Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-16
Meyer Sends Denial
to The Georgian.

10 ll6 VOO1 S1oIl'
Warden Meyer. who has been in In
danapolis attending the annual con-
vention Of the American Prison As
ISOLATION, wired a sweeping denial
10 The Georgian as soon as he learned
the nature of the charges against his
administration.
u will welcome any investigation
authorized" he telegraphed, "and l
know that absolutely no truth in the
eharges will be found.
Your telegram reCiting the sensa-
tional charges made by Hawthorne
and Morton has been wired to the
Attorney General with request for
the most searching investigation pos
sible to the end that the exact truth
be ascertained and given the great
est publicity"
Howard to Demand Probe.
Close on the heels of the bitter
criticisms uttered by Hawthorne and
Morton. another sensation was sprung
by Congressman William Schley
Howard, Of the Fifth Georgia Dis
trict. who declared that he will de-
mand an immediate investigation by
the proper authorities and that he
waE going 20 maIss personal inspec-
ton Of the prison as soon as Warden
Meyer returned.
The Georgia Congressman asserted
that he was aware of the truth OF
Of a yyfh
Morton and that the conditions de-
SCr,bed constituted a shame to the
Federal Government and certain Of
the men in charge Of the administra-
zion of the prison
II am not prepared to say exactly
What weight the charges of Haw-
thorne and Morton will have with the
Government" said Congressman
Howard, but | do know that | am
going to start an investigation of
The institution from top to bottom.
! know that what these two men
have said is true, in part, if not en-
ureIy, The Government has relied
~ the men in charge for a humane
and efficient administration. Certain
NJ the local officials are responsible
for the disgraceful conditions that ex-
.st | am out to find just where the
responsibility lies.
u am not as yet bringing charges
against any particular man at the
prison. but I am naming the prison
olhcials as the resting place for the
responsibility. There will be time
enough to partiCulari2e after the in
NrSugation has started"
Charges Too Much Self Praise.
Congressman Howard charged that
The prison and certain Of its Of
metals had been receiving entirely too
much favorable newspaper notice and
minated that they had been press
aSening' themselves and some Of
Inc features of their work which they
wished to call TO the attention Of the
Department of Justice
one reads much of the cleanli-
ness OF the prison. Of baseball games,
9l prison newspapers, he said But
! know that playing baseball and
TuIlIhg a newspaper on an empty
stomach is small enjoyment even for
man who is detained against his
will.
Hawthorne and Morton. I believe
ana hope, placed their estimate Of
lhe cost Of meals to the prisoner d
little low. Nine cents a day is their
estimate. To the best OF my knowI-
edge this cost now runs between liz
ana IL cents, nearer the lower figure
Tor the greater part Of the time
Average Prison Menu.
rms Is about the average menu
,9r one day at the Atlanta Federal
Prison:
Breakfast i n potatoes.
bread, butter and black coffee.
DlHner-BOiled beef (about
'hree times a week., baked pota-
toes or cabbage and bread Some
Omes string beans are served in
stead of one of the other vege-
tables, but never but one vegeta-
bic
Supper-Hot rolls and syrup or
one-third of a pie.
ANY one can see that this is not
oE any means sufficient for a man
VINO has to engage the greater part
'f me day in manual labor. Any
nan VINO has to put up with this
>o!L and amount OF food can but
'lffeT an impairment OF health.
l understand that negro head
COX who does not know his business
IN charge of the kitchen and that
AIRED" -
What Hawthorne and Morton had
say about the food riot is common
NoWledge. The officials actively in
.~fSe are responsible. The Govern
'ehI makes the appropriations. but
'es not consider the administration
j a[lalrs locally in each prison.
however much a man or set OF
zen may deserve credit for introduce
's baseball into a Federal prison. a
'aNl mat the sustenanCe of each
man costs but 20 or II cents a day is
crying shame"