New Britain herald., 1915-02-17
STATE FARM OPPOSED
 BY STATES ATTORNEY
Ming Offers Ony Opposition to
 Idea at Hearing in Capitol.

byla number of the most prominent judges, clergynen, physicians and legislators in the state was marred, at a hearing held yesterday afternoon before the legislative committee on human institutions, by one discordant note of protest in the form of a let ter to the chairman of the committee by States Attorney Arnon A. filling of New Haven, who was unable to De present but who put him. self on record as unalterably opposed to the proposition. Another surprise developed in a statement made by Senator Alcorn that ex-Governor Simeon D. Baldwin. whose veto after the close of the last legislative session killed the state farm bill after it had passed both houses of the general as- smbly, had promised the humane in- stitutions committee, while the bill was pending, that he would sign the bill if it passed the legislature.
 Two bills were before the committee one which had been introduced by Senator Molloy, and another intro i. duced by Senator Acorn. The for mer calls for the erection and estab- lishment of a farm with an appropria- ton of s25,0 900 and a board of five directors to which any judge can com init habitua, drunkards or persons ? ad-4ctcd tothe drug habit for not less than one nor more than three years, subject to parole or pardon by the dire ctor; that the expenses of persons committed by probate courts be paid by their estates or by the towns from which they are committed; that fami- lies dependent upon such inmates be suportcd by the state during their ] incarceration to the extent of $3.50 week; and that incorrigible inmates be Transferred to county jails. The Alcorn bill is similar to this one ex- cept that it carries an appropriation of $60,000, calls for seven directors and has no provision as to the care of dependent families.
 UpIlolds Molloy's Bill.
 pr. Edward B. Hooker of this city spoke in favor of Senator Mol1oy's bHf,' saying that he hoped the legis- lators would think less, at this time when economy programs are being introduced, about reconstructing high ways and more about reconstructing human beings.
 F. F. Canill of this city said that he had had much experience with ir- responsible men and he thought a farm and farm work was necessary, as most of these men thought the state owed them a living and needed to be taught otherwise. Ue thought that the state farm would not only support itself but would eventually support the jail it would displace. Drunkard Needs Attention. Mr. Lynde of New London, repre- senMng the associated charities of tl.at city, said that specialized treat nent had been applied to the dumb, the blind and many other classes of l deficients and he thought the habitual drunkard need just as much atten- ton.
 ts He added that in drawing up the bill~ he had named $25,0O0 as the sum for the farm, because Ex-Gov- ernor Baldwin had vetoed the former appropriation of s50,000 and he thought the state might be willing to Appropriate the smaller sum where 1t would hesitate at the larger one.
 Judge Steele's Remarks.
 Judge Edward L. Steele of this city said that from his experience in court he Was convinced that it did no good to send men or women to jail for drunkenness and that judges do not send drunkards to jail for thirty or 4sixty@or ninety days with the expecta- ton of doing them or the state any good thereby, but because they were Ia nuisance and had to be sent to jail flor lack of better place. He thought that the system of the farm should be developed at some future time, at least, so that the men would have an opportunity to earn and handle money, even though in sums too small to enable them to be self supporting.
 Judge Edgar M. Warner, of Put ham, said he appeared as an ex-police court judge, as a former member of 1.-the legislative prison committee and las a representative of the Christian Endeavor Union. He said that he knew one man who had been sent over and over agin for thirty-five years to the same jail cell for the same crime, that of being drunkard. He favored a farm on the cottage plan without bolts and bars.
 BaIdwin's Promise.
 Rev Dr. Ernest de Miel, rector of Trinity church, Hartford, repre- Eenting the Social Service commission of Connecticut outlined the history of the bill vetoed after the last session by ex-Governor Baldwin. Senator AlCOrn interrupted IlIIl and lnIOrneQ him that the committee had been promised by Baldwin at the last se ssion that he would sign the bill if it was passed, He added, 'I am telling you this so that you can guess what in huence may have been applied"
 Recalls Mans Record.
 Senator Grady of New Haven brought up the record of the man re-