The Washington times., 1923-09-05
KICK
ON BAT'.H|.L.ESS
MONTHS
HNNAI HWst ~ :
Arlington County Jail Inmates
Claim They Are Thirsty
and vermin-R Ridden.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.


Jail declare they need baths.
They also insist. that much Of
the time they go thirsty. Then
they complain that the little
bastile needs the attention of q
vernin exterminator.
Men who say they have been
ipcarcerated since early spring
declare they have not known the
refreshing, stimulating experience
Of 4 bath during the entire sum-
mer. They also say there is little
promise held forth of their get
ting one during the winter unless
a radical change is made in the
jail regime.
Visitors Warned.
''Be careful when you visit US
lere,' they caution. you don't
want to take any coolies home with
you, do you? Well, unless you
look out you will surprise your
self that way. What this place
needs is a general fumigation and
washing down, and the washing
should be extended to include u.s.
Those In charge of the jail de-
clare the complaints Of the inmates
are unWarranted by facts. They
admit the jail lacks many of the
c0nveniences considered necessary
In modern institutions Of the kind.
But the building, 1t is pointed out,
IL not modern structure and 50
its shortcomings should not excite
surprise.
sheriff A. G. Clemmens, who Is
also official jailer, was absent to-
day when q visit was paid the JAIL
Jailer Thomas was also unavailable,
temporarily. From others it was
ascertained that experienced jail
patrons, especially those enjoying
Arlington county hospitality for the
first time are inclined to be excitetily
critical until time dulls first impress
sions. Some Of the recent inmates
insist 1t Ii the worst managed Jail
they ever "ducked into" and they
will be careful not to repeat the ex-
perience. Others who have spent
several periods of retreat within its
walls say it twill do" but they are
not In the least inclined to go into
ecstacies over their experience.
Place TOO Cramped.
Take it from me- = said one of the
experienced ones,T Sheriff Clemens
knows how to make Jail unattrac-
tive. The food is not so bad, al
though Ii might be considerably
more varied The worst feature of
the palce is the cramped quarters.
Then It win stand a whole lot more
ventilation than 1t gets"
Charges that the Jail is overrun
with vermin were denied 1t was
insisted that If the inmates are
troubled in that way, the fault is
largely their own. 1t was also de-
MED that they were refused oppor.
tunitieS to battle. Any Of them
can take a sponge, bath, it was de,
clared, whenever the inclination to
do 50 is felt. Turkish towels, it
was admitted, are not furnished the
inmates nor nasseurs to rub them
down. Inmates are depended upon
to attend to the inside cleaning OF
the jail. They do the sweeping.
scrubbing down when that takes
place, and look after the hunks.
Scarcity OF drinking water Is alsu
denied. According to jail attaches,
an ample quantity is supplied to
meet all legitimate needs.
These are the two sides of the
story. Somewhere between them
ere the true conditions. External
evidence suggests that the com.
complaints OF the inmates are not
entirely unwarranted. The Jail looks
like 1t needs q thorough renovat;ng.
It's atmosphere impresses one as
close, while unpleasant odors, suffi.
GENTLY in evidence, excite sus-
picion the sanitary arrangements
might he improved.
Hygienic consideration of the in.
mates would suggest making one
cell out Of two, with the addition
of a court in which the occupants
could take fresh air exercise. A
few coats of paint would also help
remedy conditions: These improve
ments, it is declared, must be au-
thorized by the county commission.
ers, or ordered by a grand jury.
They are not within the authority
Of the jailor to effect on his own
initiative.
Arlington county, it is declared,
can afford a modern Jail. It is also
insisted it should not be made a
political issue but that such a Jail
should be secured as the result of
a popular demand to abate what
threatens to become public
nuisance.
AAA