The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-26
DISTRICT PRISONS
WILL BE IMPROVED
Mr.. Mcfarland Makes Re-
ply to Charges.
NEW INSTITUTIONS PLANNED
Statement that Washington Prisons
Are Worst in United states Denied.
Remedy of Present Conditions Elk
pected Within a Few Years.

Denial Of Attorney General Wicker
sham's statement that Washington
prisons are the worst in the United
States" and a belief that the present I'M
fortunate conditions will be remedied
within year, were expressed by Com
missioner Macfarland yesterday.
Commissioner Macfarland has just re-
turned from a two days trip TO Kansas
City. where he was given a chance to in
spect the prisons and compare them with
those here
Il don't want to mitigate conditions
here he said, for al present they are
very bad. But I do not think that they
are the worst in the country. We VIII
be able, when our new buildings are com
pleted TO accommodate all Washington
offenders for some time TO come"
Remedy Coming Soon.
THE Commissioners are moving as rap
idly as possible he continued, in the
acquisition Of two 1.00O-acre tracts in Vir-
ginia or Maryland FOR the new work
house and the new reformatory. which
will remedy the bad conditions in our
penal institutions.
i hope that within year the men
now in overcrOwded cells may be At
work on these tracts. The whole matter
has been presented from time 10 time
by the Commissioner. 10 Congress At
the beginning OF the last session Of Con-
gress' when the report OF the penal COM
mission, consisting of Justice Stafford
John Joy Edison. and Mr.. La Dow. Of the
Department Of Justice. was presented
giving complete statement OF the bad
conditions and suggestions for their i'm
proYement including the establishment OF
workhouse and reformatory on COO
acre tracts, which must be outside OF the
District Of Columbia. since there are no
1,0o0-acre tracts available within Il.
We pressed the matter before Con
gress and obtained the authority and
appropriation necessary TO purchase the
tracts and begin the erection OF build
ings. One tract has already been select
ed, and the question Of the title referred
I TO the Department Of Justice, in order
that. II necessary, condemnation proceed
ings may be had, and the other is soon
70 be determined.
THE process Of selecting these sites
has been a difficult one. but the Com
missioners have FASTENED It as much as
possible We are fully alive 20 the bad
Z
soon 10 be removed"
Best Warden I'm United States.
The Commissioner said the visit TO the
Federal prison at Fort Leavenworth.
near Kansas City. was OF special interest
to him because Of the task the Commits
sioners now have IN hand for providing
suitably for the District workhouse and
! fha DisfrfC+ r-aforr,o+o,-,- TO- 81. f...--..-
ment OF the District penal system. Mai.
! McClaughry. the warden Of the Federal
I prison. considered the best warden in the
[ United states. was a remarkable man.
Mr.. mcfarland said. and had had Won
derful success both IN the construction of
the buildings OF the penitentiary and in
the discipline and reformation Of pris-
oners.
BY utilizing the prison labor. under
I skilled direction. Maj. McClaughry has
constructed buildings worth at least twice
I as much as the money expended on them,
and when completed they will be worth
100000
} The prison conditions are such as 10
encourage the men 10 do their best 10
obey the rules and 10 do their work BY
/ having a wall thirty feet high, by keep
/ ing the men usefully employed, by giving
them all they want TO eat Of nOurishing
4 food, by providing religious exercises and
4 wholesome entertainment. and by allow
/ ance Of time for good behavior, shorten
\ Ing sentence according to a mans own
| conduct Maj McClaughry had brought
about an admirable condition among the
/ 900 prisoners, which should be a model
/ Mr.. Macfarland thinks for the future
! treatment Of prisoners in the District
! institutions. on the day Of his visit the
/ six cells provided for punishment by
/ solitary confinement vere all empty. Nc
/ corporal punishment is allowed, and
moral sUasion is the rule. although the
refractory may be kept in solitary con-
I dnement on bread and water for a time