Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-24
FORCE.
us. PRISON
INQUIRY
Congressman Asserts Truth of
Accusations Against U. S.
Warden Must Come Out.

declaring tnat should the Depart
ment of Justice refuse to act on the
charges of unfit conditions at the Fed =
| eral prison, made by Julian Haw-
thorne and others, he would carry the
| matter into the National Congress,
Congressman William Schley Howard
in a statement Thursday reiterated
his intention to force a full invesi-
CATION.
Mr.. Howard stated that he would
introduce a resolution into Congress
| upon his return to Washington ask
ing the appointment of a Congress
sional committee to carry on this in
vestigation. He avowed that this was
demanded in justification to humani-
| ty, If the charges proved true, and
for the exoneration of Warden Moy-
er, IL the accusations are untrue.
Senator Hoke Smith. who made a
istuur-of Inspection OF the PRISON w ed
nesday, refused to make a statement
Thursday. He stated that he had
formed no opinion SO far which ne
allegations, and would not say what
his action would be when he returned
to Washington.
Mr.. Towards statement follows:
Charges Serious.
Reputable people have made
charges as to the conduct of the Fed
eral prison These charges in their
character are serious. Maltreatment
of the prisoners Is ALLEGED in that
they are not sufficiently fed and that
their physical condition is being i'm
paired by the lack of nutritious food
and proper medical attention.
THE Department of Justice,
through the press, has stated that
these are statements made by per-
sons who have no knowledge Of the
conditions at the prison-that they
are false in their entirety.
Fully realizing that Incarceration
of those who violate the law is alb
solutely necessary for the safety Of
society and the detriment of crime,
and that those who fall into the tolls
of the law should not have furnished
them the comforts of life while serv-
ing their sentences, and that punish
ment in some form or other Is nee
essary for the maintenance of dis
cipline in this prison, have refrained
from giving to the public who are
interested from a standpoint of hui
mainly in these prisoners my views
of the present conditions.
Congress Entitled to Truth.
Congress Is entitled to the whole
truth about the administration of af-
fairs in this institution. If the De-
partment Of Justice does not make a
full, free and impartial investigation
| shall introduce a resolution upon
my return to Washington, asking for
the appointment of a Congressional
committee to visit this prison and as
certain the whole truth. If these men
are underfed Congress should know
1t; If the statements made in the
local press are untrue, the public
should know 1t In justice to the war;
den and other officials in charge.
IF conditions are brought about by
insufficient appropriations for sub
sistence the sooner 1t Is known the
better it will be for the men confined.
II discipline is lacking the cause for
its existence should be determined
and speedily corrected, II the most
4 H. 81 he
to.
$50 far as / am concerned. this is
all / have to say until | speak with
the authority Of Congress behind me
and those with whom l shall be ASSOC
ciated."