Evening star., 1934-02-16

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remarked his chief. ITO prove they
never should have been removed, l
got DR.. James G. Cumming, con-
tagious disease officer of the District
Health Department, to come down
here yesterday. I had all 16 of them
examined. He said there wasn't a
one of them who had the slightest
infection.
Then I had an inspection made
10 find out about this athletes foot
charge. It was found that only one
of more than hundred men in the
laundry has a little something the
matter with his feet and this was
being treated"
Regarding Shoemaker'S charges that
men with social diseases were working
in the kitchen and mess hall, Barnard
explained that every prisoner assigned
there must first pass a rigid medical
examination.
False Entries Denied.
The statement submitted to Mr..
Wilson by Hanger, the chief account
AIlL. 0Cdlk Will bAlC dSdA1Aob
Bischoff In it Hanger says: ITO my
knowledge there never have been any
false entries or falsifying of records in
the business Office"
an regard to framing specifications
TO prevent competitive bidding" he
explained, "the purchasing officer,
District of Columbia, does all the pur-
chasing for these institutions"
Barnard denied that wealthy pris-
oners are given special privileges.
Shoemaker charged that immortality
was rife among the prisoners.
This prison is as nearly clean Of
immortality as a prison possibly can
be-" Barnard replied.
Regarding shortages in prison sup
plies, Barnard said that occasionally
something disappears during the trans
portation Of goods from Washington
to Lorton, but only in one case has the
theft been of any moment. That, he
eaid, was the disappearance Of II dozen
ehovels Prison authorities have in
Eestigated this shortage. he said, but
l1ave been unable to determine whose
fault it was.
Shoemaker'S attack on all the Ma
tion's penal institutions was centered
on the District Reformatory, charging
unnamed officials with graft, theft of
Government property and Justification
OF records.
Shoemaker, who served a sentence
ct Leavenworth for violation of the
postal laws, also charged that pris-
oners with serious social diseases not
only handle food in the reformatory
kitchen and mess hall but work in
the laundry which washes the towels
and other linen used at the Capitol,
the various Government departments
and Federal hospitals in Washington.
Claims Documentary Evidence.
Shoemaker, a Farmer-Labor mem
Der, claimed his charges were sup
ported by documentary evidence,
and he introduced a number of al
legged official papers he said were
taken from the files at Lorton. Ex-
cerpts Of these papers he read to the
House.
Specifically, Shoemaker charged
that officials at Lorton make 1t their
business to steal brick that are manu-
factured by the prisoners and dis
pose Of them to private citizens" He
cited one paragraph OF a letter writ
ten by J. e. c. Bischoff, superintend-
ent Of industries at tbs institution.
relating TO a shortage Of 875 .083
bricks on the prison wharf at the foot
Of Ninth street southwest, which
were valued at $l3,125.
Shoemaker declared that sugar pur-
chased for the institution had dis
appeared into bootleg channels, but
the loss had been covered up in the
prison bookkeeping department.. One
alleged prison report relating to 1000
pounds of sugar which had been miss
ing and later reported found beneath
some beans" was inserted in the rec
ord by Shoemaker, who remarked: 1T
has been said that figures do not lie,
but it is equally as true that liars
can figure"
Charges Money Was Taken.
Next Shoemaker charged that
money had been taken from the
canteen and welfare funds, and the
shortage covered up through trans
fer and juggling of accounts. Here
he introduced letter signed by G. w
Hanger, chief accountant, with ref