Litchfield enquirer., 1877-09-27
countY Delegates.

SNGEU&. ana SeuaAOES IrOm IuO Olc- triess having odd numbers. are the only Cneers to be chosen this fall for whom nomHnmzinR conventions are required. Tha delexakes to these conventions will p-shahly be appointed in most cases at the caasuses- to be held this week for ncwination of town officers. Concerning khe eominR oouvsations in the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Senatorial Districts, we have nothing special to nrge; but the se- lection uf delegates to the county conven- lions is . business that needs careful watching, and in particular, on the part of the Democracy who have a very large majority m the county.
 What is especially needed IS really representative Democratic county con- vention. not packed in the interest of any candidate or candidates, but one that uiII require such pledges of their nomi- nes, whoever he may be, as will ensure to the county the control of their own jail. The present sheriff has now been twice re. elected and each time we have besought the coanty convention nominating him to put stop to his most improper practice of rnnning the jail as a source of personal praak The failure of Democratic con ventiOns to do their plain duty in this re- spees has cost the county thousands of dollars. During the past three years, es- Pecially. the average of prisoners has besa very high; provisions have been eOmpakat1vely low; and, nevertheless, till within few months past, the sheriff has received 8 week for the board of each pEiso1sr. and has moreover been allowed the total proceeds of their labor-also very considerable source of profit. .'5
 The recent act of the legislature reduc- ing prisoaers board to S2.25 week will no doubt greatly lessen the profits of this remAEkabls enterprise. No doubt 6 shresd manager could still make money Out of the iail; but we doubt whether the county. managing that business as most public corporations manage their affairs, would clear much out of the prisoners at the present rate of board. Irrespective, however. of the money to be made or lost by #, We still insist that the county should assume the pecuniary responsibil. ty of running their own jail for reasons to some of which we will briefly advert:
 In the Arstplace ve consider the pres- ent arrangement utterly wrong in princi- pie. Ths:ofRcer having legal charge of the jail. and absolute control of the pris- Onsra. with power to repress discontent and discourage complaint by personal ehastisement. ought not to be the person who makes . profit on their board, and takes all the avaiIs of their labor. We believe that the present sheriff has fur nishsd the prisoners good food and plen- tyOf ik. and that they have not been OvsrwoEked: but. if the present practice becomes . settled one, the time will sure ly come when ae shall have a sheriff who will nndsE-fsed and Over-work the prison. ! srA Interest and opportunity combine to to make that a most natural and indeed inevitable result of the evil principle of eur present jail management.
 There is another reason why the county should reclaim the management of it's oEn jail The members of the next House of Representatives from this county will undoubtedly be called upon to act upon the question of a new jail. The monstrous abuse of crOwding of thirty or forty prisoners into seventeen cells cannot long continue. Nothing but the selfish designs of certain towns on the county seat has @ long postponed the building of 8 new jail: and. when one is built, all the unskill- cd labor of its construction should be done by Che prisoners themselves. For thIs reason, therefore, it is necessary that the county should reclaim the profits of the prisoners tabor and abolish the pres ent practice which treats them as per qaisite of the office of high sheriff.
 We have referred above only to reasons which render a change of jail manage meSt advisable. We are further of the opinion that no such arrangement can be justified under existing law. That this mat Ger has not been thoroughly tested by legal decision, we feel bound to say, however, Is the fault of the county commissioners who have permitted those illegal practic- es by which the sheriff has profted.
 That the present sheriff will be a candidate for renomination, we do not know. Indeed. we hear it strenuously denied; but. whether he is nominated CT not. the practises 10 which we so strongly object will be continued unless aO@inaang conventions put e stop to thsm by positive prohibition. ''+
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