The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-23
PUBLIC OPINION LANYON SAYS FEW WORDS FOR
 C|TY'S JAIL
He Likes Way New Sheriff Manages Affairs and Praises Contractor Clark.

Stamford, Conn.,, Aug. 3, 1911. Editor Bridgeport Farmer,
 Bridgeport, Conn.,.
 Dear Sir
 Will you kindly allow me space in the columns of your valued paper to say few words 10 your readers re- garding the conditions prevailing at the Fairfield county jail since the cleo tion, or more properly speaking, since the assumption of office by Sheriff Vollmer?
 There has been so much said, and written, lately, concerning the deplor- able conditions prevailing in the jails throughout the country, that many of your readers may have conceived the idea that the same state of affairs prevail in the Jail at Bridgeport; this Is a mistaken idea; while there are many conditions that could be inn proved, the prisoners are now being treated fairly, and with a regard to their comfort which is gratifying. I have just been released after serv- ing sentence of fifteen months; dur ing that time I questioned the pris- oners who had served in other jails throughout the country; they were unanimous in saving that the new of ficia1s of the Fairfield county jail treated them with Q greater degree of consideration, and that the general conditions were better there now than elsewhere.
 Sheriff vollmer personally inspects the jail and shops daily, and he as well as the other officials, are always ready to listen to any grievance, real or fancied, which the men may have.
 MT. Saunders, the night watchman, is a general favorite with the men, for he is always willing to get them a glass of water or do any other fa- Gov fha fnI
 And now just word regarding the Urea tment of the men who work in the block shop, quarry, and leather shop; while I believe the present system of selling the labor of the prisoners to be pernicious. I do not believe they could be better treated-under the present system-than they are by F.. E.. Clark, the present contractor. The contract MT. Clark has with the county calls for ten hour work day for the men; they seldom work more than eight hours per day, and the average is less than eight.
 No prisoner Is compelled to work if he is sick-his simple statement that he is unable to work being usually accepted without Question-and no one is asked or expected to do more than he Is able to do.
 I do not want your readers to in fer from anything I have said in this article, that discipline has been in any way relaxed; it is on the contrary, more strict than ever; yet where privileges could be granted without and regulations, the sheriff has granted them freely.
 It may be gratifying to know that the prisoners seem to appreciate the new order of affairs, and try i'm many ways to show their appreciation; they are more cheerful, make less noise, are quicker to obey orders, and do so did
 An incident during the hot spell last month (July) is typical of the gen. eral treatment of the men. Mir. Clark, having an important contract to fin ish, and being anxious to complete it as soon as possible, called the prie- oners before him and explained the circumstances, stating that he wanted to finish the work as soon as possible, but owing to the heat, he would not compel the men to work and those who wished could go to their cells; to those who stuck to their job he promised to pay fifty cents per day until the job was completed; not man quit and each man received the full amount due. when he was re- leased
 Every prisoner who has done his work in a satisfactory manner, and upon being vouched for by MT. Dunn, the superintendent, is given a sum of money by MT. Clark, upon his dis charge, amounting in some instances to twenty-five dollars
 The writer recalls one instance of a prisoner who was discharged when MT. Clark was out of the city, and the man did not receive his present at that time; five days later he received very nice letter from Mr. Clark, with a check of 'twen- ty-ffve dollars inclosed.
 While I again say there are condf- tions in the jail proper which can and should be remedied-and believe will be remedied by Sheriff vollmer as soon as he can do sol can suggest no way in which MT. Clark's manage ment of the men can be improved up- on; I consider the conditions under which his men work, as ideal.
 Thanking you for your courtesy in publishing this somewhat lengthy let ter I am,
 Very truly yours,
 HERBERT B. LANYON. = =