Evening star., 1944-04-18
Wartime Wushngton-A Sedtion Trial Visit Had to Be BriefD
DC. HeadsStudy
District Jail
Probe Report
Committee Urges
| rs Changes After
| Charges on Ewing

d TcpOIt Oi Ill ulVeSblBdL-
ing committee on the District Jail
which found that Supt. e. Allen
Green had permitted practices or
extended leniency not in the best
interests of the institution" but had
not acted from favoritism or other
unworthy motives"
On the recommendation of the
Board of Public Welfare, the group
was named to study the Jail after
charges were made that favoritism
had been shown Orman w. Ewing,
sentenced to 8 to "a years for crimi-
nal assault. The committee was
headed by former United States At
torney Leo A. Rover.
Humanitarian Impulses.
Recalling that Mr.. Green was for
merly. business manager of penal
institutions, the report declared:
"It was to be expected that Mr..
Green might make mistakes in ad-
justing himself to his new duties
and it is believed that in some in
stances he has permitted practices
or extended leniency not in the best
interests of the institutions as a
whole, especially in yielding to re-
quests for special privileges urged in
behalf. of prisoners by their attor-
neys.
"In so doing, we are satisfied that
Mr.. Green acted from sympathetic
and humanitarian impulses and
not from favoritisna or other un-
worthy motives. We consider him q
conscientious and capable officer
and credit to the public service"
rs Recommendation.
The 24-page report. containing 26
recommendations for changes in the
Jail, called for.
i. Appointment of a permanent
superintendent of penal institutions
in the place Of Acting Supt. Ray L.
Huff, who is also welfare director.
The committee said that under ex-
isting law no such appointment
could be made by the Commissioners
until nomination was made by the
Welfare Board, which had failed to
act since the vacancy arose in
March, 1943.
2. Transfers proposed by the board,
including the shifting of Mr.. Green
to his former position as business
manager of penal institutions; the
change of Claude o. Botkin, super
intendent of Lorton Reformatory, to
head Of the jail, and the promotion
|of Edward j. Welch, deputy super
Iintendent of Lorton, to superin-
Itendent.
Because the responsibilities of the
Welfare Board have increased so
lgreatly during the last 10 years, the
report said, the time may have ar
rived to change jurisdiction of
penal institutions from the board to
a "revamped and enlarged group,
such as commission on correc-
tionS, which would deal exclusively
with penal and correctional institu-
tions as distinguished from child
lcare and public relief"
T Guards Inadequate"
The number of guards and matrons
actually serving and those author
lied by law are entirely made
quate," and their basic salary
should be at least that paid Gus
todial men in Federal penitent-
iaries," it added in another recon-
mendation.
The report disclosed that Capt.
Frank w. Hoover, director of the
Welfare and Recreational Associa-
ton, had been asked to survey the
preparation of food, which the COM
mittee believed lacked variety, vita
minis, seasoning and necessary vege-
table content" 1t charged that the
present food allowance of less than
"a cents per day per prisoner was
inadequate.
The Welfare Board came in for
criticism for having abolished the
Jail canteen about four years ago
for mo valid reason" 1t likewise
attacked the recent investigation of
a jail break, pointing out that the
investigating group was selected by
Mr.. Huff, presided over by him and
stated by his subordinates, and that
mo stenographic records were kept.
Review Suggested.
The committee said the final re-
port was written by Mr.. Huff, filed
with himself as director of welfare
and apparently approved by the
board without review. The report
suggested that the findings be re-
viewed by an impartial commit
tee'' and that in the future findings
be independently reviewed"
1t also asked for legislation to i'm
pose heavier sentences for those
serving repeatedly for intoxication
in order to shift more of the burden
to the workhouse, thus relieving the
personnel of the Jail of an immense
amount of clerical and custodial
services. 1t advocated a review Of
laws applicable to the Jail by the
corporation counsel and a commit
tee of the Bar Association.
The report recommended closer
coordination and cooperation"
among penal institutions and urged
that provisions be made to segregate
prisoners awaiting trial from those
who have been convicted but are
awaiting trial on additional charges.
Other comments and suggestions
were:
Other Changes Asked.
There is sufficient medical work
for two physicians instead of one
as at present; the rotunda should be
used for religious services; recre-
ational facilities in the cell blocks
are inadequate; use of the recre-
alton room should be permitted
three hours day or more, and out
door recreation should be allowed in
the walled area; present rules are
confused" and should be revised.
Those serving with Mr.. Rover
were Bruce Baird, president of the
National Savings & Trust Co., and
DR.. Luther H. Reichelderfer, former
Commissioner.
House Approves Bill
Speeding Equity Appeals