr |