The Washington herald., 1909-01-12

With the transmission to Congress yes
terday Of the special report urging i'm
provement OF the cIty's penal system, and
the Presidents recommendation 'hat
Congress take immediate action on the
matter prepared BY Justice Stafford, X
V. La Dow, and John Joy Edison. the
first victory. after years of fighting on
the part OF citizens OF East Washington.
has been won
The enactment Of the most radical
change suggested by the committee viii
only be ample repayment TO the residents
Of that section OF Washington nearest
the penal institutions. who have been
constantly pleading for a reform, said q
prominent member Of Congress.
The general opinion among Senators
yesterday indicates that definite and
speedy action viii be taken on the re-
port, and 1t may be expected that the
District Of Columbia viii have a model
penal system in a comparatively short
time.
Parole OF Prisoners.
Since the bill authorizing The parole
OF prisoners is now before the Senate,
and likely 10 be enacted into a law be
fore many days. one of the important
recommendations Of the special com
mission viii soon be realized. The other
recommendations and suggestions con-
tained in the document relate more or
less 10 local changes, and viii probably
mass both Houses Of Congress with 1T
tie opposition
In his message appended 70 the report
President Roosevelt states: 1t is no
longer a question whether something
shall be done. SUt only a question as 70
what snail be done, for il IS quite i'm
possible that the existing situation
should continue
The overcrowding Is great in the work
house. and greater still in the jail, where,
OF the go inmates, 800 are serving sen
tences IN absolute idleness. with no en-
ployment and no exercise; IN most cases
two or three are confined in single cell
not large enough for one"
The three commissioners, after an ex-
tensive- investigation Of the District sit
Uation made shortly after their appoint
ment last May. visited forty OF the prin-
ciDaI penal institutions Of the country
and upon returning here several months
ago, decided upon the system suggested
TO Congress yesterday
The sweeping changes advocated are IS
fOIIbws:
Sweeping Changes Urged.
That the class Of prisoners not
proper 70 be sent either 10 the reform
atory or the workhouse be sent for
the present 10 the United States peni-
tentaries al Leavenworth and Allan
"a, and that for the present no peni-
Tertiary be erected specially for the
District
That the Jail be used as the house
Of detention after its interior shall
have been mOdeTniZed-
That q probation system be estab-
Iished at once by enacting a simple
and inexpensive probation law.
That q parole law be enacted.
That a reformatory be established
upon a tract Of land Of not less than
100 acres, widely separated from any
other penal institution, consisting Of
uureclaimed land which can be cleared,
cultivated, and built upon By the pris-
oners themselves; that eventually
there shall be established upon this
tract shops wherein a variety OF in
dustries may be taught and carried
on, the product being easily cOnsUm-
aDle BY the various District depart
ments-
That another tract OF land OF equal
size be obtained at once as the site for
q wOrkhOUse; that this also be re-
claimed land upon which the work
house prisoners may be put 10 work
preparing the land for cultivation and
erecting the necessary buildings.
The Presidents message is IN part as
follows.
The report is Of such exceptional I'm
pOrtance that 1 ask the Congress 10 con
slider We'll ell that IS therein set forth.
The Congress authorized the appoint
ment- Of this commission. marked out the
course Of its inquiry, and invited its rec
concentrations The report, therefore, IS
10 be treated not as offered advice or vol
unteeTed opinion, but as q direct answer
20 the questions put by the Congress,
- AA-NAar Al e-tAts1-eAAA~S. were q AO-lDAS-
Il What IS the real condition Of
things at the workhouse and the jail2
- Ought either or both these insti-
tuIions be removed?
"3 What ought 10 be done gen
orally in respect to the penal and
correctional system Of the District?
Immediate action is imperative unless
We are t6 be still further committed 10
the present unfortunate programme Of
District action concerning the matters
touched upon.
More than year ago the Congress
appropriated $4,000 70 build a new wing
20 the present WorkhOUse- Later il re-
QUired this commission 10 inquire and
report whether the workhouse ought not
to be removed.
'ThereUpOn the District Commissioners
declined TO award any contract TO build
the new wing until this report should
come in. so that the Congress might have
an opportunity 10 act upon II. If, how
ever, the Congress should omit 70 act
hey would doubtless feel bound to pro-
ceed with that work.
Opinion of Practical Men.
This report represents the opinion OF
practical men All three Commissioners
are publIc-spirited citizens. who, at great