The Washington times., 1910-09-23
SHORTER DAY PLEA
CAUSES DISMISSAL
WorkhOuSe Guards Make
Formal Complaint to Dis
tTict Commissioners.

It developed today that she dismissal
OF three guards at the District work
house, at OcOquan, for an alleged agi-
JatiOn among their fellows against the
twelve-hour day IN vogue at the insti-
tuition, has caused considerable uneasi-
ness and resentment among the re-
maiEder Of the guards
The three men discharged are WI
fred Harries, e Z Parker. and W. II.
CoIan- They were dropped from the
force last Wednesday No reasons were
given them for their dismissal by the
superintendent, VIII n EVhi5takar. In
a letter to the District Commissioners.
the superintendent alleged the use Of
liquor on the grounds on the part Of
Harries- The others he accused Of gen
eraI ineffciency-
These men have made formal com
plant TO the Commissioners and It is
receiving the attention Of the officials
The attention OF the Central Labor
Union has been called TO the fact that
the eighJ-hour law Is not being OBJ
served at the workhouse, and action has
been JakeUby- that body with q view Of
having the sa-called abuse corrected
WhittakeT's Stand
To Times reporter this morning
SJIPeTiuteudeut Ehit-ak cr. said ne had
discharged the three men partly for
the reason that he had detected them
stirring up discomfort among the men
on account Of the tweIve-hour shit
The letter to the Commissioners set
forth sl7at Harris was in the habit OF
Usin- Heuor on and of the grounds
that on September y CoIIau had per
nitted two prisoners TO escape. and
that EarkeT- was iucafabIe of nanGffu.-
me pTlS0neTS5 that recently he, the SUI
lkeElnLsndent- had to take charge Of
n uT3fu44 prisoner IN Parker'S charge
anC march him 10 the se1la-5h071se-F p
the point of pistol
With the dismissal Of the three men
Mr. Whitaker thought his troubles
were all over He is nov reDosfuzr in
g sense If security when Informed
this morn uS that his guards were srfF
ciss2Crsl1els with the LHeIve-hoflr dav ha
SAD I believe every. man around me
now ls-4oyal and satisfied but If We
have any doubt about II 20 and ask
them for yourself-''-
Discomfort Discussed.
Two Of the guards. while saying that
they we've satisfied personally, told of
having overheard at the mess each dsv
some expressions Of discomfort. The
men say the long day is a hardship
They have 10 keep constant watch upon
the prisoners even while they are eat
ing to see that they do not converse
They have to guard from ten TO fifteen
men and some o.. them very unruly,
every day fn the woods on the hill
The night men complain Of the hard
ships Of The autumn nights They are
compelled to ri-EIeI -iu-v around two
laf5'e-sleeI1flS tens ana ~ morning
they are almost SJi2 from the dew and
the chill air
Some OF the rnen. heartily commend the
management of superintendent Whitta-
ker. This official SAID this morning that
ne could nor see how the institution
could be properly maintained bv eight
hour shifts NJ the guards IN 10 penal
institution that I ever heard of Is IL
done Everywhere. so far know,
TIE guards 70 on IT : O'Clock and work
II elVe hours.
1T would place the prisoners under
clterent guards bOtn day and night,
anal believe interfere with the dis
ClDlne or the place. Besides. 4 would
cost from S12.n1e TO S15c00 more annually
10 TuE the institution We have a def
mite appropriation for this wear, and I
doubt that It Is sufficient to make three
shifts possible
Favors Long Hours
The superintendent declared in favor
Of legislation exempting the vvorJ1ouss
from the operation Of the eight-hour
law
Commissions Rudolph said today that
ne was unaware OF any oiSSa tiSfacIiOn
existing among the guards at Deco
quan, because OF their hours Of labor.
He directed attention 10 the following.
Information which - furnished for the
guidance or persons reoLestfne- aDnIifa-
ton blanks for appointment 10 1OSirf0uS
at the wOTkhOuSe-
applicants must distinctly under
stand, that they viii be required to
work twelve hours a day- and thar in
case OF the escape Of q prisoner. or
in any other emergency. they must
work the number Of hours prescribed
by the superintendent
Every guard before he is appointed