Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-25
Los ANGELES HERAID SATURDAY JANUARY % 1905
DIsGRAcEFUL CITY JAIL

~ The latest reports available show
that 232 prisoners are crowded into a
space meant to accommodate 1875. In
that part of the prison known as the
upper tank 110 human beings share a
breathing space intended for forty. or
at the most, Sorty-five. There are
eighteen women in the female depart
ment in a space intended for twelve.
In order to show the amount of busi-
heartening, outrageous and revolving
conditions it may be stated that 525
meals served forms one days record.
1t already has been pointed out in
these columns, and it is matter of
common knowledge, that the law neith-
er contemplates nor countenances in
humanity in the treatment of persons
charged with or convicted of offenses.
Punishment is deterrent or correctional
1t is not intended that it should take
the form of physical torture, or that it
should be administered in a manner
that viii ruin the health of the pris-
oner. If conditions at the Jail are not
remedied soon, the crime of the city of
Los Angeles against the men and
women in Jail will be graver and greater
than any of their crimes against the
community. A heavy responsibility
mistreatment of his fellow beings, even
if they are only Jail birds. To talk of
Imprisonment in the city jail under
present conditions as corrective is to
talk wild nonsense. M human being
can undergo the indignity, the discom-
fort, the horror of Imprisonment in the
Black Hole of Los Angeles without suf-
fering mental, physical and moral
deterioration. Is this contemplated by
law or countenanced by society? The
jail officials, of course, are not RESPONSE
BILE for the miserable plight of many of
tody. They have addressed the con-
stituted authorities on the subject over
and over again, and there is not MEM
ber of the city council who is not we'll
aware of the scandalous and shocking
condition of the jail. 1t may be true
lHdl lne city IL SHUT VI luHdHs bul
nobody could guess that from the out
standing indications. The purchase of an
automobile is not generally accepted as
a sign of poverty, and if the council
men wish to put on a poor mouth to
the citizens who are pressing them to
abate the nuisance at the city Jail,
they will have to explain away the
purchase of that automobile or run the
risk of being accused of a gross error |
of judgment in expenditures.
Is it possible that some obstacle is
being put in the way of effective action |
on this much needed humanitarian
Is it true that there exists
what may be called a real estate COM |
plication? Why has not land for new |
Jail site been acquired? Who or what |
is blocking the purchase? Are any |
members of the council interested in
bringing about a purchase of site
that will benefit personal friends? Is
there any ground for suspicion of this
sort? and is not the inexplicable, halt
inc and baking of the council over an
expenditure for which humanity, COM
mon sense and fair play clamor bound
to give rise to surmises that may throw
light on an obscure and puzZling sub |
jeet? What do the members of the
city council intend to do about it? Is
the Jail to be allowed to go from bad
to worse?
The officials of the Jail are uneasy |
over the unhygienic and barbarous con-
ditions which prevail. Much against |
their will they have virtually to admin
lister torture by aiding and abetting
those who are responsible for the delay |
in providing funds for an Increase of
facilities for the cleanly, hygienlc, |
humane detention of prisoners. Los
Angeles is in many respects the most |
and the most beautiful city |
in the world. Why the most beautiful
and most aesthetic of all the larger
cities should cherish and perpetuate
conditions which would cause the
Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty /
to interfere with dog show at which
similar conditions existed is beyond
explanation. Money can be
layished with unstinted hand for objects
which are not indispensable, but money |
for purpose demanded by Justice
morality, humanity and good citizen
shin is begrudged. The necessity for
relief is urgent. The city jail in its
present condition is a disgrace to Los
Angeles, and every good citizen is con-
cerned in bringing about change for
- hnttnr-and the sonner the better.