Evening star., 1937-02-04
MRS. ROOSEVELT,
ON TOUR, PRAISES
TRAINING SCHOOL
Girls "AImoSt as Changed
as Surroundings" Com
ment at "Party."
HOUSE OF DETENTION
FOR WOMEN is HIT
Bureau Facilities on Fifth Street
Called NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Room Just a Cell"

Continuing an educational" tour of
District institutions, Mrs. Franklin D.
Roosevelt yesterday found "extraordi-
nary changes" in the National Train
ing School for Girls since her visit
last Spring. when she condemned con-
ditions as medieval and "barbarous."
At the House OF Detention, in the
Woman's Bureau on Fifth street. she
praised the management, but added:
Like other institutions in the Dis
trict have visited, the building seems
inadequate"
The isolation room Is "just a cell"
she said. totally inadequate and an
almost impossible situation"
Pleased with conditions at the Con-
duit road institution for girls, Mrs.
Roosevelt remarked that she saw al
most as marked a change in the people
as in the surroundings"
Officials Also Present.
Her inspection OF the Washington
cottage Of the institution followed a
luncheon given by the school as a
sort OF return party" for her hospi-
tality to the inmates who were enter
tanned at the White House last Spring.
The guests included w. P. A. officials,
members of the Child Welfare Com
mittee of the Board of Public Welfare
and members of the League Of Women
Voters. all Of whom were instrumental
in obtaining W. P. A. appropriations
for alterations, in addition to the sum
appropriated by Congress for improve
ments.
Led by DR.. Carrie Weaver Smith.
superintendent of the home. the party
visited the new kitchen, which is To-
Gated in the old dining room: the laun-
dry, for which equipment already has
been ordered. and took peep into the
girls private rooms, which recently
have been equipped with radiators and
electric lights, luXuries previously not
enjoyed.
There's light and air, and there are
no bars on the windows" Mrs. Roose-
welt exclaimed. The kitchen is mod
ern, with gas. In fact the change is
so remarkable would not have known
IL 10 De the same place
Inmates Paid SALARIES"
She displayed particular interest In
the supply room. which has been con-
verted into store where the girls. !
using brass discs for money, make BIZ !
weekly purchases. II was explained
that each inmate receives S7-a-week /
salary" which is budgeted to include
board, clothing and other expenses.
Business training has been inaugu-
rated at the school and the institu-
ton is awaiting equipment for course
in beauty culture. DR.. Smith declared.
A room for a library is under con-
struction and several hundred volumes
have been donated.
Sleds and roller skates-unused for
lack of snow-were discovered. but it
was explained that the girls enjoy daily
periods of supervised recreation.
The school also is anxious to secure
small telescope, since the girls are
keenly interested in astronomy, DR..
Smith said.
Wearing green-and-white uniforms. :
each of the 80 girls in the home at
present had a part in arranging yes
terday's luncheon. In addition to those
serving, groups were assigned to meet
the visitors and to present a musical
program of spirituals. Coffee was
served by the white girls in the new
domestic science department.
Building to Be Added.
Construction of an additional build
ing on the grounds provided for under
an appropriation by the last session OF
Congress will increase the homes ca
pacity to II. DR.. Smith said.
Touring the House Of Detention with /
Capt. Rhoda Miliken, chief Of the
Woman's Bureau, Mrs. Roosevelt !,
pointed out the lack of a medical clinic |
and occupational training and suggest
ed an increase in the police womens |
staff would reduce the number con-
fined.
But think a good job is being
done under a good many difficulties"
she added.
Sixteen women were in the house
during her visit. Capt. Milliken said |
that the average stay is two days.