The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-30

He COmmends Work of the 10.
peka Rotary Club.
THE HERON TABLET CRAZE
It's Bad Influence Upon YOuth
of Topeka.
Topeka Judge Tells Of Exlstl"s
Local Conditions.

Judge George A. Huron OF the CT
notice court has written to Dr. .,
Crumbine. member of the Topeka ~
tarv. club. commencing that organic
ton for the stand it is taking III NE
affairs and telling of the lha az, We
accommodations at the CITY Jan. of
tells of the demoralizing laa,u
the heroin tablet craze IN Iopen"
The communication follows: ,,,,e
have carefully read the ooun.o
n.pa frustrated article on the iopeAa
Rotary club. published in the o' a.
journal January 16, ana SO La, q" Nv
lists inform, find you to pe .ns of
member of the club repTe s'. th;s rea-
tho medical fraternity. For tnis
son. in addition to the conversation l"u
y-;th Won on the subject. l write you
with reference to some of the prooless'
tnat not only confront the police cour.,
but the entire citizenship OF iopeHa
this time. l assure you anu .aS It'll
club that 7 am in full sympathy wiz,
~. ,,,rnoses of YOUR organization ana
am of the opinion that the conipoSI..ot
Of tho club as to membership IS sucii
as to produce results.
Jail a Disgrace.
In my thirty years OF residence ~
Topeka prior to appointment as poiS
nudge. l had not been inside the ouliu
ing at police headquarters oo.en
times
0uiry. Consequently gave no lnspeclion
or thought of the conditions there. Like
other citizens, l had treated the puilo
ing from it's outside appearance as
rather good looking. but from the Iirs'
day of my tenancy l have peeh i'ii
pressed with it's entire failure to meet
the wants Of the city for the purposes
Of its creation. and unite with the citi-
ems of Topeka who have since theh
examined It, in the opinion that II IL
standing disgrace to any CITY OF MY
thousand population, and especially 10
the capital Of Kansas.
The police court is the only impie-
ment for enforcing the laws of the city
The police force and city attorney are
doing their part in arresting and prose-
cutting yiolators Of law, but the only
machinery furnished by the laws OF
the city is the infliction of fine. The
fine assessed, then the ordinances are
mandatory upon the police Judge 10
confine the violator in the city Jail
until the fine is paid. The law also
provides that the violator may pay his
fine in cash or in work at 81 per day
for his labor. No further provision is
made. SO that the only implement for
the punishment Of law violators and
for their improvement in labor or NOR
ais is the jail, a pile Of rock and
hammer. Some citizens condemn the
judge because he does not at least pay
a portion of the wages Of laborers to
the family. when the facts are. that
the only product of the laborers is
broken rock or janitor work in the
building, and that the cost. in the meals
eaten by the prisoners, Is to the city
60 cents per cord more for the broken
rock than if the rock was bought al
ready crushed at the quarry.
The building was erected when the
population Of Topeka was about eight
thousand. Provision was made for the
supposed comfort of twelve prisoners.
Even in the olden times 'he number of
prisoners frequently ran from forty to
fifty.
No Hospital Provisions.
There are no hospital provisions.
so that when prisoner is seriously
sick he has to be sent to hospital or
paroled to be taken care OF by his
friends
One of the problems continually
confronting the police judge, 1 will
illustrate by a case in hand. A prisoner
% years old, was born in Topeka his
parents died when he was a small
child, has been known as a law viO-
1ator since before he shed his knee
pants; was confined in the State Re-
form school: but has been a law vio-
lator since his release. During my
term he has been arrested seven times,
his conduct having been SO outrage
Gus that he merited heavy penalties
Has been credited with eighty DAYS
work. has been paroled each time
because of his condition from dis
ease that can not be politely
named here. Paroled twice upon his
representation that he would go to
Hot Springs and stay there until he
could be cured. At other times fol
care by his friends and medical at
tendance here, but persiSting in his
return he is still with us, in a condi.
ton unspeakable and unprintable, his
presence being a menace to the other
prisoners. A basement room has beer
comfortably fixed for him, but the
city has no provision for any care
whatever of such cases. He pleads fol
parole but the law comforting thai
authority upon the police judge, spe
Critically requires that before he shall
exercise the authority. he shall bs
will not again violate the law or the
ordinances of the city. In this case
the conduct of the party has been 81
persistent in violating every promise
OF good behavior that the judge find!
1t impossible ito be satisfied"
To emphasize this impossibility i.
the fact that if paroled, the party will
be a constant menace to the people
with whom he associates, conee
quenty constant menace to the
does not stand alone. but is sufficien
of itself for discussion by the Rotar,
club and for emphasizing the demand.
of every hour for the past % months
for proper provision for law viola
tors in Topeka. To make this provi
sions. the first requirement is tn,
passage of law authorizing cities Il
do the necessary things. Such a bill
is now before the legislature, ant
should be carefully examined as t.
whether or not any Improvements car
be made in its provisions. have no
seen the bill. consequently do no
know that it lacks anything
Leaving this subject with the singl
illustration, 1 call your attention to al
other very serious problem, namely:
The HerOin Tablet Craze.