Evening star., 1941-09-25
Arlington County Jail
Conditions AssaiIed
By Woman Voters
All Glasses Of Prisoners
Are Confined in Same
Cell Block, Report Says

Conditions at the Arlington County
Jail were described as "deplorable"
in a report made yesterday to a
meeting of the Organized Women
Voters of Arlington County.
The report on an inspection of the
jail was presented to the OrganiZa-
tion by Mrs. Esther Blankenhorn,
chairman, and Miss Emma Jacobs
of the Welfare Committee. They
recommended that penal laws Of
other jurisdictions be studied with a
view of bettering conditions in
Arlington.
The report praised the jailer,
Lelan Gaines. for his cooperation
during the inspection, and asserted
that many of the conditions found
to exist were beyond the jailer's
control.
In one section containing a group
of cells, the report stated, both white
and colored women were confined.
In this same section juveniles un-
der 18 are sometimes confined, and
often adult male prisoners, who are
held for short periods for investiga-
ton, are detained there. The only
sanitary and lavatory facilities for
this group of cells are at one end OF
the section, the report said. White
and colored male prisoners under
sentence are held in cells in another
room, the committee reported.
NJ oosIsfsac fnr EynrciSp
The committee found no facilities
for exercise of prisoners, and said
it was told that the number of meals
was limited to two daily for this
reason.
The committee recommended that
immediate attention be given the
need for a separate detention place
for juveniles.
The Executive Committee in
structed the Legislative Committee,
headed by Mrs. Dean H. Rose, to
study ways and means of strength
ening the wording of the County
Manager Act to enforce existing
regulations which limit variations OF
expenditures from amounts set up
in the county budget to 10 per cent
of each item. The organization con-
tends that expenditures have varied
more than 10 per cent from bud
geted items.
A Nominating Committee was
chosen and will report in october on
candidates to be elected in Novem-
ber.
The Nominating Committee is
composed of Mrs. Azile Haley, chair
man; Mrs. Blankenhorn, Mrs. Ethel
Cook, Mrs. Julian D. Simpson, Mrs
Ruth Marcy, Mrs. Florence Can
non and Mrs. Lucy BuSsey.
Four Candidates Speak.
The four candidates for the House
of Delegates and the County Board
spoke.
Charles Fenwick, incumbent in
the House of Delegates, outlined his
record and emphasized his support
of legislation sponsored by the Or
ganized Women Voters. This in
cluded bills to enlarge the County
School Board, premarital health ex-
aminations, billboard regulations
and a three point school program.
Henry S. Clay, jr., his Republican
opponent, said he would seek to in
crease teachers salaries and pro-
vide an adequate pension fund
Basil De Lashmutt. incumbent
Democratic county board member,
declared he seeks reelection on his
record and Endorsed widespread
sidewalk construction.
William G. Ayers, Republican can
didate for the board, cautioned
against maintaining a governing
body composed of one political be-
lief. All present board members are
Democrats. Mr.. Ayers said minor
ity party representation contributes
to good government. He made no
campaign promises in his talk.