Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-18
FISHER TELLS WHAT HE FAVORS
Seeker for Democratic Gubefnaoria Nomination Speaks Audience of 100 at Town Hall-Under Auspices of Central Labor Union-In the Fight to Stay.

to administer for the dollar of revenue turned in as does the general proper ty tax, about twenty cents as against about two. It yields but little revenue less than half a million out of some $19 ,000, 900 of public revenues in Con- necticut in 1912; and only about $16S,- O00 goes to the state government, where the need for funds is greatest. Other sources of larger and better income could be developed.
 The personal tax cannot, in~the na- ture of the case, have any such effects as have been made the basis for it's Justification.
 Nor is the tax needeed to get from the greatest number of those without property their fair contribution to the expenses of government. Already these bear at least their fair share of whole system of American taxation to- gether, as it must be taken in estimat- ing its fairness.
 Doubtless there are thousands of workers in Connecticut who can pay this personal tax without the least hardship. Doubtless there are thous- ands who waste every year much more than the amout of the tax. Grant there remain thousands of others for whom, in these days of high prices, every two dollars means much, thous- ands who. in a. fair use of terms, can not dnOEQ lO pay lne ldA.
 Abolish Contract Labor.
 Labor, too. has a peculiar interest in the abolition of contract labor in cur jails and the state prison at Wethersfield. LB there be no con- fusion here. There is no Ie'oposal to keep the prisoners in demoralizing and expensive idleness. Employment of the right sort and under the right condi- tions, is the one most wholesome in- fiuence to be applied to prisoners.
 But certain great facts do remain to be emphasized. Wherever the la- bor of the prisoner is sold to private contractors, to be utilized for their profit, a part of the control of the prisoners, public wards as there are is turned to private authority. Any such division of control interferes with the best prison policy and administra tion. And such division as the con- tract labor system carries spurs the contractor to seek his highest possi- lole profit by the fullest exploitation of the labor he has bought. It is no merely, then, that the contract labol system subordinates disciplinary anC reformative control to pecuniar1 profit: it does not even allow this prof to accrue to the public. Here are tn, most serious and never-to-be-curet vices of the contract labor system ii prisons.
 States Finances in Desperate Condi ton.
 Professor Fisher passed on to an ex tended consideration of the states fl nances which he said were in a des | perate condition.
 At the close of the fiscal year 1907 l September 30, there was no net debt but the state had a cash balance O | $265, ,470. Six years later the fpndet | debt had become $7,000,000, while en ormous borrowings at the banks hal | raised the total debt to ss.493,66S. No | is there any indication that the ent l is here, or, even near. l So far as expenditures go the troubl | has not been because so much ha been undertaken but because the worl | had been done so badly. To be sur | there has been complete absence o | sound and comprehensive financia | policy. Appropriations have beer 1 asked and made. here and there, fo
 this service and for that. with only tn
 slightest consideration, if any at al
 of the relative importance of the sev
 erai services or of the amount of mon ey available. The greater the likeli hood of a shortage the greater tn eagernesS to pluck off the wished-fo | amount at once. Appropriations ar asked and made in sums which it | known will not be adequate to cove the need. When the Board of Contro
 four men only. Governor, Treasure Comptroller and Attorney Genera
 make outright additions, or even talk
 from one service for another. thu
 pullifying at times the will of th
 general assembly.
 The Railroad Problem. No problem will tax the courage an
 the strength of the next state admir- istration more than the problem of tf railroad. None will call more loud for prompt, courageoue. honest, ar energetic solution.
 In part all now knoy the story the New Haven road but to the darl est aspect of this sad story must yol attention be turned. These devioi : and dark courses have been followe these cruel wrongs have l&en perp, . trated. these crimes have been con mitted, not by men of known bas, ness; but all this has been done men of high reputation by men who : names have been sounded to us ye; , after year as the very symbols of wi ] dom and honor. Could anything : worse? To a man not quite void
 honest principles nothing would be prompter and more commanding sun : mons and stfmulos to do the rig and shun the wrong than u knowledge that people generally tru him, believing him strong and hone.
 
 5 depth of infamy.
 What now have been the relatio 2 between these culprits and our sta 5 government?
 To read the lines of the testimol T T presented to the federal investigate : and of their report we, here in Co 2 necticut, might feel relieved. To Il Il sure there was a general confessi U of looking after" legislatures and t Il lobbyist-in-c chief for Connecticut w named and priced, in Mir. J. Hen l. Roraback at S5,000 a legislative SC 2 sion. But Connecticut is not nam $ among the states in which evidence
 criminal conduct was turned over II the prosecuting officers. Perhaps v
 although surrounded on all sides
 areas of crime and public corruptiC ,t have preserved the integrity of c u public offices. Perhaps so. Perha l. the case is very different and is e h plained on the principal that there
 no larceny where you have a licer . to steal.
 It is always best to speak in defin , terms. And, in order to avoid vagu ness, I shall not mention tonight, C cept by brief incidental referen other relations of the railroad than 2 seen in the levy and collection of t taxes upon railroads.
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