The Washington herald., 1911-03-10
COMMISSIONERS
WORRY OYER JAIL
Continued from Page One.

ton, and powers now vested in the At
torney General Of the United States, by
law, in relation to the support of pris-
Oners sentenced to confinement in the
Jail Of the District, including the Gus
tody of the Jail building, grounds. and
appurtenances, and authority over the
warden and employees thereof. and in re-
Iation to and accounting for all appro-
priations in connection with such
prisoners, Jail, warden, and employees.
are hereby transferred to and vested in
the Commissioners of the District Of
Columbia
Will Require Some study.
Commissioner Rudolph said:
The Commissioners scarcely know just
how the matter will work out 1t will
take considerable study. Undoubtedly, a
number of present emproyes will lose
their positions.
Il do not have any idea just who
the new superintendent of the Washing
ton Asylum and Jail will be. Probably
one of the men now connected with the
institutions which the District bill abol-
ishes will receive the appointment. The
Commissioners realize they have a con-
siderable tangle on their hands,
Warden Mckee. of the District Jail, who
years, and is considered an expert in
the handling of prisoners, said:
Il consider the passage of the bill a
mistake. / suppose the reason for the
change is an attempt to effect greater
economy in the running of the institutions.
The salary allowed for the new superin-
tendent is less than the warden of the
Jail received under the old law. 1t is
easy to see that this sort of administra-
.. g.E
conditions where improvement is needed
more than anywhere else.
Some Haziness Seen.
Il have no idea what the Commission
ers intend to do. They seem to be
little hazy about it themselves. They
will not talk to any of US who are in
terested in the matter. and we are all
up in the air. OF course, we know
of offices will be abolished Ny
office, that of DR.. Zinkhan. superintend-
ent of the asylum, and the positions of
other men will be put out of existence.
AS to who will get the superfntendency
1 am not prepared to say. OF course,
have my own ideas about 1t. I am GER
tainIy sorry to see the change made. for
1 feel no good will come of it"
According to Warden Mckee. pris-
being moved to Occoquan, and before
July / the Jail will be empty. After
the greater number have gone, War
den Mckee states. it will be necessary
for the District to hire men to do the
work required for the upkeep of the
establishment which is now being
done by the prisoners.
DR.. Louis F. Zinkhan. superintend- |
ent OF the Washington Asylum. states
hot favn Of ba Of
adjustment are already negotiating
for positions at Occoquan, anticipating
dismissal from the service in Wash |
Ington, on account of the consolidation |
Of the two institutions. While a few
,an find employment at Occoquan, DR.. |
zinkhan states probably a number of
men will be out of work on July /.
DR.. D. X. Shute, visiting physician |
of the District Jail. states t1at the
faithful employees out of work. He !
added:
IF the change will make any improve |
ment in conditions at the Jail, 1. am |
heartily in favor of 1t, for things are |
in bad shape there now 1t is |
lnly through the courtesy of the District |
that sick prisoners at the |
jail are taken care of. We have no |
hospital facilities whatever. and as /
the men often suffer.
TT was not until recently we were |
given money to buy medicines, and no
nurses have ever been allowed. The Red |
Cross Society took pity on our plight /
some time ago and set up a small hos
pital establishment, buh the government
has treated US shabbily I hope the in
novation planned will be beneficial to the
prisoners
The old buildings win probably be used
to limited extent. II seems to be the 1
5!an OF the Commissioners TO use at least
a part of the old buildings for a place
q detention for prisoners held on grand
Iury indictments. The Jail. however, VIII
not be used as a prison for convicts serv-
ng term sentences. The Washington