Evening star., 1909-08-29
THE WAGON" OF THE HOUSE
OF DETENTION.

had intended it to be. No prisoner should
be kept there after his case has been
disposed of in court. MY intention when
/ prevailed upon Congress for such an
institution was to have a place where
the boys, girls and women might be kept
pending the disposal of the cases. The
District should also own a house of it's
own for this purpose, as the rented prop
erty is not at all satisfactory. The really
proper thing would he to have the house
of detention and the Juvenile Court under
the same roof. The object of the house
of detention is TO separate the hardened
criminal from the women and youth of
less experience in crime. Indeed, i be-
lieve that is the proper course to pursue
with all classes CT criminals Boys who
are guilty of certain crimes should be
kept i'll with boys of the same grade; men
the same: women and girls also. Prison
ers should be classified, in short, thus
obviating any extra knowledge of crime
from contact with one another. [ believe
ii would be a wonderful factor in curing
crime"
What about the inebriate asylum YOU
are advoCating2'
THAT also would be a great thing. Men
who are suffering from alcoholism should
be placed in an institution where they
shall receive proper treatment. Things
come slowly, but [ hope to have both a
building for the house of detention and
an inebriate asylum in time. The house
Of detengion is well conducted. Sergt-
Rode is a good officer, and the matrona
under him are capable and conscientious,
hut the accommodation leaves much to be
desired 1t is the only one in the coun-
try"
Besides Sergt. Bode. who has full
charge Of the house of detention. there
are three matrons--Mrs. 5. }. Macleod.
Miss Annie r. Wyman and Mrs. Jennie
Wehrle. These matrons. go in regular
detail of eight hours, the same as the OFF,
GERS of the force. and their duties are
the same-to guard the prisoners. They
have nothing to do with the house ar
rangements. Meals are served to the
prisoners by caterer outside, at 20 cents
for each inmate. The old woman who
serves the meals brought in the after
noon repast just before the visitor de-
parted, and good. wholesome, plentiful
dinner it proved to be. Each person was
served with tin of rich, thick soup, two
large slices of roast beef, three or four
good-siZed potatoes, goodly quantity OF
string beans, and three homemade roHs'
white and haky, besides the coffee TO rinse
it down. 1t was a dinner such as thou
sands of comfortably situated people
would not scorn to partake of under
other conditions.
Down in the basement OF the house OF
detention is the library, consisting OF
worn books sent from the Public Library.
They embrace many of the latest Worhs
of fiction by the best authors. Among
them are a number of juvenile pupiica-
tions, which are kept separated TOT 1ne
use of the children who can or desire 70
read and there is quite a selection or
standard magazines.
ON duty are always to be found an oI1-
Ger in charge, a clerk. a guard, matroh'
q driver and a wagon guard Any ume'
dav or night, that call Is sent IN from
any precinct the horses are hitched To
the conveyance and il is driven with an
speed to the scene of the arrest All prls-
nners are searched and required 10 pathe'
their upper clothing is locked III "aro
robe kept for the purpose, and they are
rap,,;arlv entered as boarders in the
bouse of detention until such time as
the blind goddess shall give a ruling loF
or against them.