Evening star., 1923-11-16
SEEK TO REMEDY
JAIL CONGESTION
Board of Charities Will Take
Up Problem of OvercroWd-
H. ing, Now Existant.

A remedy for the crowded condi-
dons now prevailing at the District
Jail will be sought by the board of
charities in the near future. the
board advised Commissioner Rudolph
In its annual report today.
Unfortunately says the report,
the jail has been oVercrowded dur
Ing considerable portion of the
year The daily average number of
prisoners was 320, is compared with
29O the preceding year. On October
81. 1928, there were 363 prisoners in
the jail and the institution cannot
properly house more than about 200.
AN effort has been made by the
district attorney and the courts to eff
feet as early hearing as possible in
the courts By taking up the Jail cases
before the cases of persons out on
bail
1T has been necessary to keen a
considerable number of short-term
prisoners at the jail for assignment
10 work AT the Gallinger Hospital
! he appropriation for the hospital
uoes not provide sufficient employees
10 perform the necessary labor in
connection with the institution.
me report contains the announce
nent that Mrs. Whitman Cross. we'll
known for her charitable activity. is
no longer serving as a member of
the board of charities. Her term ex-
pred together with that of William
T. Galliher several months ago.
Having moved into Maryland Mrs
cross is no longer eligible for SER
vice Mr.. Galliher is serving pending
ments are made under the law by
the President of the United States.
Ihe board informs the commits
sloners that it has completed the
proposed bill to establish an indie
terminate sentence and parole system
washington ha will
be laid before the city fathers with
request that it be sent to Congress
next month.
The board reports that during the
escapes from the workhouse at Oc-
coquan and only two prisoners fled
from the Lorton reformatory.
DOrmItory Replaces Cell.
The board cites these facts as evil
dence of the success of the liberal
methods being followed at those in
stitutions. The dormitory has re-
placed the cell at both places.
Attention again is called to the
fact that the various penal institu-
tlonS are unable to retain compe-
tent employees because of the low
salaries allowed for those positions.
The commissioners are told that
the opening during the past year of
the psychopathic wards of the new
Gillinger Hospital should make it
possible to cure many persons Suf-
fering from mental disorders without
having them adjudged insane and
sent to st. Elizabeth's Hospital.
The board recommends that addi-
tional wards be erected at Gallinger
at the earliest possible date to pro-
vide for the general hospital cases
now being cared for in the old wood
en- structures that were formerly part
of Washington Asylum Hospital.
Recommendation is renewed that
authority be given the Commissioners
to admit to Gallinger and the Tuber-
culosis hospitals persons who are
able to pay something for their treat
ment, but who cannot be taken into
private hospitals.
Discussing the work of the board
of children's guardians, the board of
charities observes that, for the time
being, there has been a marked de-
crease in the number of public de-
pendents. Referring to the work OF
the guardians, the report states:
The daily average number of chill
dren under care of the board of
childrens guardians during the year