Evening star., 1945-12-05
Coffee Promises
House Inquiry
On District Jail
Subcommittee on
Appropriations Maps
Separate Investigation

Reverberations of the District Jail
break and subsequent revelations
reached Capitol Hill today. With
two investigations of the affair al
ready under way, developments to-
day included:
l. Promise of another investiga.
ton, this time by the House sub
committee charged with approving
the Districts appropriation bills.
2. An accusation by Inspector
Rob J. Barrett, chief of detectives,
that jail officials have not Coop
Grated with the police department.
3. Discovery of three more hack
saw blades, bringing to seven the
number found at the Jail since the
f1ve-man escape of November "a.
Coffee Promises Probe.
A thorough inquiry into circum-
stances regarding the physical con-
dltion, management and RESPONSE
bility for the Jail was promised by
Chairman Coffee of the House sub
committee in charge of the annual
District appropriation bills.
Aroused over the continuing dis
closures, Mr.. Coffee said: 1--WE will
get on that in the near future-welI
in advance of our hearings on next
years budget"
A prediction that the subcommit-
tee would go into the whole situa-
tlon to see what is wrong" came
simultaneously from Representative
Stefan, Republican, of Nebraska.
ranking minority member of the
Coffee subcommittee.
Both Mr.. Coffee and Mr.. Stefan,
who have been following accounts
OF the Jail break and the subsequent
probe results very closely" raised
questions as to whether legal au-
thority over penal institutions is
strong enough.
Old Bill to Be Studied.
They said they would renew their
studies of bill, pigeonholed last
year, which would place the Com
mlssioners in direct control over the
city welfare and penal services,
transferring to them the admins
trat1ve powers now vested in the
Board of Public Welfare.
While announcing plans for his
own committees review of the situ-
alton, Mr.. Coffee voiced hope that
the House District Committed would
look into the situation"
Mr.. Stefan was aroused over the
/ disclosure that the District has been
required to bear the cost of housing
Federal prisoners at the jail and the
District Reformatory, running an
average of 100000 a year for the
last 33 years.
I'VE will certainly want to 60 into
this feature of the Federal District
flscal relations problem when the
time comes for decision on the size
OF the Federal payment toward Ma
tlonal Capital COSTS" he declared
ut is further proof of the ineouitv
of the present lump sum payment,
especially since the District is
charged by the Federal Govern
ment for the care of so-called Dis
trlct prisoners who are confined in
Federal prisons"
Had Inspected Jail.
Director Howard B. Gill of Dis
trict penal institutions had brought
out that 80 of the 245 District pris-
oners recently incarcerated in Fed
eral prisons had been convicted of
Federal offenses.
Mr.. Coffee recalled that his sub
committee made personal inspec-
tion of the jail last year and that
he had recommended "a number of
changes to Jail officials. He said
he had noted bad" conditions in
the older cell blocks and elevators
and was Impressed with the ease
OF escape" that seemed apparent to
him.
I II a new building program is
needed to replace the older sections
OF the JAIL" he said, why don't
the District officials bring a pro-
gram before Congress. 1t is not uu
to us to initiate such things"
Commenting on the fact that the
welfare board has direct authority
over the management of the jail
and welfare services, Mr.. Coffee
said it was the District Commits
sioners who really hold the responsi.
billty, since they head the District
Government and appoint the well
fare board.
I still believe we must have cen.
tralized authority somewhere in the
District Government before we arr
going to get anywhere" he said.
! Says Police Credit Omitted
| Discussing phases of the inves.
tlgation with newsmen, Inspecto,
Barrett implied that Jail oficial.
have failed to give police credit 70,
assistance. He said 1t. Robert v
Murray and other officers hac
tipped off Mr.. Gill that saw blade
could be found in the cell occupied
: by Charles j. Skiskowski. a partner
OF one of the escaped men, Michae
Quinn.
+ Mr.. Gill, who announced Sunda,
he had found the blade and another
secreted in the cell of Earl Mac.
Farland, convicted murderer, deniec
today he had taken full credit fol
the discovery, but said he told re.
porters that 1t. Murray and other,
deserved part credit.
t This outburst of feeling between
the superintendent and detectiv,
/ chief was not cooled by inspector
l Barrett's assertion he never wa,
: notified that Jail officials had beer
Y tipped off week before the breal
/: occurred.
Tips Regarded Usual.
To this, Mr.. Gill replied that tip.
of impending breaks often are hearc
at the Jail, usually without the DO.
lice being notified.
During the raid of 100 Metropoli.
tan Police at the Jail Monday night
IA number of wire coat hangers
!. some belts, ties and canned good.
were found in the cells, Inspector
Barrett said. He was critical of jai
loficials who allow prisoners to hav.
metal articles.
Three hacksaw blades were dis.
covered yesterday in the attic O,
cell block No. 2 by George r. Johns.
|ton, the jail engineer, Mr.. Gill said
lit was his opinion that the blade.