Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-07
DETENTION HOUSE
ANSWER IS FILED
District Officials Deny Ex.
travagance and Zoning
Violation Charges.

Following the refusal of Justice Will
liam Hitz Of the District Supreme Court
TO grant preliminary injunction
against the use of the Stanton Park
Hospital. at 225 and 227 Sixth street
as receiving and detention
home for children under II years of
age, the District Commissioners and
George S. Wilson. director of public
welfare. today filed an answer to the
proceedings instituted June
% by Mrs. Mary v. Lipscomb. 623 G
street northeast. to prevent the pro-
posed use of the building.
Through Corporation Counsel Bride
and Assistant Corporation Counsel AL
eXander H. Bell, j.. the officials deny
they are guilty of any tortiouS act in
for the leasing of the building
from the Stanton Park Accident g.
Receiving Hospital, corporation, and
for its use for which Congress has pro-
video. They deny there will be any
waste OF public funds as claimed BY
the plaintiff. in paying rental of
$4,000 for the property They deny
the valuation placed on the property by
the bill filed through Attorney George
E. Sullivan and assert that the prop
erty is worth between $4,000 and $500
600, for which $4,000 is a fair rental.
Sullivan's bill of complaint had placed
the valuation at not exceeding $4,000
and had quoted the assessment as ST.
OBS. for which 1t was claimed rental
~ $4,000 was excessive.
Cite Bill Signed in May.
The officials advise the court that
their actions III securing the premises
Ill question is in conformity with the
provisions of the act of Congress APP
proved May 81. 1923; that the rental is
a reasonable one: that the use to which
the property Is to be put is a reason
able and lawful one and does not con-
Stitute either per Sc or otherwise a
nuisance. The intended use of the
premises, 1t is asserted, constitutes no
violation of the coming law or of any
law in force IN this District.
The Board of Public Welfare. the
answer says. has the Direct supervision
and control over the receiving home
contemplated by Congress, and its
duties and powers are outlined by act
of March 16, 1926. 1t is specifically de-
MED that the proposed use of the build
ing will disturb the peace. quiet and
good order of the Stanton Park neigh
borhcod.
The Stanton Park litigation is an
other phase OF the fight caused by et-
forts to relocate the House of Detention,
which is vacating its present site on
Fifteenth street.
In this latter connection, it was said
TODAY that District officials are conf
dent that the law Is on their side, and
consequently are unworried in the face
of recent court action to turn the main
branch of the House of Detention out
of its temporary quarters at 90S B
street southwest.
"The bird of Ill omen must alight
somewhere" Maj. Donald A. Dawson,
Assistant Engineer Commissioner. de-
clared regretfully today in explaining
that the Commissioners are making no
efforts to obtain an alternative site in
event the court orders these newly oc-
cupied premises vacated
refuse an injunction because we feel
that the law is on our side in this case
Mai. Dawson added emphatically.
So firmly seated Is this confidence
that the work of putting the rented
apartment house in condition as re-
ceiving home Is going ahead steadily,
at the expense of the District govern
ment, instead of being halted in the
face OF court proceedings initiated by
the residents of the Southwest vicinity.
In explaining that the bird Of Ill
omen must alight somewhere" Maj
Dawson said the Commissioners had
aspects for more than two months,
realizing that no matter what location
is decided upon for the House of De-
tention. complaints similar to those
resulting in the present court action
would arise. While sympathetic in his
attitude, Mai Dawson let it be under
stood distinctly that the House Of De-
tention must be quartered within the
city limits
Must Be in City.
I'VE have IA police precincts in
Washington. he declared Nobody
relishes living next door to police
precinct station, but every thinking
citizen in the District knows the neces-
sity of having station houses located In
the respective precincts. The House
Of Detention constitutes another pre-
cinct one for the police women and
like the others, it must be located In
the city"
Mai l.. E. Atkins, Assistant Engineer
Commissioner, who had direct charge
of selecting the present temporary
quarters for the House of Detention, was
of a similar oninion. Replying to re-
ports that repairs on the apartment
house being made under the direction
of Lieut.. Nina Van Wrinkle without a
permit having been issued, he expressed
himself as confident that there was no
illegality attached to the work.
THE work is being done by the Dis
trict and is being paid for by the Dis
trict Government" he said. While it
is true that the lease of the building
rented from the Wardnan Construction
Co. does not provide for occupancy until
October Is, Maj. Atkins said possession
had been made possible under verbal
agreement. So far as the right of Lieut..
Van Wrinkle to take possession at this
time, he believed the position Of the
District authorities is unassailable.
With respect to the receiving home
for minors, which raised the Stanton
Park fight, Maj. Atkins declared that
several other Sites are under con-
sideration. We indicated that no effort
would be made to take possession Of
the Stanton Par. site prior to the final
ruling of the court