Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-08
Move Started to Provide New
Wing as Relief From
Crowded Cells.
COMMITTEE WILL MAKE
PERSONAL INSPECTION
Possible That Needed Appropria-
tions May Be Inserted in D. c.
Measure on Floor

ullloHS III the DlStIltt jan III SC0'eI
days Star, definite effort was start
ed in the House today to remedy
any evil found to exist.
Chairman Zihlman of the House
District committee promised that
whatever legislation is desirable VIII
he undertaken by the House Dis
trict committee. The probability is
that a bill providing for erection OF
a new wing, or separate dormitory,
designed especially to care for the
transient and minor-offense cases,
will be introduced in the House
either today or tomorrow and taken
up for consideration by the District
committee at it's meeting on Wednes-
day.
A personal inspection of the jail
is planned by Representative Reid.
Republican. of Illinois: Chairman
Zihlman. Representative Mcleod. Re'
publican. of Michigan; Representa-
tive Stalker Republican. of New
York and other members of the
House District committee.
B,anton Agrees With pete"
Representative Banton. Democrat,
of Texas. is already familiar with the
conditions in the Jail, AS he has been
q freouent visitor there He said to-
dav that he believes Pete Martin
was exactly right in his expose OF
conditions, and that he will support
an effort for additional accomoua-
tons at the Jail. just as he Is sup
porting the bill in the House TO-DAY
for new. building for the recorder
of deeds
The subcommittee of the House ap-
nropriations committee which is
framing the District appropriation
hill for the next fiscal year competed
the work of marking up the bill TO-DAY
for presentation to the House on
Wednesday. It is, therefore, too late
tn have a provision written into the
hill, based on A hearing. for adequate
accommodation at the jail.
Expect Action i'm House.
There is strong proba bility. however,
that when the District appropriation
bill is under consideration In the
House an amendment will be oHered
providing for the erection OF new
wing at the jail. based on an estlma te
of cost which is now being mace pg
Government officials.
Admissions that deplorable STU
attn exists at the all and at Police
Court in caring for prisoners. coupled
with the explanation that lack OF
money is at the root of II ALL came
TODAY from the officials under whose
Jurisdiction come the Police Court and
Jail. :.
More significant than all the rest is
the set of official figures showing ap-
propriati tons and the number of pris-
oners cared for during the last six
fiscal wears at the District Jail.
These show: That $50, 1SS was APP
propriated for the Jail for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1921, and That
z. sO4 prisoners were cared for in the
iail during that year.
That $53.1S0 was appropriated for
the iail for the fiscal year ending
June 80 1926. and that approximately
10. 600 prisoners will be handled at the
Jail during the fiscal year ending June
30, 1925.
Shows Source Of Troubles.
The money expended. therefore. in
1921 to care for slightly less than
4 600 prisoners is $4,000 more than
for three times that number this
year.
Oficials today asked these ques-
tons:
Where there are no funds. how can
there he clean mattresses at the jail
when those on hand are in constant
use?
When there are no funds for needed
enlargements and improvements, how
can the Police Court, already over
crowded to discomfort. expect to
handle 1925 persons on Monday morn
incs charged with being drunk and
disorderly, except by crowding them
like cattle in small cell room?
When there are no funds for paint.
how can the jail walls be prevented
from deteriorating?
There was no denial or even ques-
tionine of any material part of the
account of conditions at either the
iail or at Police Court on the part of
officials. 1t was regarded as an at
tempt TO expose conditions which
should be brought to the view of the
public.
Doing Best Under Conditions.
put there was emphasis placed on
the exclamation at both places that
officials are laboring as best they may
under the circumstances.
A. Police Court, for instance. 1t is
,oirted out that this local court Is
he only Federal Police Court ip~the
United States: it has concurrent juris-
diction with the District of Columbia
Sunreme Court in Volstead law cases
If second offenses and upward and ex-
oiusive Jurisdiction. all first offenses
~ the prohibition laws, traffic
,,,;sdenaeano, and police regula-
tim cases, as we'll as prelimi-
Wy hearings for all accusations of
faion;es Judges are working night
ard day to clear the dockets, and
+he quarters are so limited that on
The third floor one has to elbow one s
NOV through a corridor on busy
dav In the face of all this, in the
oninion of members of the court, there
are only two logical solutions:
Get more space for the transaction
of the court business.
Have police magistrates appointed
throughout the city to officiate. as is
done in other cities, in police pre-
cincts, disposing of minor cases, such
as drunk. disorderly and petit larce-
MES. which cause the terrific jam at
Police Court.
There is no hesitancy on the part
Of the Judges of the Police Court in
admitting that conditions there are de.
plorable.
Judge Macdonald today escorted a
Star reporter to the second-foor cell
room. where Pete Martin last Mon
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