The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-06
LETTER TO COMMISSIONERS

crlJIclze the IoOQ.
 LETTER TO COMMISSIONERS
 In his letter to the city commis-
 sion, enclosing a copy of his report
 to Governor Kilby, pr. Andrews said: | "The jail is in anything but a
 satisfactory condition, and I suggest
 that your honorable board take imme- 1 diate steps to have it thoroughly
 cleaned throughout, and arrange to have the bedding and prisoners cloth 1 ing laundered at regular intervals of
 time.
 The construction of the jail is such 1 that proper ventilation and admission ' of sunlight is impossible, and the 1 apartments cannot be kept in a sani- ! tary condition, and those convicted by | the courts should not be compelled to 1 serve sentences in this place, for, con- | finement here for any length of time will jeopardize the health, if not the | life. of the prisoner.
 Since the building, in the near fu- ture, of new jail is contemplated, 1t would not be judicious to expend any large amount in reconstructing the present jail.
 "However, if those convicted are sentenced to serve time in jail, 1 some arrangement must be made to have them placed elsewhere dur l ing the term of sentence until such time the new jail is built" i A supplemental note accompanied the letter to the city commission, in which 1 Dr. Andrews said:
 q am enclosing herewith a copy of a report to the governor, together with | recommendations which, under section 16 of an act approved April 8, 1911. are required to be submitted to the court of county comm issioners and to the grand jury at their next meeting" KEEP FROM NEWSPAPERS Dr. Barrett had decided to keep from the newspaper men the official"notices
 from the state prison inspector pend ing the return to the city of John H.
 Taylor. commissioner of public safety, under whose department the matter
 comes directly. But the information
 leaked out rom Montgomery. Commissioner Taylor is expected here today, when special meeting of the
 city commission will take place to con-
 slider the problem.
 While the question of some disposi- ton of the long term prisoners, some of whose sentences do not expire until 1921, has been before the board for several weeks, the report of the prison inspector bobbed up at this particular
 time like bolt from the blue. Manifestly, the city officials are per j1eXed. Up to late yesterday they were unable to suggest an immediate solu- | tion.
 SOUTHSIDE JAIL The Southside jail, in Avenue F, is not available. This prison is used ex- csusively for juvenile court purposes, | confinement of incorrigibles and de- | linquents. In addition, pupils whose parents are unable to force them to attend school are brought here to be disciplined, cntinuing their studies un- der durance until such time as they reach exclusion that it is more pleas ant to go to regular school. 1 "It would be most unwse" Dr. Bar rett stated, "even to think of sending l adult prisoners out there to mingle with the younger class of incorri- i gibles."
 l Consequently, the officials have no place in view where the longer term prisoners may be confined pending con struction of a new jail. And even the construction of a new jail apparently | hinges upon the fate of the constitu- | tional amendment December 12, provid- l ing for home rule taxation. l State Inspector Andrews warning, l however seems to bear only one inter- pretation upon the face of tiff those | convicted are sentenced to serve time | in jail, some arrangement must be
 made to have them placed elsewhere | during the term of sentence until such | time as the new jail is built" l In this connection, there are now eight prisoners who must serve from | 53 days to 16 months