Evening star., 1937-02-03
Head of D. c. Subcommittee
Tours Institution With
Associates.
INADEQUATE FACILITIES
POINTED OUT BY RIVES
Representatives Also Pay Visits
to Gallinger and Children's
tuberculosis Sanatorium.


frame the 1898 District supply bill,
said today that he is convinced the
District should have new Jail, but
he does not believe the money for
such a project could be made available
very soon.
Collins and three other members OF
the subcommittee visited the jail to-
day, in company with several District
officials. as part Of their extensive
personal inspection of the District and
its institutions. The Jail tour was
directed by Thomas M. Rives. super
intendent, who pointed out the made
uuate space for prisoners, the need for
additional personnel, making it I'M
possible to segregate the prisoners.
There is no doubt a new jail IS
needed" said Collins. after viewing
the cell blocks and other sections OF
the institution. But the District is
in such a financial shape that one
wonders where the money is coming
from
lOur QUAY Sut ShOit'
Due to the press of legislative mate
ters the subcommittee tour today
was cut short and the Representatives
returned to their Offices after making
0 personal inspection Of the jail. Gal
linger Hospital, and Childrens Iu-
berculosis Sanatorium at Glenn Dale.
Md. Collins said, however, he and
the others hoped to complete their
visit to the welfare institutions later
in the week. They are scheouled 10
visit the District schools tomorrow.
Besides Collins, other subcommlt-
tee members who made the trip were
Representatives Engel, Republican, Of
Michigan; Caldwell, Democrat, OF
Florida and Starnes, Democrat, OF
Alabama.
Headed by Public Welfare Director
Ellwood Street, the District Govern
ment group included Commissioner
Allan, Nathan C. Wyeth, municipal
architect, Capt. H. S. Bishop, Assist
ant Engineer Commissioner. and M. A.
Cole, chief of the architects division.
Superintendent Rives explained how
many prisoners are forced to sleep on
mattresses on the floors Of over
crowded cells. He pointed out that
because of lack of adequate space any
sort of an epidemic would be extremely
dangerous. The jail has only one
physician and one nurse stationed
there.
Wants Capacity for 1000.
Rives said he feels the District
should have jail with a capacity OF
1000. This would make it possible to
aggregate prisoners, he said. The cost
for each prisoner per inmate day last
year was 1872 cents.
DR.. Edgar A. Bocock, superintend-
ent OF Gallinger Hospital, led the
group through the oVercrowded wards
OF that institution, where in some
cases they have been forced to place
patients in the corridors because of
lack of adequate bed space. He said
the normal capacity of the institution
Is 300, but that at present they are
treating 1,006 patients.
When visitors, doctors and patients
all are thrown together in the hall
ways, it presents chaotic state, DR..
Bocock said He indicated additional
personnel also is needed to aid the So
graduate nurses and $50 student
nurses now working there.
The group inspected the Children's
T. B. Hospital with Daniel L. Finu-
cane. superintendent, who said the in
stitution lacks proper facilities for out
side recreation, while being we'll
equipped for inside activities.
Other Visits Scheduled.
The other institutions which the
group was scheduled to visit today and
probably will visit Friday or Satur-
day are the District Training School
for the Feeble Minded, Laurel. Md;
the Lorton (Va) Reformatory and the
Workhouse in Occoquan.
Yesterdays initial tour was devoted
entirely to streets and bridges. Col
Inns. who made the trip with Commis-
sioners Allen and Sultan. Capt. H. C..
Whitehurst, highway director, and
other subcommittee members, said he
was impressed by the great need for
additional funds for streets and
bridges.
He said both Chain Bridge and
PENNSYLVANIA Avenue Bridge should
be replaced, but expressed belief the
cost of the span to replace the latter
would be closer to $2,000,000 than the
el,250,O0O that is estimated.
Chairman Collins suggested that, in
view of the financial problem con-
fronting the District, toll could be
charged vehicles using the new Chain
Bridge, thus providing new means
OF revenue.
Could Be One Way Toll.
He also proposed the toll be made
. "one-way" toll, with the collection
made on the Virginia entrance to the
span. so that residents Of that State
would bear part of the cost. This
plan would exempt persons leaving
the District for Virginia over the
same routes.
Collins said he would ask the sub
committee to consider such plan
when it begins executive hearings on
the supply bill next week. He de-
clared he can see no reason why Vir-
ginia shouldn't share in the cost Of
the new bridge.
An initial appropriation Of $780,
900 was carried in the 1887 District
appropriations act for the new span.
and officials now are asking for $780,
900 to complete the work.
After viewing the 46 streets for
which improvements have been pro-
posed in the supply bill, Collins
stressed the need for additional funds
to improve other highways, as well.
There has been such vast improve
ment in residential areas it is hard
with the present gasoline tax funds
20 keep street improvements in line
,wktt. t,,i1Sfax os,axo - ha aaid.