Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-09-22
Stronger Guard
AT in
3-Mi||ion Budget
Figure Up S521.o7S;
Penal Chief Expects
More Crime Here

ouicentennial celebration in 1850
Director of Corrections Donald
Clemmer today asked the Com
missionerS for a stronger Jai.
guard force in a budget estimate
totaling $3,039,000 for fiscal 1850
Most of the requested appropria'
ton is assigned to operating ex'
penses for the five institutions I'm.
der Mr.. Clemmer's control-the Dis
trict Jail, the Reformatory anc
Penitentiary at Lorton, Va, anc
the Workhouse for Men and the
Reformatory for Women at Deco.
guam, Va
He asked the city heads to ap.
prove an $1,000 appropriation fol
capital outlay-S7, 500 for construc'
ton of an ice plant and $4,000 fol
a root cellar flor storing potatoes
and other vegetables at Lorton.
The Corrections Departments es-
innate is s521,078 more than the
present appropriation for penal IN
stitutions, S433,0O0 of which is as
signed to operating expenses.
Price Rises Cited.
The increases in the 1850 est.
mates, Mr.. Clemmer told the Com
mlssioners, are based on the ex-
pected increase in prisoners, the
general increase in commodity prices
and operation of security features
made at District Jail, following the
Hebert committee recommendations
The Hebert committee and the FBl
investigated conditions at the jail
after several spectacular escapes In
1916 and called for widespread
break proofng of the institution.
Mr.. Clemmer asked S66 ,045 for re-
placement of equipment at the out
lying reservation institutions. He
said the replacement rate has beer
woefuily inadequate in recent years
in keeping pace with the wearing out
of equipment. He predicted serious
difficulties" unless the replacement
rate is increased.
More Arrests Forecast.
In his request for additiona
guards. Mr.. Clemmer told the Com
missloners:
In view of the additional Isl
police officers authorized for thu
Metropolitan Police Department, l
may be reasonably assumed that {
greater number of arrests may oc
cur.
Fiscal 1850 will see the Sesqui
centennial celebration tin Wash
ingtonD, and it is expected tina
some types of crimes will increase
and the Police Department Wi
make every effort to present cleal
city to visitors"
He predicted the population O
the institutions will increase from
the 1900 prisoners expected in thl
fiscal year to 1850 in the next.
The 10 custodial officer position
requested, Mr.. Clemmer said, woule
permit the opening of two addi'
tional dormitories at the Lortor
Workhouse to house approximate,
300 more inmates.
Two truck drivers, he said, art
needed to haul Washington garbage
to the "piggery" at the workhous,
and to transport supplies from thu
District to the four institutions il
Virginia.
Expense Estimated.
The expense of running the jai
will increase S41,507 in the mex
fiscal year from s64O,96l to 1852,
46S, while the $1,6s6,445' cost o
operating the other four institu
lions this year will increase S347 ,16
net year to $2.0336l4
Mr.. Clemmer told the Commits
sioners the cost of supporting
prisoners will rise from the $275 .00
appropriated for fiscal 1949 to $500,
ITS next year-an increase of $l5.175
To the departments credit will b
an estimated 100000 in reimburs
able obligations, of which $139 ,00
will occur at the reservation insti
tutions and $37,500 at the Jail.
Large increases are noted in tn
forecast for the next fiscal year il
the cost of gas and oil, fuel, inmat
clothing and shoes, officers clothin.
and food at the reservation lnstl
tutional.
The amount requested for the jai
is less because the Jail expects
prisoner population of only $50
compared to the 1850 expected tt
appear at the out-of-town institu
lions under sentence.
Deep-Freeze SwitchOver.
One of the largest increases, per
centageWiSe. is requested for Lorton !!
planned switchover from canning tt
deep-freezing food operations. Mr.
Clemmer said the new Setup vii
cost $3.50. instead of the 1898 spen
this year for canning food.
But the estimates reveal that cos
of running the Jail has risen JUS
as high proportionately as 1t ha
at the larger penal institutions
One item will remain constant a
s6OO-the cost of electrocuting con
demned men.
The estimate said 1t will cos
the Department of Correction
s29o,175 to pay Federal institution
for the cost of imprisoning ant
supporting District prisoners. Thu
year the cost was s275,000. MI
Clemmer estimated $50 Distric
prisoners must be supported in Fed
eral penitentiaries next year at
cost of 1913 cents day.
The Commissioners also wer
asked to amend the language of
1947 act of Congress, providing
working capital fund" of s50,o0t
This fund should be changed t
100000 because of the decrease
value of money and the new in
dustries developed at Lorton an
Occoquan. Mr.. Clemmer pointed OF
that the additional $4,000 woul
come from profits realized from tn
industries.
Fairfax zoning Unit Denie
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