The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-03-07
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
NEW HAVEN COUNTY MEMBERS AND
 THE JAIL IMPROVEMENT.


 from New Haven county held an ad- journed meeting this afternoon to con slider the matter of the proposed inn provements for the New Haven jail. Two plans were before the members with the accompanying drawings The first was presented at a former meet ing. It provides for an enlargement of the jail on the rear end of the build ing. The estimated cost is from S15O,0O0 to $200,0OO. These plans were presented by the legislative committee consisting of Messrs, Elliott, Gum and Chaffee.
 The other plan is the property of the county commissioners and the draw ings were made by Architect Allen of New Haven. It provides for the re- moval of the workshop from the jail and the use of the vacant room for news cells On the rear a workhouse is to be built. The estimated expense of this plan is $14S, ,OOO. The new chapel is to be 48x116 and is to accommodate 300 persons. The workshop is to be 150 feet in length and of two stories.
 Architect Allen explained the plans. Heg,said steel cells would cost $500 each and iron cells $2OO, or the price of brick, Tn a state prison there would be advantages in favor of steel, be- cause it would be difficult for prisoner to cut his way out.
 Representative Wood of Derby said the warden of the state prison consid- cred that iron cells were entirely satis- factory there. He thought the great expense of the steel cells could be dis pensed with, as iron would do as well.
 Senator Johnson of New Haven, the chairman, said it would be better to try to keep prisoners out of jail rather than an attempt to keep them in. An iron cell would be entirely sufficient.
 Representative Elliott-We had bet ter provide a whipping post for of- lenders.
 Representa- tive Newton said it would be well to have the county commission CTS and the committee of representa- tives confer and agree upon some gen eral plan. Representative Tucker of Ansonia made a motion to that effect ana IL was so VoIed
 Commissioner Lindley explained that the details of the proposed plans were favored by the commissioners. after giving them careful consideration. He advised the representatives to go down to the jail and look at the property.
 Representative Newton said he had no doubt the two committees could agree upon some measure.
 WATERBURY COURT HOUSE MAT
 TER.
 Senator Webster then called up the matter of the proposed court house in Waterbury and introduced Attorney John O'NeiIl, who spoke in part as follows:
 "The district court of Waterbury is made up of eleven towns with a popu- lation of 54,O0O and a grand list of about 20,OOO, ,0O0. This court was es- tablished in 1866 and the act provided that the city of Waterbury should provide the court house. Until recent l ly the city paid the salaries of the | judges. Our licenses in ten years have | amounted to from $50,000 to $6O,0O0 a 1 year, and the amount that would go to the county would be sufficient to pay | the expense of a new court house. We | are particularly situated and much by | ourselves. The present court house in | Waterbury is poorly lighted and ven tilated and the judges refuse to hold | court there. New Haven has her jail, | court house and bar library, but Water bury has received nothing in this line. We are paying for court accommoda- tionS, but get no return for our money. Now we ask that New Haven county of IVY 4o,- bo1 of the cost of a court house which can be built for about $1OOOOO We have found it very difficult to go to New Haven and the last winter the New Haven court officials refused us the privileges of court accommodations there, claiming their rooms were other wise engaged. Sometimes there have been one hundred people in day going to New Haven to attend court in criminal matters. This is proving an immense expense. A lot would cost at least $20,O00 and building 50x70 would cost from $60000 to $S0,000, and the fur nishings $20000 The bill provides that a committee shall look out for this en- terprise to see that there is no ex- travagant expenses MT. Case has said this bill was put in quietly. It is hard ly that when I have come up here for the last ten years asking for court house." State Attorney Terry of Waterbury We are peculiarly situated in our court cases. Our cases are not assigned, so we have to take our witnesses to New Haven and wait around all day, some times returning without getting hear ing. The travel to and from New Ha- ven occupies three hours l We prefer to remain in New Haven I county. but we would be better accom- modated if annexed to Hartford coun- { ty. This is not a lawyers bill It is h for the interest of the people The talk 2 that when we get court house we will want a new county is all bosh. With c ample court facilities we would be ann c ply accommodated The county com I acting with committee of V citizens, are to procure a site and erect c a building at cost not exceeding ESQ., a 900. The committee has power to issue t bonds to an amount not exceeding ESQ., I O00 one-half to be paid by the city of c There has been a surplus il in the treasury of the county until the D washington bridge was built, when is debt was created. believe future sur t.