Morning journal and courier., 1893-06-21

hat the subordinate officers were not re- Iuired by him to properly discharge their luties. They have allowed prisoners and heir cells to be and remain filthy. Said warden has also in some cases co-operated with the subordinate officers in what we consider improper treatment and in other 'ases he has allowed such officers to ad- minister improper treatment to prisoners without reprimand. The dark dungeons called solitary" have been used too freely with the approval of the warden. Prison ers, mauy of them insane, have bsen placed in them on bread and water for trivial offenses. These dungeons are situ- ated in what Is called the west end, and in cold weather prisoners must suffer greatly from lack of heat. One prisoner testified that he was obliged to keep constantly jumping around in the dungeon in order to keep warm.
 The statute provides that the warden shall manage the prison subject to the rules and written orders of the directors, assisted by the subordinate officers, over whom the warden has sole control, and the warden must be held responsible not only for his own acts at the prison, but in measure for thoee of his subordinate off proper officers or fails to discharge them upon knowledge of impropriety on their part, he certainly shows incompetency to manage the prison. We find that in many instances the warden knew of improper action on the part of his subordinates and allowed them to continue in office; that in other instances he ordered what we con- sider improper action on their part, and that in other instances he participated in such improper actions.
 The committee cite some of the more conspicuous examples of improper treat ment for which they say the warden was plainly responsible, speaking specially of the Wales Doolittle case.
 It was proven that other sick prison CTS were placed in what is called the west end. without nurses or attendants when they needed them. It was claimed that the deaths in cells were unexpected, and in some cases the cause unknown, but in no case were the services of the coroner sor medical examiner invoked. We find that there is ample accommodation at the prison for the proper treatment of the sick in hospital. One room designed for such use has been allowed to remain unoccupied In many cases 1t was doubtful whether sick prisoners had received the diet and medicine prescribed by the physician. The latter did not see that they were received. Just here is an oppor-
 
 in good health 1t is to be presumed they can labor and obey the rules. When dis ease attacks them, the person having charge of their bodies must see that their disease receives proper attention. In our judgment the diseases of many sick prison CTS have been aggravated by men being placed in the west end, and many insane and idiotic prisoners have been punished by solitary confinement on bread and water with the probable result of sggravas- ing their disorders.
 the prisoners ie let out at fifty cents per day for boot and shoe making, the com mittee dieapprove the practice. They think the improper treatment of prisoners was unknown to the directors. Tho latter, however, were remiss, as they had not col lectively attended two meetings at the prison each quarter as the law required They had also allowed subordinates to serve long periods before taking the pre- soribed oath.
 A physician should be in constant at- tendance to determine when a prisoner is unfit to labor. The Connecticut prison is pronounced much behind those in New York and Pennsylvania which the commit tee visited.
 The report was submitted to the repub- licans of the committee. Senator Jones and Representative Mowrey, but they declined had time to look into the report The democrats dscided not to wait any longer for the republicans. The latter will have their report ready in day or two.
 FOR CONVENTION. 2:
 The senate this afternoon took up the order of the day, being the bill on the minority report in favor of constitu- tional convention. Senator Fox, chairman of the judiciary, made the argument for the democrats, and clearly set forth the necessity for constitutional convention from his standpoint. He said:
 I believe we are all agreed that @ new constitution or revision of the old one of 1S18 is demanded. And the only differ ence, as understand it, between republi- cans and democrats is what is the best way to accomplish the objecta The republicans claim it ought to be accomplished by amendments in and by the legisla- ture or by g commission appoint ed by the legislature. The democrats say: "submit the question to the people of the state, whether or not they want new constitution" and that that will settle the question. -:-
 If the majority of the people dc notw convention, there will be no harm done, and this question will be settled for many years to come, because if majority of the people vote against 1t next October, we shall understand that the majority are satisfied with the present constitution and with its defects. If @ majority, however, want convention why should they be de. barred of the privilege of holding onea Tho novr,onk{ov, ool1o1 ,u,{1l 8y, No vember, and unquestionably 1t would or ganize and appoint twoof three commit tees which would do the work of . com mission, which is advocated by asfew of the republican papers, and the work of that commission or committee, would then be submitted directly by the representa- Hves of the people in the whole body of the convention, and when approved by them would go to the people themselves for their approval.
 Governor Norris, in his message on page 2, says: eve find 1t necessary as often as once in ten years to have revision of our statutes, in order that the laws may be made intelligible. But the constitution, with its various amendments adopted during the last seventy-four years, has not been revised.
 sIf we are to retain popular government In Connecticut the constitution should be 90 changed that the votes of the people as est on election day should have their full effect" s'='
 No better argument could be presented than the present Governor Morris has made In his message for constitutional conven- ton to give the people of this state their just and political TiRhts. And I am sure no one will charge him with being bitter partisan as governor or otherwise. Isub- init the bill ought to pass, 50 that the question may be submitted to the people.
 Senators Holden, Pierce and Root also favored convention, while Senator Hol- comb, republican, opposed, claiming that any changes In the constitution should be