Evening star., 1936-10-11
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
Voteless Women Voters to Teach Citizenship to
Grls-What Kind of D. c. Snfrage?-Jaa
Croxding Beyond Description.

the opinion Of the committee any
elected city council in the District
could not have the requisite powers
to function successfully. Finally
the committee recommends re-
newal of the support Of the move
ment to obtain voting representa-.
ton for the District in the House,
Senate and electoral college.
Proponents Of the local suffrage
proposal are in some measure
prompted by suggestions made from
time to time by some members Of
Congress that suffrage should begin
with local affairs and then pro-
gress upward. There Is nothing
new in this suggestion as the same
idea has regularly cropped out in
the hearings on the National Rep
resentation constitutional amend
nient before the House Committee
on the Judiciary. Such . question
was invariably raised by q menu
Der whose opposition was clearly
apparent.
The fact remains that the Con.
gress is In full possession Of
requisite power TO grant an elective
form Of local government rs ex-
listed in several divisions OF the
District for more than 70 years.
It is also q fact that none Of the
gentlemen on the Hill who peren-
nially raise the question have ever
made any serious attempt to put
through such . proposal.
As to giving the District residents
national citizenship, that is beyond
the present power OF. Congress, an
amendment to the Federal Consti-
tuition Is needed to give to Con-
gress the power to clothe these
voteless and unrepresented Amer
leans with their fundamental
rights.
AS pointed out last Sunday, there
Is great unanimity Of organization
support Of the proposal for
national representation which has
assumed the proportions Of WELL,
organized movement supported by
numerous national and State or
ganizations. AS to the local suf-
frage question, there exists the
greatest diversity of opinion re-
garding what should be the form
of the local government. what
officers should be elected and other
factors. Among the organizations
supporting the national proposal
there are both those who favor
and those who oppose local suf.
frage.
Overcrowded Penal Institutions
Present Urgent Civic Problem.
p ECENTLY The Star published
an fnforma tive and accurate
series of articles describing the
disgusting overcrowding of the
District Jail, the Work House at
Occoquan snd the Reformatory at
Lorton. While these articles are
regarded by Capt. Barnard. gen.
eral superintendent OF these in
stitutions. as specially Illuminating,
this observer believes it to beyond
the power OF descriptive journalism
to give an adequate picture OF con-
ditions at the Jail.
On last Wednesday the Correc-
tions Committee Of the Council Of
Social Agencies met at the jail
and at the conclusion Of the meet
ing made q tour of inspection.
That any such conditions should
obtain in this city, boasted as the
most beautiful in the world, was
q shock to all who made their
first visit to this outmoded, in
human and detestable relic Of
another age. 1t was simply un-
believable that human beings In
this twentieth century should thus
be herded together in such retricted
quarters.
One could not help comparing
the palatial quarters provided for
animals in the National Zoo. from
the local tax money. with the cages
and dens for these humans. Some
Of these men and women await
trial and others are serving sem
tences imposed by the courts.
These people are withdrawn from
society for its protection.
Those convicted and serving
terms, according to modern ideas.
are subjects for reconstruction and
rehabilitation. Such modern cor
rective ideas are only possible OF
attainment where modern facilities
are available. Thus the real ends
of Justice are defeated through the
return of these men and women to
society from an existence well cal.
culated to dehumanize and embitter
them and increase their anti-social
tendencies.
The Jail with a paper maximum
capacity of $50 was on the day of
this visit housing 8o9 with more to
come. Cells which would have
afforded very restricted quarters
for two men contained in some
instances as many as seven, and
on the day of The Star reporters
visit as many as nine. Large num-
bers sleep on the concrete floors
and some in hammocks.
The dormitories for women pre-
sent q crowded appearance. 1t is
dificult to pass through the mar
row spaces between the cots.
Similar conditions obtain In the
dormitories for men, constituting
the prisoner working units. Heat,
light, ventilation, freedom from
drafts and proper bathing facili-
ties are lacking.
This is our most acute and
pressing civic problem and its So
luton. as far as that may be had
through modern and ample quar-
tiers, should be provided at the com.
ing session of Congress. Civic groups
are urged to study that series of
Of Star articles and have commit
tees visit these institutions and
get first-hand information as a
guide to intelligent and speedy ac-
ton. There Is no present problem