The Washington times., 1919-04-29
Ian 1-MAN
SUPERVISION
Of D. c. JAILS
ly Combine Control of All
Penal Institutions Under One
General Superintendent.
Nv BILL PRICE.

In outcome of the shake-up at the
ltrict Jail, resulting from the es-
De of the triple murderer. Copeland,
being searched for throughout
country, may be the consolidation
lall District prisons and reforma-
fes under one officer. with the title
superintendent Of prisons and re-
matories. Congressional action
1ld be required.
bne officer, Charles c. Foster, su-
lintendent OF the institutions at Oc-
luan, is now in charge Of the es-
llishments which many District Of
lrs believe should be merged under
capable man. such as Mr.. Foster
! proven himself to be. Upon the
missaI OF DR.. Louis f. Zinkhan as
berintendent. OF the Washington
klum and Jail, Mr.. Foster was
bed from OccoQUan and asked to
ke charge Of DR.. Zinkhan's former
lritory. He Is holding down the
b positions in such a manner as to
lract the attention Of District Com
bsioners and officials generally.
Permanent Policy.
but entirely aside from the official
icess Of Mr.. Foster and the opinion
i his qualifications merit the full
consideration, is the question Of
permanent policy Of Capitalization
the principle that combination OF
fdred subjects or wirk under one
eral head Is far better than divid-
4 authority among several officials,
be OF them cooperating except in
feneral way.
there has always been grave doubt
to the wisdom Of the Washington
ilum being placed under the man
kment of the superintendent of the
though they are pretty closely
Injected in some ways. In the jail,
fch is merely a receiving station
4 prisoners awaiting trial. a dis
linarian, with kindly impulses, IL
uired- For the asylum other
llifications are called for. The
nion has prevailed among many
cials for years that the authority
he asylum should be vested in the
dent physician, and that this
Fsician should come under the
llth officer Of the District.
RsIatIOaa InterIOek.
ls to the Jail and occoquan there
ho question as 70 their interlocking
ations. Most convicted prisoners
from the Jail to either the work
Ise or refOrmatory at Occoquan-
Ere - an assistant to Mr.. Foste-
Occoquan for each Of the institu-
ms, the workhoUse for short term
|Soners and the reformatoTy for
Is term convicts. There should b.
closest cooperation between the
and Occoquan. With one general
IN in charge he would operate thu
through an assistant, but all the
be would keep in touch with the
airs and personnel OF the two
.ces- The histories Of men awaiting
al in jail would be fully known to
a. along with their former occupa-
MS ard the fullest details for their
per handling in fhe best manne-
case Of conviction.
)ccoouan's superintendent is paid
200 year, the superintendent OF
jail $500. II merged at a salary
1t least $4,000 a year the pay would
none too large for a man fitted for
position Even then IL would be
ch smaller than Is paid for similar
rk In every prison institution Of |
1ortance in the county.
NNNCN ANE DG1NLA OLMEGE.
When DR.. Woodward was health Of
r Of the District he believed that |
medical service Unde rthe mu- |
lpal government should be central |
] under the medical officer of the ]
trlct. Responsible for the health |
the community generally, the /
lth officer lacks authority in mauy /
sctions. There are, for instance. /
,nty-two or twenty-three physi. j
as 20 the poor. who are under the
Lrd OF Charities.
mere is physician for the Home l
the Aged and Infirm at Blue
ms and for several other District /
itutions, including the Washing
Asylum, connected with the fail.
re are surgeons for the police and
departments. None OF these Of
rs are In any manner responsible
ne Health Department Of the citv
yet all are engaged in medical |,
ice The lack Of unification in
alf Of the public welfare is often
Ieeabie in the various departments
sntralization. many officials he
e. would operate not only for bet
service TO the general public and
wards OF the District. but tend to
lter efficiency and possible eceno-
s Of administration.
he Commissioners have not off,
ly considered any Of these matters
city. Nearly all the institutions
rred to come directly under Com
sioner Brownlow. The latter re-
led TO Washington today from
itol, Tenn, and Petersburg. Va.
re he went at the request Of the
ory loan managers to make
.ches in behalf OF the loan. His
ices are in constant demand and
asury officials regard him as doing
ndid work.