The Washington times., 1909-01-11
SENDS A REPORT
OF COMMISSION
Praises Three Members For Untir-
ing Work and Splendid
Suggestions.
Continued from First Page

we are TO be still further committed TO
the present unfortunate program Of Dis
trIct action concerning the matters
touched upon. More than a year ago
the Congress appropriated $4,000 to
build a new wing TO the present work
house. Later it required this commits
sion 10 inquire and report whether the
workhouse ought not TO be removed.
Thereup0u 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 to act upon It If,
however. the Congress should omit TO
act, they would doubtless feel bound
to proceed with that work.
All Practical Men.
This report represents the opinion Of
practical men. All three Of the COM
missioners are philosophical citizens,
who, at great cost of time and con
venIence. and with a disinterestedness
which makes the entire community
their debtor, have made the thorough
Investigation the result OF which I put
before you 1Ir. Edison has lived in
Washington for more than forty years,
and has been honorabIy associated with
nearly every practical movement for
social betterment I'm this city. Mr..
I-aDow IS superintendent OF Federal
prisons. and has had many years' ex-
perience with prisoners and prisons.
Judge Stafford. the chairman OF the
commission. who consented to serve
only from the highest sense OF public
duty. has gained his knowledge from
his experience in court. eight years Of
which have been upon the bench, and
two years I'm the Criminal Court OF the
District The report sets forth wildly
the really outrageous conditions In the
workhouse and Jail
The overcroWding IS great lu the
workhouse. and greater stil iu the Jail,
where, of the 600 inmates, 900 are serv-
1 ing. sentences IN absolute idleness. with
no employment and no exercise; I'm
most cases two or three are confined
IN a single cell not large enough for
one. They belong, moreover, 10 a class
OF prisoners that specially need and
dread to be put TO work
What Question Is.
Tt is no longer question whether
something shall be done, but only
question as 90 what shall be done, for 1t
is quite impossible that the existing
situation should continue. The present
antiuuated and unsatisfactory plan
ought not 10 be considered for a mo-
meuL
The report takes up the criminal prob
lem ln general, lays down the true priu-
cipIes concerning the treatment OF
criminals, deals with conditions here ia
washington which have a manifest
tendency TO produce crime, and urges
their removel-cousidering especially
the dark and narrow alleys and UNI
wholesome dwellings where most or the
criminal population pass their days.
IL makes six SPECIFIC recommended
lions, as follows
l. a Jail to be used only as a house Of
detention and never as q place where
prisoners should be sent to serve seu-
( LeuCcs-
p a probation system for cases that
do not absolutely require imprisonment
ReformatoTy Needed.
g a r=formatory for all who must be
|frurIeoned and yet are hopeful cases.
A. A vgorI-Louse for those who are not
I hopeful cases and yet are not such as
/ must be sent TO "a peutueEuary-
O. Confinement IN a peuiten-laTy for
/ the worst Offenders.
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