Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-25
DEMOCRAT BOARD SCORED
Finds it Is Not Right to Change
Superintendent of Home
for Political Reasons.
FINDS VICE IS INCREASING
Delinquency Greater in Omaha
Since the Abolition of the
Segregated District.
AGAINST FAKE AUCTIONS

Super-hot criticism OF conditions
in certain public institutions, charges
OF laxity on the part OF the police de-
partment in enforcing the law, scath-
ing denunciation OF alleged existing
evil in pool halls, strong recommends
ton for change in the Albert law, so
that prostitution can be confined to
a restricted district, instead OF spread
ing throughout the city, as is alleged,
and pertinent suggestions that changes
be made in the way some officials are
conducting their offices are some of
the high lights in the report of the
Douglas county grand jury, which
was made yesterday noon to Judge
Sears just before the body adjourned
after four weeks session OF investi-
eating and indicting.
The inquisitorial body returned for
ty-three true bills in its months ses-
sion behind closed doors on the fourth
floor of the court house.
High Cost of Living.
In considering the H. c. of L. the
grand jury recommended that, on ac-
count of the high cost of foodstutfs,
steps should be taken to increase the
present allowance of 81 cents day
for feeding prisoners in the county
jail. The grand jurors declared that
the present sum, in their judgment,
was insufficient for the purchase Of
food of the proper quantity and quail
ity.
The action of the democratic board
in changing superintendents at the
Riverview Detention home was rap
ped by the grand jury in its report.
The former management was ca
pable and should have been retained"
the report said. Ills unfortunate for
the county that with every change in
political control it is deemed neces-
sary to make change in our county
institutions. Civil service, in our judg-
ment, should prevail"
The grand jury noted lack of pro-
baton wards in various children's
homes and day nurseries inspected by
the body The report said that the
Child Saving Institute was the only
one provided with a ward of this ma
turc.
On Maternity Homes.
The report observed that maternity
homes, though few in number, are
regularly conducted, are in good SAN
itary. condition, and, with two exccp-
tions, are operated under proper
licenses"
The work of the juvenile court was
commented on favorably by the body.
The 1917 edition of the grand jury
admitted that it couldn't find words
strong enough to condemn the city
jail-and said so. The report of the
jurors insisted that words would abb
solutely fail to adequately express our
feelings in the matter" A disgrace
to the CITY," a "veritable fre-trap,
where employees and prisoners daily
risk their lives" were couple of the
far from complimentary appellations
applied to it. That the city commits
sion, in case of fire and attendant
loss of life, could be held criminally
liable, was a phase of the report.
Recommends New Jail.
A new central police station and
commodious Jail, two subpolice sta
tions, one in the northern part of the
city and the other in the western
portion, and the abandonment of the
present quarters at the earliest posi-
bic time, were recommendations.
The report said that the grand
jury found the workhouse to be in
good condition. The city commits
sioners were commended for keeping
the prisoners constantly employed
and especially for using them for
public work.
While the grand jury's report
stated that the South Side city hal
building was in exceptionally good
condition, the Jail, located south o.
the city hall, was vigorously panned
Conditions in the jail, the report said
"are deplorable." A general over
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