Evening star., 1913-11-23
Law for Indeterminate Incar-
cerati0n Advocated by
Occoquan Head.
WORKHOUSE is SHOWN
TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE
Large Sums Derived From Indus.
trial Features-Improvements
Made.

Need of an indeterminate sentence law
in the District of Columbia is emphasized
in the annual report of W. II. Whitaker,
superintendent of the workhouse at Oc-
coqusn. which has just been received by
the Commissioners.
Mr. Whitaker with Justice Stafford
of the District Supreme Court and John
Joy Edison, president of the board of
charities, compose a committee Whlcn
was appointed by the last board of Com
miSsioners to draw up bill for ieglsla-
ton of this character A draft of the
proposed law is now being considered oy
the corporation counsel. and the Commits
sioners may ask Congress at the next
session to take action on the matter.
In his report Mr. Whitaker states
that, under the fixed sentence system.
II is impossible for inmate of the
vorkhouSe TO realize the purpose of his
commitment and to prepare himself 10
return to society as useful citizen.
Much Progress Made.
Much progress was made in all de-
partments of the workhouse during the
fiscal year that closed June so last, the
report shows.
III Is d pleasure lOT I1ic u Dt dDiC,
at the end of three years of experimental
work TO say that there has been no mis-
take maqe In the system established,
states Mr.. Whitaker "A large percen-
tage of the inmates have been bene-
fitted mentally, morally and physically.
Our records show but few cases of
discipline during the year. This coupled
with the amount of work accomplished
is the best evidence pointing to our sue
cess Experts in the line of prison dis
cipline management who have visited this
institution from various parts OF the
country during the past year have ex-
pressed approval of the scheme of simple
construction of buildings and adoption of
sanitary and other features looking 10
physical and moral betterment of those
committed to our care
The report contains interesting figures
showing the revenue-producing ac-
tivities of the institution last year. The
brick plant turned out 3.53O,437 brick.
which. valued at the rate OF 50 per
thousand. represented revenue OF
32I.132.62. Another source of income
was the stone-crushing plant. 1t is
stated that 1921 yards of crushed stone
was turned out. this product being val
ued at $5.421.75.
Value Of Inmates Labor.
Attached to the report is table in
dicating the number of days work per-
formed by the inmates, which is es-
timated to be worth noninally to the
District s77.742. This amount of
money states Mr.. Whitaker. ''the
MANAGEMENT feels should be considered
on the credit side of our account, as
the Improvement to the farm in the
clearing of ground, construction of
brick plant. stone-crushing plant barn
and other Improvement are assets worth
double the sum Of $77,742"
Mr. Whitaker discusses the uses to
which the new tugboat purchased for the
workhouse will be put and the problem
Of the distribution of manufactured
products
''The appropriation of $4,000 given us
by Congress for the purchase of a new
tugboat and $4,000 for the purchase OF
barges will place our floating plant in
we shall need few more barges than
the $4,000 will provide in order to take
care of the output of the brick plant, the
stone-crushing plant and the transporta-
cient amount OF fertilizer for the land
We will have under cultivation.
Twelve Barges Needed
1T will require at least twelve barges
of minimum capacity of 100 tons each
for this work. The $4,000 will provide
for six of this capacity. With the float
ing plant 1t will be necessary to have a
gasoline launch with sufficient power to
shift our barges at the wharves from
time to time. and 1T is also possible that
il will be necessary for US to bring from
the White House tract sufficient clay to
mix our shale for making certain prod
ucts such as drain tile, paving blocks
ana partition tile
with our industrial plants complet-
ed il is important that the most econon-
ical and satisfactory arrangement for
the distribution OF our products should
be made. The plan that We now have
OF transporting all our products to the
superintendent of the sewerage pumping
station wharf is not satisfactor from the
standpoint of economy for the reason
the wharf Is located too far from the
points OF delivery: / would therefore
recommend that all the manufactured
products of the institution be delivered to
the yards of the purchasing officer of the