New Britain herald., 1915-01-14
URGES SUBSTITUTION
 OF STATE FARM FOR
 CONN. COUNTY JA|LS
GOnvC. lsboT Commission Divided in lis FIndIGg ReIdI,Vc 10 Labor
 al State PTlS00.


 JAIL PRISONERS RECOMMENDED Messrs. Fuller and Hodge Find That
 Conditions at Wethers1eld Do Not
 Warrant Abolishment of Contract
 System, But if Legislature Should
 Make Change They Recommend
 Adoption of State Account System. tion of a, state farm for the county jails of the state particularly in New Haven, Hartford and Fairfield coun- ties is recommended, and possible changes in the method of employing convicts in the state prison at Weth- erst1eld are discussed in the report of the convict labor commission made public today. The commission con- sisted of pr. John J. Cloonan of Stamford, Edward s. Fuller of Suffield and Willard B. Hodge of Roxbury. and was appointed by Governor Simeon E. Baldwin, under direction of the general assemb bly,, to investigate the methods of employing labor in this and other states.
 The commission is divided in it's finding as to the action recommended relative to labor at the state prison. Messrs. Fuller and Hodge find that conditions do not call for a recom- mendatiOn for a diScOnun uance of the present contract system, but if the general assembly should decide to make a change they recommend the adoption of the state account system.
 Discontinue Contract System.
 Dr. C1oonan recommends that the contract system be discontinued as soon as possible, and that the state account system be established.
 Regarding county jails the com mission is in entire agreement and recommends that the present jail sys- tenn in Hartford, New Haven anG Fairfield counties be discontinued and a state farm be esta blished for jail prisoners, the jails to be used merely as places of detention for persons awaiting trial. Indeterminate sen- tences for jail prisoners are recom- mended.
 Inspected Penal Institutions.
 The commission inspected the state prison at Wethersfield, the tails of New Haven, Hartford and Fairfield counties and penal institutions in Massachusetts and New York states l Detailed information also sought l by letter from wardenS and other | prison officials throughout the county as to the relative merits of the con- tract system,- and the state use sys- tenn, and also as to the best method | of employing the convicts. The con- sensus of opinion, according to the l report based on replies from some | 30 states, was 'undeniably adverse to | the contract system and favorable to | either the state use or state account | system.''
 The report in concluding says that | at the expiration of the existing con- l tracts at our state prison, the pres | cnt contract system may be contin- | ued, and this would entail no change 1 of any kind from the present scheme | of administration.
 Two Systems Recommended.
 "If the contract system is to be discontinued, the labor may be pro- l vided under either the state use or | state account systems; by work on l the highways or in a state farm.
 We know what can be realized by | contract with responsible corporations | which understand thoroughly the re- 1 quirements and the markets The | labor now pursued by the convicts i in this state is, in the case of the state prison at Wethersfeld, providing nearly eighty per cent. of the cost of maintenance of the prison
 Working Capital Necessary.
 If the industries. at present car rled on in the prison, or other in dustries that might be added, were to be conducted on state account. a 1 sufficient working capital would be required to make necessary changes in equipment and machinery. to buy the raw material and to secure the services of men thoroughly acquaint- ed with manufacturing to superin- tend the work in the shops Fur thermOre, arrangements would be re- quired for the disposition of the either by contracting the entire out put to a responsible jobbing house. or by going on the road to sell the products and thus contending with
 Continued on Fourth PageD