Evening star., 1926-03-14
JAIL CONGESTION
ISSUE IS TACKLED
Court and Police Officials
Confer on Possible Remedy
of Conditions.

First steps toward alleviating con-
gested and cramped conditions at
Police Court as outlined q week ago
by "Pete Martin" investigator for
The Star, were taken Yesterday by
the Judges Of the court, Commissioner
Frederick a. Fenning and Chief OF
Police Edwin Z. fiesse. VINO neio
conference in the chambers of Presid-
ing Judge Schuldt on cooperative
measures proposed.
The entire situation was reviewed
at the conference. which was attended
,Iso by Judges John j. Mcmahon and
isaac r. Hit. No final decision was
reached
Both the Judges and the representa-
+ives of the Police Department re-
.ired from the conference to prepare
exact plans along certain lines 10 oe
.sken up at a SUBSEQUENT meeting.
All expressed the belief that the re-
Tult would be decidedly benehcial
Survey to BE Made.
Mai. Hesse will make a survey o-
police facilities to ascertain whetn-
er IL will be possih'e to staGGer the
hours Of placing prisoners In Poiico
Court instead Of unloa ding the prls"
nnerS all on the court ct c!oCh,
which produces the crush in The cell
room. which IS f"rted to accomrlo-
date more than 100 men at one time
when its normal "a pacity is less tHan
half that number.
Consideration will be given also
nv the police to the proDosition oi
reducing collateral for intoxication
eases. Under the standing order
since Maj. Raymond ". Pullman
in1e a minirnmn collateral OF go
's charged by po1icc fer intoxica tion
cases whereas the case Is rare ~heh
4 SO fine Is exceeded in court On
such q charge. Commissioner FEN
hing and Mai. I1esse Will INQUIRE
into the advia bili-v of reducing such
collateral The present theory held
by the Dolica is that the coilatesai
's to insure aprearance in court alio
.he amount Of the fine is purely q
matter of court administration. But
+he proposition as 10 whether me
,urnher of prisoners sent to court
would not be materially lessened X
he collateral was reduced is The
~ngle which is being given consider
alton.
Are Mere Expedients.
| Both these measures II was mace
| ~,Sr. are mere temporary expedlenls.
Eventually, IL was recognized soIne
| definite plar will be necessary TO save
he court from swamped prisoners
! locks and flooded doc,ietS. Althousn
| his final solution did not come in for
| ~-~oo+ consideration at the conference
Yesterday. II is known that ma '"r'*y
| he Judges at the court and tnae
both Commissioner FenrinS and Cnief
l IF Police Hesse look with favor on
.he proposal for the appointment OF
nolfce magistrates here. who could re-
,ieve Police Court. which Is handlins
Eases that in other cities are cared for
nv courts of common pleas. OF all
! petty offense cases and allow tne
iudees time for the jury trials which
continue to pile up at the rate OF
three new cases each week for every
one adiudicated.
In the long run 1t Is expected Po-
| lice Court will need a new building
| to house the clerks and attaches who
are now operating from offices located
| in cubbv-holes since the cubic con-
tent of the Police Court TODAY. with
= ci.v Of almost 500 900, is the same
as In 1907. when the cit f>casted
scarcely 60 per cent as many inhabi-
tants.
Bill to Get Action Soon.
Favorable report will be made early
his week by the House District COM
mittee on the Mcleod bill au'horiz.
ing the erection Of new wing at
tthe District taii.
| Chairman Zih'man has assured
Representative Mcleod Republican.
Of Michigan, author of the bill. which
tcarries out the recommendations OF
the District jailer. that probably at
lone Of the special committee meet.
'ngs tomorrow or Tuesday vote viii
be taken. a canvass of the commit.
lee made by Mr.. Mcleod assures him
that the vote will be favorable.
1t is hoped to have the District
Legislative committee on record before
the House as supporting this measure
before the Jail budget in the District
iappropriation bill is taken up. SO that
.he Mcleod bill may be offered as an
amendment to the annual District APP
ipropriation bill. thus taking a short
cut to get funds available as soon
las possible to start work on the Jail
addition.