The Washington times., 1909-01-11
Special Commission Points
Out Need of New
Buildings.
CHANGE OF METHOD
ALSO SUGGESTED
Would Have One Head Working
Under the Board of
Commissioners.

! have not 1elt themselves empowered to
/ DO this. But even If we accept the view
! mat courts have authority indefinitely
10 suspend sentences. Notwithstanding
| the express mandate OF the Legislature
| lndL upon conviction a. prescribed pun
iSnmenJ shall follow. we are still i'm
/ TINS pOsItlOn-thaL there is no officer in
/ whose care the released person can be
paced there IS 10 system for follow
/ ing up AlS subsequent career and in
forming the court whether he should be
! lett at liberty or brought back and sent
! 10 prison. and there lis no system by
Whlcn ne can be warned, guided, en-
CQuldgeus and assisted to become good
/ clJlzen instead of rclapsng into crime.
RefOrmatOry Proposed
The need for e. refOrmatory i'm the Dis
trict is dwelt upon at length in the re-
port 1t is proposed to erect such a
building ON a large tract OF land. at
least 1000 acres, belonging to the Gov
eminent, in Maryland or Virginia. ON
this land it IS proposed TO erect in
dustrlal shops. The work Of clearing
ana construction would furnish OCCupa-
uon for hundreds sent TO the TelOrma-
tory The goods turned out in the shops.
the commission suggests, could he USED
Dy the departments of the District gov
eFhneut. Hours of instruction could be
PROVIDED for elementary training of tie
inmates Of The reformatOry.
For the WOTkhOusg, the commission
likewise recommends the purchase Of q
large tract of land, to which the WORK
mouse could be removed. The transfe-
OF the cells from the present building {.
q new one could be done I'm large part
by the prisoners themselves
Inc commission does not feel war
ranieQ IN recommending the establish
menL or q penitentary in the District
at this time. Instead il recommends
sendlng such prisoners TO the Uuised
states peniteutiaTies
FavoTs Parole System.
While favgring a law defining an habI-|
tual criminal as one who has deliberate
ly chosen TO lead a life of crime. and
fixing the penalty for being an habitual
/ criminal as life imprisonment, the com
mission al the same time favors a parots
system. Under such a system It is pro-
posed TO keep a man released on parole
| before the expiration of his term, under
conditions that viii prevent his again
| falling into crime. The parole system
parole board.
II is, Furthermore, proposed to set
apart for the prisoner or for his family
/ upon his release, part Of his earnings
with the Jail, the worIrhouse. and
q reICImalCTEs maintained by the Dis
iT1CL under the methods hereinbefOTe
recommended the report continues,
the management and control Of these
institutions should be vested In a sin
gle head appointed by and responsible
/ TO the District Commissioners"
This officer should have some such
tltle as Commissioner of Correction He
should be chairman OF 2 board to bs
known as a board Of uahugemeut of ua-
/ role, consisting Of himself and two 9th
/ er members. one OF whom should be ons|
faa q
Olher a prominent citizen Of the District,
/ the latter serving without pay.
Advisory Council
BESIDES passing upon cases Of Parole.
this board SHOULD constitute an advisory
council TO the Commissioner Of Correc-
ton, in the management OF these insti-
JutiOus. 1T would take charge Of an
moneys earned by prisoners while I'm
[ confinement. ana under rules and reggI-|
laLl0ns dl5JuTsg the same to the prison
ers' families, and to the prisoners them
/ selves while on parole or even after
their fun terms have expired i'm pass
ing upon all applications for parole care
should be taken 90 see that the privilege
is not extended to hablrual or profess
slOnal criminals, even when they have
earned all the marks provided for bv|
the prison system
This class should be completely ideu-|
titled and the Justice OF their detention
I g
tenn Of measurements should be kept by
which offenders could Dee identified
"a large proportion OF the offeuses are
committed by COlUrgd people" states the
commission. iu the course OF an interest
/ ing discussion of The color line in the
crime o. the District
Away From Parkway.
1.-THE Question OF the removal OF the
workhoJse from its present site should
| also be considered IN connection with
/ those plans 20 grace and beautlfy the
/ city which have been outlined by the
I Park Commission states the commits
sion In conclusion. "a glance at a man
/ Of the District ON which these plans
( have been laid down viii show that
Lney contemplate q driveway along the
western bank or the AuaC9stia river
which would necessarily proceed along
this very tract which Is now dedicated
/ TO tho punishment of crime the treat
meut of contagious diseases. the Crema-
/ ton OF the dead, and quarantine for
/ the smallpox.
THE system we are invited to pro-
pose is system for the District OF
Columbia the seat of the National Gov
/ eminent The capital of a. nation.
/ though 81 lie at the level Of the sea, is
! Whether We wish it or not, It will be
/ observed Of all observers, and its infu-
/ euCe VIII go out for good or Tor evil iu
| every direction and possibly 10 every
! nook and corner OF the land.
/ 1--WE wish 10 see a system adopted
which may become n model to all Tho
are seeking TO improve their own i'm
/ situations and policies. and which shall
! be worthy % form part of the law of
4 a wise and just peonIe."
/ REALTY TRANSFERS