Evening star., 1936-12-09
Wants Study Made on Re-
IationShip to U. S. Gov.
ernment.
CROWDED CONDITIONS
ALSO UNDER SCRUTINY
Cummings Gives Order at Request
of Commissioners-Remedial
Measures Sought.

chairman of the Senate District Com
mittee, today asked the Bureau of
Prisons of the Department of Justice
to study and report on relationships
between the Federal Government and
District penal institutions.
At the same time. Attorney General
Cummings announced that at the re-
quest of District Commissioners he is
having special study made of crowd
ed conditions. with view to giving
support to remedial measures.
Senator King asked for a memoran-
dunn covering all legal and equitable
questions that would have a bearing
on the extent to which Federal cases
enter into the cost of the Jail and re-
formatory here.
Kings interest in improving jaf
conditions began when he inspected
the institutions last Summer. After
he gets the data called for today he
plans to arrange a conference of in.
terested officials, Federal and local, to
determine what legislation may be
needed, not only to provide better
housing conditions. but also to arrive
at fair apporticnment of the costs.
Probes Federal Offenses.
The Senator said he wants to find
out to what extent prisoners con-
victed of Federal offenses are COM
mitted to local penal institutions
Because of the Federal jurisdiction
prevailing here, all serious crimes are
tried as offenses against the United
States, but King indicated he hao
in mind particularly Federal offenses
of an interstate nature, such as VIOLA
tions of the narcotics, white slave anc
the automobile transportation laws.
The Attorney General said that as
result of his visit to the District Jail
Monday he had become very much
interested in the jail situation" and
that he plans to confer with the Dis
trict Commissioners in the near future
regarding plans for improvement.
He said that while he has no Off.
cial jurisdiction over the jail or the
other District penal institutions. he is
glad of the opportunity afforded him
| by the Commissioners to study the
problem and make recommendations.
The services Of the Department Of
Justice. he explained, will be of an
advisory nature.
Practical Suggestions Denied.
I'VE would like to make practical.
constructive suggestions" Cummings
said in discussing his inspection Of the
jail
First. we are giving the whole
complicated problem careful study.
There are several institutions involved,
and all being overcrowded they COM
bine to present perplexing problem.
Among the factors that must be
considered are the amount of money
needed to correct conditions and the
budget situation that might affect
financing"
The Attorney General said he
wanted to go into all these matters
and then have a discussion with Dis
trict officials.
Il am willing to indorse project
agreed upon as result of such dis
cussions." Cummings said.
Meantime. the Executive Council Of
the Federal Bar Association Joined the
movement to provide adequate jail
facilities.
The council at a meeting last night
in the Office of the Department OF
Justice of Justin Miller, president Of
the association, adopted a motion by
william Roy Valance. State Depart
ment lawyer, that recommendations
be made to the District Commissioners
for careful studies of the Jail problem
by budget and congressional authori-
ties.
The council acted after Miller, who
is chairman of the Attorney Generals
Advisory Committee on Crime, re-
ported that Cummings had been deep
ly impressed with antiquated facilities
of the present jail during tour of the
institution Monday.
Cummings was represented as de.
ploring the fact that prisoners await
ing trial. and who may later be ad-
judged innocent, are forced to mingle
in crowded cells with hardened crimi-
mails and are subjected to other in
dignities resulting from congestion
and improper facilities.
Valance pointed out that recently
as many as six or seven men have
been forced to sleep in a small cell
designed for only two inmates. The
prisoners, moreover, are afforded no
outdoor exercise, due to lack of Q
fenced yard.
Wants Modern System.
The council feels that the District
Of Columbia should have a mode,
penal system, in contrast to one that
is a relic" of other times.
The Jail situation was studied fol
the council by E. Barrett Prettyman,
former corporation counsel of the
District, and Col. Hugh c. Smith Of
the Judge Advocate Generals Depart
ment of the Army.
Valance was chosen as a delegate
from the Federal Bar Association ia
the convention Of the House Of Dele
gates Of the American Bar Association
in Columbus, Ohio, in January. Mil
Ter and James Oliver Murdock also
will attend the meeting, in their roles
as delegates chosen by the American
Dn~