Norwich bulletin., 1919-01-14
WESTERLY

One of the most pressing needs of
Westerly, next to hospital, is an ad-
junct to the police department, a place
for the detention of juveniles, women,
the insane, and a place for tho treat
nIent of emergency cases by accident
or ether misfortune. At present all
such cases that come within the po-
lice care must be placed in the cell
room, the same as occupied by crimi-
nails of high or low degree awaiting
trial. There is a large unoccupied
room in the basement of the town hal
building, that could readily be con-
vcrted for juvenile and emergency
cases, and the work of transforma-
ton, including sanitary appliances,
could be done at cost of $1,000 and
perhaps less. Police Chief Brown has
such plan in contemplation and may
present it at the next meeting of the
town council, preliminary to action at
TIE annual financial town meeting
The plan provides TO: a partition in
the open area, leading 70 this large
unoccupied room that would serve as
an Office for the matron, whenever
such service would be requ/A I'd, and
other partitions in the room dividing
the women's from the juvenile depart
ment and between both there Is am
PIE space for q large bath room. These
rooms could be supplied with cots for
the boys, and beds for the women and
emergency cases
1t would not be necessary TO have
a matron on duty at all times. a S such
cases are not frequent in West erly,
hut the plan provides for the appoint
ment of a matrOn, subject to call, and
to receive remuneration for actual SER
vice rendered Her presence would
F.F
der arrest, or within police control
temporarily, and perhaps IN the event
Cf emergency cases Of accidents or
otherwise.
Heretofore women have been arrest
81 and placed in cells in the same
room where other cells We're occupied
by drunken men and with cursing ard
swearing and vile language predomi-
mating. Boys. too, OF tender age such
as boys who have run away from the il
homes. and are sometimes held for
days awaitinA word from parents or
guardians. must of necessity be con-
fined in the cell room.
This proposed addition to the no.
lice department efficiency and useful
ness would have been appreciated if t
were available recently in the in
fluenza epidemic. Here one case is
cited. Mr. and Mrs. George Hull died
Of the disease under very distressing
circumstances and in destitute sur
ruundings, leaving two young children
III with the disease. The grandmother
of The children, who had beer caring
for the afflicted. became i'll in her own
home and died there. Then the two
sick children had no one to care for
them. and their home was so Insari-
/ tary that no one could be induced to
go into the disease infected place. F.
nally ARRANGEMENTS were made wi. n a
woman in Pawcatucb to take the chill
dren to her home and care for them
It was too late; both died within a
few DAYS. Had this proposed room
teen properly fitted up. the two Or
phans could have been taken there d.
'cctly after the death of their par
ents and receive care and attention II
! sanitary surroundings.
Chief Brown hones to have Il SUR
stantial proposition to present to The
| council so that there will be no neces.
sity for delay in action.
There is general Iaaning in Rhode
| Island in the Victory Boys and Vic
tory Girls. part of the United Wal
| Work campaign, and IN to date only
| % per cent. of the total amount pled"-
| ed has been paid. The payments
should equal &C % per cent ty Wed
nesdav of this week In the recen
| campaign the st"te FIR exceeded its
quota in the number of pledges si"0
ed, 20,3S2 children promising TO carr
ard give various amounts in mos
cases IS to be made in three install
ments The first is due Jan. Is ant
/ the last on March !. The total amour
pledged was $S3, 4S373. but thus ia,
the amount turned in to state he'd
quarters amount to s1sS2222 The
amount pledged and paid, and the pei
rentage of the seventeen districts, fol.
| lows: