Evening star., 1946-04-20
Jail
Continued From First Page.)

Commissioners and the Welfare
Board before his board acts Mon
day.
The welfare chairman indorsed
proposals for loan of an expert
from the Federal Bureau of Prisons
to reorganize the penal system and
for appropriations to provide addi-
tional guards and essential con-
struction.
While commenting that he be-
lieves the House committees action
will be productive of good results
promptly" Mr.. Morris noted that
it took the escape of two convicted
murderers from the Jail to bring
results.
THE situation has its precedence
in that catastrophe gets action" he
said, Heaven forbid that we wait
for other catastrophies before action
is taken in other institutions for
the children and the aged. The
Welfare Board is concerned only
for the best interest of this city.
The committee proposals will receive
full consideration.
Even when Congress was consid-
ering bill to take all administrative
powers from the Welfare Board and
establish Welfare Department. Mr..
Morris pointed out, he offered no
objection.
Il am certainly willing to do any,
thing to improve conditions which
is for the good of the District" he
declared. Il have been trying to be
neutral"
The Welfare Board agreed to ad-
NIT the press to one of its meetings
for the first time at the request of
Mr.. Driscoll, who said he was tired"
of criticism that it acts in secrecy
and wanted full public discussion of
the proposals made by Congress.
I'm inclined to go along with the
Hebert report and indorse the sug-
gestion that the board be divorced
from penal matters" Mr.. Driscoll
remarked.
The recommendation of the con-
gressional committee for dismissal
of Howard B. Gill. suspended super
intendent of penal institutions, elat-
ed the welfare members who have
charged him with inefficiency and
INSTRUMENTATION.
Proposed Appropriation Hailed.
An inquiry board which spent
seven weeks hearing the charges an
nounced it would make it's recon-
mendation for removal or reinstate-
ment to the Commissioners Monday
morning. MI. Gill refused to COM
ment pending their report.
Walter M. Bastian, chairman of
the Inquiry Board. announced that
its findings have been completed and
sent TO mimeographer. The three
members of his board will meet in
Mr.. Bastian's office at am. Mon
day to go over the report and expect
to submit it to the Commissioners by
10 a m, he said. The Commissioners
have final authority to dismiss or
retain Mr.. Gill.
He old, however, assert that the
congressional committee has agreed
with my fundamental contentious
with reference to the weaknesses in
the present system and has indorsed
practically my entire program for
improvements at the Jail and for
establishing broad professional
program in the treatment of District
prisoners.
The suspended penal superinten-
dent hailed the fact that the COM
mittee recommended 100000 for
physical improvements, not the
"piddling $500" he received when he
asked year ago for money to per-
feet the jail's control system.
Claude o. Botkin, resident super
intendent of the District Jail, said
today he would accede to the recon-
mendation for his dismissal "for the
good of the service" He would not
comment on whether he intended to
submit his resignation, but stressed
his willing to take any step that
would improve the penal system.
Bennett Pledges Cooperation.
The full cooperation of the Fed
eral Bureaufs Prisons in reforming