Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-10
TO PUSH THROUGH
JAIL IMPROVEMENTS
FreehoIders Vote to Go Ahead
With Work at
Once.

Despite objections on the part of
Freeholders Richard f. Malta and
John II. Waters, the Board of Free
holders yesterday afternoon, by
vote Of to 2, decided to go ahead at
once with improvements to the coun-
ty Jail that will assure better accom-,
modations for witnesses detained
there. This matter was the subject
of presentment by the December
grand Jury a week ago Thursday, and
was taken up with the building COM
mittee of the freeholders by Chief
Justice william S. Gummere last
Wednesday.
Mr.. Malta asked that the matter
De laid over for further consdera-
ton, contending that II was a waste
of money to spend money in additions
TO the old jail, when a new structure
was what was really needed. The old
building was antiquated, he declared,
and that o new Jail should be built
outside the corporate limits of the
city.
Mr.. Matthias contention was that
prisoners sentenced to terms longer
than thirty days should be sent to
the penitentiary and given an OPP
portunity to work out their SEN
fences. which would relieve the con-
gestion at the county jail, where, at
the present time, offenders are con-
lined for periods ranging from thirty
days up, and in addition the witt
nesses held for pending cases are
kept there. He referred to an in
vestigation made recently by a spe-
cial committee of the freeholders
relative TO a plan for the centraliza-
ton of the county buildings In the
vicinity OF Verona and said that the
proper steps to be taken would be
the erection of an addition to the
penitentiary, which would relieve
this congestion complained of by the
Grand Jury.
He declared that ali prisoners
should be put to work whenever IL
was possible and that the Jail should
be Kept only for those awaiting trial
or sentence.
Freebooter Cardwell maintained
that the Board of Freeholders has no
alternative in the matter of making
provision for additional quarters be-
cause the law places the responsibility
upon them to provide adequate ac-
commodations, and IL these are not
provided the freeholdefs are liable to
Indictment. Mr.. cardwell admitted
that the witnesses would be better off
at the present time If they were put
in cells rather than in the witness
rooms now provided for them.
Mr. Malta declared that the pro-
posed Improvement would cost in ex-
cess of the $4,000 estimated by the
architect, whose plans were accepted
last fall, anu maintained that the adj
dition would not help the situation.
He haracterized the warning ex-
pressed by Justice Gummere OF an
indictment as folly" he said there
was no danger OF such action SO long
as the board was doing it's duty.
Personally, l would be willing TO
stand an indictment and take a
chance on conviction rather than vote
for such useless expenditure" de-
clared Mr.. Malta.
Mr.. Matthias idea was that with
the contamination of the larger plan
of extending TIE facilities of the peni-
Tertiary, the jail could be remodeled
MT an inconsiderable cost for the ac-
commodation of the short term
prisoners.
On the other hand Director Evans
took the stonjG chat there would be
no waste OF money IN making the adj
6ition To the jail, and mentioned the
many Grand Jury presentments on
this subject. He urged the approval
81 PIE resolution fostering the add
ton. He called the present quarters
unbearable ana said that the board
was not dealing with an alleged con-
dition but with real facts. He de-
cared t9at the same arguments were
used by the opposition two years ago,
b''t nothing had been done to remedy
the conditions.
Bids for the enlargement of the
jail In accordance with the plans pre-
pared by Architect Kreitler and APP
proved by the freeholders year
ago, will be received on April %, at
p. m. This date was set by the
building committee at special meet
ing held following the meeting of the
board.
The building committee was au-
thorizad to rent suitable offices for
the county board Of taxation in order
hat the present quarters of the COM
mission in the Court House may be
fitted out for the accommodation OF
petit jurymen.
The action of the building commit
tee in having the plans for the pig
pens at the Overlook asylum pre-
pared and the contract awarded was
approved and the committee was
authorized to proceed with the con-
struction of the buildings. Cardell
& Romano were awarded the contract
at S11 $50 Freeholders Waters, Quinn
and Stecls opposed the proposition.