Evening star., 1946-04-25
City Heads Ask
II. ). 10 Provide
New Penal Chief
First Step Taken
In Reorganization
Of Prison System

On the heels of their dismissal
yesterday of Howard B. Gill, the
Commissioners today disclosed
they are asking the Attorney
General to provide "a competent
individual" to assume executive
charge of the District adult penal
institutions and "to institute
any necessary reforms permitted
by law"
The action is the first positive
step toward carrying out the rec
concentrations of a House District
subcommittee for reorganization of
the city penal administration.
Disclosure came in a letter from
Commissioner John Russell Young
to Chairman Edgar Morris of the
Board of Public Welfare advising
him of the decision to request the
penal expert from the ATTORNEY
General. The Welfare Board earlier
announced its support of such
action.
Differs With Subcommittee.
Although seeking a penal execu-
tive from the Federal Bureau of
Prisons, Mr.. Young took the posi-
ton that such an individual could
not be named director of new
department of corrections since
no such department and no such
directorate exists or can exist until
authorized by law"
This differed from the position
taken by the Hebert Subcommittee
that a department of corrections
could be established by agreement
between the Commissioners and the
Welfare Board on temporary basis
pending permanent legislation.
AS general superintendent of Dis
trict prisons, Mr.. Young indicated.
the proposed new penologist could
take appropriate action
Announcement of Mr.. Gill's dis
miSsal and that his suspension
since December was without pay
was made by the Commissioners
late yesterday. Mr.. Gill immedi-
ately announced intention to appeal
to the Civil Service Commission on
the grounds that it was not until
the trial board announced its find
ings last Monday that he knew
specifically the charges against him
He contended he has not been given
the opportunity thus to file a writ
ten reply, as provided by civil serv-
ice rules.
Board Must Keep Control.
In connection with the establish
ment of the Department of Correc-
tions under the Commissioners
which the Welfare Board opposes,
Mr.. Young advised Mr.. Morris that
the Welfare Board cannot, of course,
divest itself of IT'S executive powers
and responsibilities, in the absence
of enabling legislation"
Until then" he continued. "the
board must continue to possess COM
plete control over the general
superintendent of prisons, whether
he be appointed permanently or
temporarily and whether he be
borrowed from the Attorney Cen
eral or obtained from some other
source"
If the proposed new general super
intendent wants to put in effect
any new policies or procedures, the
letter continued approval of the
board will be necessary but, it was
added:
TT is believed that the wishes of
the Hebert Subcommittee can be
substantially met in the immediate
future, and pending the enactment
of new legislation, by the Board of
Public Welfare announcing as a
voluntary policy that it will confer
with the Board of Commissioners
before taking action on proposed
new policies or procedures affecting
penal institutions.
Amendment Studied.
In the meantime, the Commits
sioners are still studying a draft of
an amendment prepared by Cor
poration Counsel Vernon E. West to
the pending welfare reorganization
bill which would establish a depart
ment of corrections of the adult
penal institutions separate from
other institutions controlled by the
welfare department.
The pending bill is designed to
strip the administrative power of
the Welfare Board and make it
advisory to welfare department