Evening star., 1926-05-09
Capt. Barnard Disparages
Job in No Uncertain Terms
as Prisoners Cheer.
COMMITTEE OBJECTS
TO WELDED SHACKLES
Methods Used in Punishment Wing
Disapproved, But General
Conditions Found Good.

Four members of the subcommittee
or the House District committee
which has been investigating officials
and conditions in the District paid an
unexpected and unannounced visit tC
the District workhouse at Occoquan
Va, yesterday afternoon and made
an investigation of the establishment
which was marked at the outset by q
heated argument between Representa-
tive Blanton, Democrat, Texas. and
Capt. M. NJ. Barnard, superintendent
Of penal institutions in the District
The argument was brought on when
Capt. Barnard resented the outspoken
criticism by Mr.. BlantOn in the hear
ing Of prisoners, who listened in glee
as the two exchanged words and set
up a shout of applause.
The climax of the argument came
when Mr.. Blanton reminded Capt
Barnard that he was a Government
employe in a governmental job. and
the latter defiantly replied, Hell with
the job.'
Conditions Generally Good.
With the exception of conditions in
the cells for bad prisoners and the
existence Of wooden structures, re-
garded. by the investigators as fire
hazards, the institution as whole
was found TO be in excellent shape.
according to the opinion expressed
afterWard by members OF the sub
committee.
The inspecting committee, consist
ing of Chairman Gibson, Republican,
Vermont, and Representatives Hous-
ton, Republican, Delaware; Bowman,
Republican, West Virginia, and Blan-
ton, arrived at the workholNe during
the Saturday evening lull which fol-
lows the 4:30 whistle.
Capt Barnard was not at the ad-
ministration building when the coE-
gressmen arrived and Capt. Wood
yard. in charge at the time, started
showing the committee through the
plant pending his arrival.
Objects to Leg Irons.
As the group passed through < ro-
tunda, Mr.. Gibson noticed an inno-
cent-looking, white. painted door.
whats In there?" he asked.
That's for the prisoners who are
being specially punished, replied
woodward.
Let's go, in"
, While in that wing, where about six
prisoners were kept behind bars. Mr..
Blanton called the attention of his
colleagues to the leg irons which were
used. The prisoners were clad in
their underwear. Their outer clothing
had been taken away from them at
the end OF the days work. There
were no cots.
1t was here that Capt. Barnard ar.
rived on the scene.
Chains Welded On.
Mr. Blanton had been inspecting
sores on the legs of one man, who he
said had not had the leg chains off
since February 13, when they had
been welded on.
That's an infamous shame said
Mr.. Blanton.
II don't care for such talk here"
replied Capt. Barnard. IF such peo-
ple as you came through here talking
like this, how do you expect we'd ever
be able to handle these men,
MIR. Blanton replied that, regardless
of what the men had done, or why
they were being punished, to leave
them with only a thin straw mat
tress and a couple of blankets to
sleep on. depriving them of cot and
making tnSIn tame iCSN OA Z"
concrete floor, was little short of
"lnhuman."
Can't. Barnard made a sharp reply.
Mr.. Blanton then asked il he realized
that he and his colleagues were
committee from Congress inspecting
the plant.
Fears Influence With Men.
II don't care for Congress or for
committee when it comes to being
criticized like this in front of these
men. You go in here and make a
statement of that kind, and how will
[ handle that man after you leave!N
Other committee members inter
vened and the party passed through
the rotunda toward the north wing
of the bad cells"
Outside, in the rotunda, the argu-
ment began anew. Capt. Barnard
expressed resentment at the criticism
in the presence of prisoners.
II have never been criticized for
anything but for being too lenient,
he said.
We'll" replied Mr.. Blanton. I'VE
don't intend to stand for having
United States prisoners sleep on a
cement floor with less than two blan.
kets and a little mattress"
You just ask any of those prison.
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