The Washington times., 1908-08-14
Conditions at District Jail
Disheartening-President
Hears Warden's Appeal.
POOR SANITATION,
OFFICIALS CHARGE
Captain Mckee, Determined to
Have improvements, Tells of
Inmates Sufferings.

The health OF 500 male prisoners in
the District Jail is endangered by the
presence in their midst of a prisoner
suffering from tuberculosis. Captain
Mckee. warden of the JAIL having tried
in every possible way 10 have the dis
eased man removed from the jail. has
as a last resort appealed to President
Roosevelt 10 either order the man 5
removal to some hospital or 70 grant
him a pardon in order that the present
danger of Infection may be removed
The President has not yet answered
Captain McKee's request
The remarkable conditions surround
ing the case. Illustrating once more in
a striking manner the lamentable lack
Of authority existing in the District,
and the seeming inability OF anyone to
act In the matter, was discovered by
The Times through the Department Of
Justice, to which the case had been re-
ferred in the first instance by Captain
Mckee.
No Action Taken.
The department, which has supervisor
over the District Jail, has taken no def
mite action in the matter looking TO the
removal of the consumptive patient
despite the urgency Of the case. Justice
Barnard. OF the Supreme Court Of the
District, TO whom Captain Mckee also
appealed. expressed the opinion that he
was without authority TO act, and finally
the warden determined upon an appeal
10 President Roosevelt.
Under ordinary circumstances the
case would seem 10 be a simple one TO
adjust, JuJ up 10 the present time the
warden uas been unable 10 get permis-
sion 10 place the prisoner in quarters
which would not only be a benefit TO
himself, but would eliminate a source
or danger 10 the other prisoners.
Incidentally the discovery Of case
of tuberculosis in the jail once more
draws attention 20 the inadequate &C
c0mmodatiOns at that institution There
iS no ni9ce At me 1aiI where the IN
fortunate prisoner can DC cared Tor
properly. He could be treated at the
new tuberculosis hospital were II not
for the fact that his record is such ne
would undoubtedly attempt to escape II
placed there without guards. Ihls IS
The mans fourth term In jail a TACT
which would make the warden hesitate
10 send him TO the hospital, even II he
had authority to do so.
In Cell Alone.
Warden Mckee has placed the man
In q sell by himself so that he does
not come IN contact with Celimate
as do all or the other prisoners The
sanitary conditions at the Jail. however,
are such that his presence there under
any circumstances Is a menace TO the
health Of the other prisoners.
Because Of the attempts in the past
to run the jail on an economical basis
ont of all proportion TO its size and
needs. no attempt has ever been made
10 provide for the care Of such case
as has arisen. In fact, since the con-
struction OF the jail more than thirty
years ago there have been practically
no improvements OF any kind TO keep
mace with the progress of modern sali-
tation. Prisoners are today subjected
to all kinds of unnecessary inCOn-
VenienCas, especially when suffering
from illness Of any kind. This same
spirft of economy which. until the ad-
vent of Captain Mckee, was practiced
so long that IL became an uuWritten
law. makes il impossible to provide
sick prisoners with any of the little
necessaries to be found in the most
humble sick room
No Emergency Fund.
No emergency fund Of any kind is
allowed the warden by the Department
of Justice, and il a special diet for a
prisoner should become necessary it is
more than likely that the warder
would have 10 provide il himself. A
sick female prisoner for instance,
could not have a cup of tea paid sor
by Government or District funds.
The jail makes for itself an insignifi-
cant sum of money from the sale Of
bones gathered up in the kitchen. but
instead Of permitting this money to
remain IN the care of the warden to
be used at his discretion in cases of
illness or other emergencies, every
cent or this money must 5e turned
over TO the department. To illustrate
this condition OF affairs, one of the
jail officials said today that a calf
was raised at the Jail recently and
SOLD Tor ABOUT ten dollars. This money
Continued on Second PaEel