Evening star., 1933-10-17
Supt. Barnard's Annual Re.
port DiscIoses Prison
Figures.
DRUNKS HEAD LIST, WITH
9,676 ARRESTS ON BOOK
More Than 10000 of All Ages Are
Admitted on Variety of
Charges.

An increase of II per cent In the
number Of prisoners committed to the
District Jail during the last fiscal year.
as compared with the total for the pre-
v1ous IL months, was reported today by
Capt. M. M. Barnard. superintendent
OF penal institutions, in his annual re.
port to the Board Of Public Welfare.
There were 1868 more prisoners com.
m1tted during the year ended June 30
than during the fiscal year 1892, Capt.
Barnards report shows. This brought
about Is per cent increase In the av-
erage daily population of the Jail. he
said. A total of 20,049 prisoners passed
through the jail during the past year.
In general statement analyzing con.
ditions facing the District penal insti.
tutions, Capt. Barnard attributed the
increase to the changes in economic
conoltlons. In this connection, he said:
Depression Is Blamed.
"OH 1888 barometer has followed
closely the revolutionary changes that
nave been the order of the day since
tns hectic year began. The gradual
oSpiacement OF men by machines and
tne consequent lack of purchasing pow
er OF our people have turned a host of
normally law-abiding citizens to ruth
less competitive methods. resulting in
q demoralized commercial and indus
tr1al world, with national business and
financial institutions rocking on scant
foundations. With this sort of at
moSphere, there Is little wonder that
crime increases are continuously raising
peaks. eA
Were able to make the pleasing
report that the trend is showing some
Slen OF betterment, I should be most
nappy to enumerate the possibilities.
put the future to date foreshadows no
leSsenlng OF our responsibilities. and
until men once again are turning to the
goloen rule Of cooperation, rather than
tne snam god and greed inspired by the
present lure and failure of the rllinous
poncy OF the so-called survival of the
nttest. then, and then only. NAV VA
look TO any real possibility of diminish.
ing offenders"
6.799 Between 30 and 40.
OF the more than 10000 prisoners
VINO passed through the jail during the
past 4Sca veal. persons between the
ages o. 80 ana 20 constituted the lar0-
est class, the number of these being
6,799. The next highest total was for
persons between the ages of 21 and 40 so
the number being 6,5O2. There were
3,45l prisoners between the ages of 40
ana 50; .450 between so and so. /. .4O8
between II and 20, 43O more than 6l)
younger. N ~
The report shows that commitments
Ior 1ntoNcation led the list, there BEING
1916 jailed for this reason. Other fig.
ureS were:
Disorderly conduct, 1,7s7; violation
OF trafhc regulations, 1,6O0: felonies.
l,50l: larceny. l,074, and violation OF
prohibition laws, 1,O35.
Building Slowed Up,
Capt. Barnard pointed out the econ-
omy legislation caused q cessation of
new building projects at the various
penal institutions, and was reflected
also by operation of the brick plant at
the District Work House, Occoouan.
at but half capacity.
capt. Barnard also said the women,s
Sectlon at Occoquan was still chartered
IN oecreplt, wooden buildings, which
ne SAID were depreciating so rapidly
tnat economy itself should dictate the
necessity for appropriations to provide
for their replacement.
Capt. Barnard also cited a need for
legislation that would vest authority in
guard and officer personnel. He said.
we often encounter difficulties in 20.
ncing the highways, some of which
eltner run through or border the insti-
thtions Oorton and Occoquan). Mo-
tor1sts are occasionally suspected of ar.
ranging meetings with escaping prison.
ers and when endeavor Is made to pre.
vent lettering about the adjacent high
ways, our authority Is sometimes flouted
and frequently Questioned. Courts in
washington will not handle cases aris-
ing on the reservation. as they claim
the location Of the Institution is in Vir-
g1n1a. Virginia claims no authority over
acts committed on reservation premises
and, as the Federal Court in Alexandria
meets only once or twice year, action
Is retarded and unsatisfactory"
Work House in Need.
Capt. Barnard said the work house
Is badly in need of 8 sewage disposal
system and Virginia health authorities
strenuously object to pollution of the
stream serving that group of buildings,
An accompanying report by Col. Will
liam l. Peak, then superintendent of
the jail but since promoted to be head
OF the Lorton Reformatory, revealed
an all-time record in turnover of
prisoners was reached at the Jail dur
ing the past fiscal year, the figure being
1921.
Col. Peak also reported the cost Of
maintenance was steadily decreased
during the 1888 fiscal year, so that the
daily cost of upkeep per prisoner, in
cluding food and salaries, was 7l1h
cents and that, excluding salaries. the
cost was q shade under 80 cent? Der
prisoner.
c004ER RANK APEIIMEMr