Evening star., 1940-03-01
D'A|esandro Finds
A New Jail After
Tour Of Old One
Contrasts Impress;
Scents Tipoff
On Inspection Trip
By MIRIAM GUTENBERG,


After spending more than an hour
today finding fault with the old
District Jail, Representative DAles-
andre was surprised to learn his
criticisms already had been an
swered in the new Jail building.
The chairman of the House sub
committee investigating District in
Stitutions had not been informed
that the old building was to be torn
down within few weeks. When he
learned that the overcrowded,
shabby institution was to go, de de-
manded:
Then what am I doing here?"
Ray L. Huff, superintendent of
District penal institutions, who ac-
companied him, said he thought he
had told him in advance that he
was showing him the old building
merely for contrast.
Il thought we had something
here" he told reporters regretfully.
He spent only few minutes hur-
rying through the as yet unoccupied
new plant and said, in conclusion: ::
1T certainly is great contrast"
Favors Better disqualification.
He fastened on the only thing that
was still to be done. This was a
hospital unit attached to the new
administrative building, which was
provided for in a $64, 900 deficiency
appropriation which was not in
cluded in the deficiency appropria-
ton reported out of committee dur
ing the past week.
Breaking the rule that he has
stood by throughout the entire in
vestigation-not to mention any ap-
propriation-he specifically said that
he would recommend passage of the
$64 900 appropriation to provide
facilities for the disqualification of
inmates.
The Representatives interest in
the hospital facilities began in one
Of the mems dormitories when he
saw two inmates lying in bed in
the overpopulated room. One of
the inmates confided to the Repre-
sentative that he had "a touch of
pneumonia" Mr.. D'Alesandro was
later assured by the institutions S
doctor that the man only has the
grippe, but the Representative in
sisted that the patient be re-
examined.
Finds Only One Nurse.
He also was amazed to learn that
the entire institution with 436 oc-
cupants today had only one nurse.
He asked if the inmates were ex-
amined at the time of admission
and was told that was impossible
although both the doctor and Jail
superintendent. Thomas Rives, ad-
mitted that examination should be
made. They told him that if the
new hospital unit was built, doctors
from Gallinger would augment the
medical service at the institution.
Mr.. D'AleSandro almost exchanged
sharp words with Mr.. Rives when
the former asked if the inmates had
been informed about the proposed
visit. The question arose after Mr..
D'Alesandro had strolled over to a
group of women sewing in the white
women's dormitory and asked them
If they had been told a Representa-
tive was coming to see them.
One woman, who appeared to be
their spokesman, said: I'VE thought
something was up but we didn't
know what" She added that she
did not intend to "let the cat out
Of the bag" but that the food today
was better than usual.
When he turned to ask another
woman some questions, she said,
'I've got long time in. here so I'm
not saying anything"
Mr.. Rives denied he had been
forewarned of the visit. A half
hour before Mr.. D'Alesandro made
his trip, he had chided q reporter
for calling the jail to find out when
he was expected.
Meanwhile, outlines Of procedure
and physical setup Of the Receiving
Home and q number of recon-
for Improvements were
submitted in the report on the chill
dren's institution made after inspec-
tions by DR.. Ella Oppenheimer, di-
rector Of maternal and child welfare
for the Health Department; DR..
Carl G. Dauer, department epidemi-
ologist. and DR.. Joseph A. Murphy,
director Of the departments school
inspection service.
Crowded Quarters . Handicap.
Crowded quarters on five different
floor levels with no toilet facilities
accessible to inmates on the base
ment, first and second floors were
(see INSTITUTIONS, Page A-5.J