Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-26
RY JOSEPH A. FOX.

INTRODUCTION of bill in the
House durinS the past week by
Representative Porter. Republican.
of PENNSYLVANIA for establishment
of two model Federal penal institu-
tons to treat narcotic addictS has
served again to bring up for conSidera-
ton one of the gravest problems with
III the never-ending battle with those
who break its laws.
Steadily gaming in numbers from
year TO year. the ranks of those who
have traced their path to prison over
the drug route have reached such pro-
portions that they now outnumber all
other Federal offenders. and there Is
nothing to indicate that the peak is IL
sight.
Oddly enough. only very minor per-
centage of these arc serving sentences
for selling narcotics. Instead. its the
users who are paying the penalty. and
to what extent is best shown by figures
recently furnished House subcommit-
tee on appropriations considering the
Department Of Justice requirements for
the fiscal year 1929.
Prison Population Increases.
Appearing at the hearing. Capt. A. H.
Connor superintendent of prisons. said
that on June 80 last there were 9448
Federal prisoners serving more than a
year and day. as compared to 4.482
on June 80, 1918. and that the short
tetmers last June totaled 9.340, as COM
pared 10 approximately 4.44o i'll June.
1918, a total increase in each case of
approximately ITO per cent. He eX-
planned that this increase was about on
an even keel of 10 per cent yearly.
In the same period. however. the
narcotic cases had jumped from 299 in
1918 to Ais last June. for an increase
Of about 700 per cent
Next in order at the close of the last
fiscal year stood prohibition violators
-2040. and then there was sharp
drop to TSe convicted under the Dyer
auto theft law. From there. the causes
for incarceration tailed out through the
category of Federal statutes.
Additional light Is thrown on the
dope situation by study OF the prison
population at the three Federal peni-
acknowledgements Atlanta and
Mcneil Island. Wash where the con-
gestion for the past several years has
been a constant source OF worry to
those officials upon whom their opera
ton devoives.
Cells Are Overcrowded.
With a cell capacity of 3.77S. these
Institutions which draw virtually all OF
the offenders serving more than year
and a day. are housing about twice as
many men as can comfortably be ac-
conmodated. Emergency ooVmitories
have been fitted out where possible to
take care of the overflow. and in the
face of this. about one-third OF the
population are there by reason Of the
narcotic law.
Turning to the new Federal Indus
trial Institution for Women at Alder
fun swing the dope problem is even
more in evidence, proportionally. There,
q recent chart showed los prisoners
committed and four paroled. and in the
remaining population OF l0l. the drug
law commitments tctaled -. with the
next ranking o1ense being breaches OF
the posta! laws which brought nine.
o. the four paroled prisoners. two had
been sent UP under the drug law.
making this responsible for about IS
per cent of the trouble which landed
the women in the institution.
That this occasioned no surprise TO
officials. however was evidenced when.
a couple of years ago. Mrs. Mable
Walker wiIlebrandt. Assistant Attorney
General In charge Of prisons. appeared
81 House hearings on appropriations for
the Anderson prison without walls"
and urged strongly that adequate medi-
cal facilities be provided there for dope
cases.
Others Concur In View.
Forecasting accurately the situation
as 1t has developed. Mrs. Willebrandt
explained that skilled medical atten-
ton and healthful activities would 60
far toward retaining for society The
victims of narcotics
The same viewpoint has been taken
by others who have been identified Tith
prison work and it is in furtherance
q. this idea that Mr.. Porter. long
vigorous crusader against the drug
traffic. has introduced his bill. which.
Incidentally. is in line with recommen-
Cations made by Superintendent OF
Prisons Conner before the subcommit-
tee on appropriations OF similar ,enor
Is a joint resolution sponsored by Rep
resenta'ive Cochran Democrat. Of
Missouri.
In the course Of his discussion of
prison affairs. Caps. Conner told the
subcommittee IL was his idea that a