The Washington times., 1920-09-15
BYLAWS BIND.
DOMESTIC TIES
Workhouse Report Shows Fewer
Lazy Observation-Disclosures De-
crease In Offenders.

tntendent of the Districts penal insti-
tutions, in a report on the District
workhouse for the fiscal year ending
June 80 tells OF decrease In crime
due to prohibition, gives various
reasons assigned for crimes. and
writes a most interesting story.
The report. in part, follows:
The District OF Columbia Work.
house, classed by the Indian Penal
Com mission, and other capable judges
national and international-as an
Institution both unique and success
full in a field OF restoration and re.
form; established eleven years ago In
a wilderness twenty-three miles from
the Nations Capital, depending upon
it's healthful surroundings and it's
suggestive appeal to humanity by
ignoring locks and bars and Its great
outdoor treatment OF offenders.
closes its fiscal year with record
gratifying as ii Is reassuring.
Despite the economic effects OF
prohibition, cost OF maintenance, de-
creased population and a consequent
combination of circumstances dis
couraging, at times, in the matter OF
accomplishing work, the manage
ment, with no little pride. begs to
say that the forward progress OF
achievement has, at no time, in the
career OF the place. been surpassed
The workhouse is unqualifiedly es-
tablished the fact that Its concep-
tion and it's policy Is justified AMI
that the Congress, in supporting the
work, not only renders a great ser
vice to the District OF Columbia
but to the country at large.
PROHIBITION RESULTS.
No matter what the belief is, 1t is a
\ ~ -
ment is something of crime pre-
ventive and a crime cure. The record
here proves it. 1t has reduced the
population until now and then the
number of prisoners resembles an
assemblage responding to a call to
donate money to an unpopular cause
While il has greatly reduced the
working force here 1t has, on the
other hand, made the sun shine in
many a home and put smile on many
a tear-stained face. Gloom around
a rkhouse because man-power is
lacking becomes negligible as COM
pared to the contentment and happt-
ness in places made desolate as a
Nresult of an uncomfortable indulgence.
When jails and workhouses suffer
a census decrease the sum total OF
human happiness is on the increase.
stream of lawbreakers, 1t seems. fin@
ing their way into a workhouse-the
larcenist, the violator Of motor regu.
lations, the bootlegger. and lesser Of
tenders will journey to and fro
But the man who is so shiftless that
he wants his wife to support him is
less contemptuous in number.
In 1919 twenty-five of this class
came, and while they remained the
District gave support to the wife OF
each man. In the last fiscal year on'''
eighteen have forgotten vows and
manhood.
Only in recent years has medical
science specialized in the reformation
of criminals. Slowly, yet surely. the
doctor is taking his rightful place un-
der the sensible and growing belief
that scientific treatment is the first
aid in many cases OF crime. Mental
and physical diagnosis, in supplsnting
old-time guesswork, Is establishing
a psychological system, the develop
ment of which forestalls the answer
to the question of reforming criminals
and cleansing their physical bodies of
disease and degeneracy.
The District of Columbia work
house, in doing work of this character,
adds to its reputation and justifies IL"
acknowledged success in humanely
handling offenders without the re-
striction of bolts or bars.
SOME PHILOSOPHY.
Dating back to time no one Is able
to definitely fix, the foremost reason
assigned by persons sent to the work
house has related to whiskey. The
Eighteenth Amendment is, indeed
Transforming even excuses. Seldom
did one hear an inmate ascribe his
misfortune to any cause other than a
fondness for liquor. But the older
condition has changed with the legal
passing OF the bottle. For Instance,
men are saying debt has led them
astray and into the tolls. The high
cost OF living promises to be a stand
ardiZed plea in extenuation and a bid
for compassion. Women talk of pride.
love, of dress and a desire not to be
surpassed in adornment or artificial
beauty. The man said taxes assessed
by the Government were too heavy.
and, while he paid no income tax, a
relative did. This denial of charity
affected his care and comfort and the
workhouse became i1s abiding place.
STOPPING CRIME.
Continuous and more effective re-
striction OF the sale Of liouor, mar
cotics and deadly weapons will reduce
crime almost to a minimum. Another
way, in cases OF convicted repeaters
to make the task little harder with
each succeeding visit.
The commitment of an individual TO
CONTINUED on Page Nineteen.)