The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-10
WARDEN STATES PRISONER SHOULD
 RECEIVE SALARY
"Would Relieve Distress of Innocent Wife and
 Children"

In his report to Governor Marcus H. Holcomb for the two fiscal years ending September &, 1916, Warden
 Ward A. Garner of the Connecticut State prison at Wethersfield, recom- mends that power to parole life pris- oners who have served a period of 25 years, and whose record carries the belief that the privilege of con- ditional release would not be abused
 be conferred on the board of parole. A record of the earnings of the in- mates who are on parole, subject to the custody of the prison, is $5O,00O. The first inmate was paroled in 1903. Warden Garner further recommends that the legislature be asked to make an appropriation whereby each in- mate might be paid a certain amount for each day served in prison, which may either be used under proper su- pervision to relieve the necessities of those dependent upon him, or to ac- cumulate a fund for his own assist ance when discharged. '1 do not feel that the state has the moral right to deprive man of his liberty and make a profit out of his labor, and do noth- ing to relieve the distress of his in nocent wife and children said War den Gamers report. The warden also expresses the view that the state lis not right in depriv,ng a prisoner of his citizenship and that when he has served his sentence, he has paid the full penality of his crinle. Warden
 Garner calls attention to the need of recreation yard, privileges of which could be offered as a reward for good conduct
 The earnings from prison labor for the two years ended September 30, 1916, was $153, 3,35O.5O. The inmates are now working under what is called l the "piece-price' system. At the close of the year, the inmates were
 earning for themselves $10,000 a
 year. The cost of food for each man
 for one day during 1915 was .1201
 cents and in 1916, 1888 A,nts; and
 the gross cost of each man during 1915 was $1S9.65, and in 1916, $201.- l 70. The average daily population in 1915 was 633.52, and in 1916, 64S.21. 1 The general sanitary condition of the prison has been excellent throughout the period covered in the report. Dis 1 cipline for the two years has been
 good.< Kindness, according to the
 warden, is met with ready response l on the part or the inmates. fuHISl-
 ments are the exception, rather than 1 the rule. Punishments have fallen off 50 per cent. during the past four years. The library and school are in-
 creasing in attendance numbers. and each reports progress.
 l About two years ago the inmates received the privileges of talking among themselves during vneal ttmes; later on moving picture entertain ments were introduced, and the in mates have received permission to re- ceive daily papers. Warden Garner
 reported the completion of 72 new cells during the past year. All are ! we'll ventilated and compare favor
 ably with those of any prison in the country.
 | The report of the directors tells of thte improvements at the prison, the
 school work and other details.
 Eighty-five per cent. of the prisoners
 who were paroled have made good"
 The number of life inmates is in-
 creasing, as they now form one-sev-
 enth of the. population of the prison.
 The directors also recommend the
 right of parole for life prisoners who l have served 25 yearsI